When you think about carbohydrates, the first word that comes to mind shouldn’t be “evil.” Carbs are essentially energy. Carbohydrates are the main source of energy for your body and are essential for the oxidation of fats and essential for the synthesis of a few non-essential amino acids.

Types of carbohydrates
Carbohydrates are divided into two groups: Simple and Complex Carbohydrates. The difference between these two are the speed in which they raise blood sugar. Simple carbs, consisting mostly of Sugars, are burned very quickly and promote weight gain. Complex carbohydrates are slower digesting and reduce insulin levels and insulin resistance.

Carbohydrates Important to Bodybuilders

Carbohydrates are very important to bodybuilders as they are the major source of energy and also are essential in the development of muscle. The most ideal carbohydrate for a bodybuilder and someone practicing good health in general are slow burning, complex carbohydrates. These can include, but are not limited to:

-Brown rice
-Oatmeal
-Pasta
-Sweet Potatoes
-Wholemeal breads
-Ezekiel bread
-High fiber breakfast cereals

The best way to supply the diet with complex carbohydrates is to consume the foods in their most natural state, such as oatmeal, brown rice, bran, etc.

Sources of Carbohydrates

Although there are various forms of carbohydrates, the main sources come from sugar, cellulose, and starches. Here you will find a list with a short description of each source of carbohydrate.

Sugars: Sugars are comprised of monosaccharides (fructose, glucose, and galactose) and disaccharides (maltose, sucrose, and lactose). Sugars are the main source of carbohydrate for fueling the body and are highly water soluble.

Fructose: a white solid that dissolves readily in water. A great source of fructose is honey, berries, tree fruits, and melons. Fructose is the sweetest of all naturally occurring carbohydrates.

Glucose: Glucose is the most abundant sugar found in the body. This simple sugar is also known as blood sugar, corn sugar, or grape sugar and is the biggest source of energy.

Galactose: Galactose is a sugar that is less sweet than the sugar glucose. This carbohydrate gets its name from the ancient greek word for milk. Galactose comes from dairy products, gums, and sugar beets.

Glycogen: It is stored in the liver and in the muscles in the form of glucose, and acts as a reserve carbohydrate in animals.

Sucrose:Sucrose, also know as cane sugar or table sugar, is found in various fruits and sugar cane. Sucrose is best recognized for its role in human nutrition.

Lactose: Also known as milk sugar, is the sugar in milk products. By weight, lactose makes up approximately 2-8% of milk. The name comes from lacte, the latin word for milk.

Starch: Coming from the plant kingdom, starches are the carbs which make up rice, potatoes, wheat, tapioca and other foods of the sort.

Maltose: Also known as malt sugar, maltose is a disaccharide formed from glucose.

Cellulose: The indigestible component of all carbohydrates that has little nutritional value and plays a contribution to fiber. It is the most abundant carbohydrate in plants.

Dietary Fiber: A non-starch polysaccharide that plays a very important role to the human diet. Dietary fiber can be found in vegetables and fruits. Dietary fiber is divided into cellulose and non-cellulose polysaccharides. Fiber reduces constipation, absorbs water, and gives easier bowel movements. Fiber also has been known to lower cholesterol and aid in weight loss.

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