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CARBOHYDRATES: The Bulk Energy Provider
Carbohydrates are available commonly in the form of starch, glucose,
cane sugar, milk, etc. Grains, roots, and tubers are composed of
starch which is a complex carbohydrate. Wheat and corn form the chief
sources of this food group.
This roughage in the diet is necessary for the mechanism of
digestion & elimination of wastes.
The dietary fiber has a property of holding water & swells &
behaves like a sponge as it passes through the digestive tract. It
adds bulk to the diet & reduces the transit time in the gut.
Lack of carbohydrates causes constipation & colon cancer. The
contractions of the muscular walls of the digestive tract is
stimulated by fiber & so it counteracts the tendency of constipation.
Some dietary fibers like gums & mucilages lower blood cholesterol
in hypercholesterolemic subjects & blood glucose in diabetics.
Recent studies indicate that gums present in fenugreek seeds (it
contains 40% gum) are effective in reducing blood glucose &
cholesterol.
Carbohydrates are a good & simple source of energy.
The daily diet of an adult should contain at least 40g of dietary
fiber.
Mathematically 1g of
carbohydrate =» 4.2kcal =» 16.8KJ
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