Whatever form they come in, Carbohydrates are converted in the body into Energy called ‘Glucose’. Whether Complex Or Simple – Carbohydrates as Glucose are used for Energy. However, the difference is that Complex carbohydrates contain Calories and Nutrients, Simple Carbohydrates are referred to as ‘Empty’ calories because they do not contain nutrients.

Why are Carbohydrates so Important ?
Carbohydrates are the body’s preferred and main energy source.
When the body needs Energy during Physical activity, it will look for a Carbohydrate source first. If none is available, it will turn to the stored Muscle Glycogen and break it down as Glucose for Energy.

When Glucose is no longer available in the body, the body will turn to fat and protein for help, but this is as a last resort. Fat alone can not remake enough Glucose to give energy to the brain and the nervous system. In order to breakdown fat efficiently, carbohydrates still must be available to help. Without Carbohydrate, fat, in an effort to break down its fragments to provide energy, produces excessive amounts of toxic byproducts.

When Carbohydrate stores are absent the body turns to Protein in the muscle for help, it breaks down the muscle and other Protein tissues to reproduce Glucose for Energy.

Therefore, Carbohydrate intake is important so that Glucose is readily available anytime.