What Is a Carbohydrate & What Does It Do for Your Body?

What Is a Carbohydrate & What Does It Do for Your Body?

What are carbohydrates function? What's the difference between good and bad carbs? How many carbs should I be eating daily? These are all questions we commonly hear when discussing carbs. While every diet has its own set of rules, as to what you should and shouldn't eat, one thing is for surewholesome, nutritious foods are an essential part of every diet. And while these healthful foods are loaded with vitamins, nutrients and fiberthey're also packed with complex carbs. Carbs that work with your body to provide long-lasting energy. To help answer all of your carb-related questions, we've put together this complete guide outlining exactly what a carbohydrate is and what it does for your body. Keep reading to learn more about why carbohydrates are an essential part of a healthy diet.

What Are Carbohydrates?

Before you know which carb-rich foods you should incorporate into your diet, it's important to understand what carbohydrates are. Carbohydrates are the starches, sugars and fiber found in foods like vegetables, fruits, grains and milk products. A macronutrient, carbs are one of the three main ways that the body obtains energy. In fact, they are the body's main source of energy. All carbohydrates are made from sugar molecules. Once these molecules enter the body, they are then broken down by the digestive system. This process of digestion turns these molecules into glucose. Glucose is the fuel that gives the body energy to power all of its functions. When discussing carbohydrates, they are often placed into two categories: complex carbohydrates and simple carbohydrates. Complex carbohydrates, also known as "good carbs," are commonly found in whole foods like nuts, legumes and whole grains. Simple carbohydrates, or bad carbs, are usually received from sugar-filled processed foods like cookies, cakes and white bread. Including foods that contain complex carbohydrates into your weekly meal rotation is an integral part of a healthy, well-balanced diet.

Why Do You Need Carbohydrates?

What Is a Carbohydrate & What Does It Do for Your Body? | Bob's Red Mill Blog Now that you better understand what carbohydrates are. It's time to discuss why you need them. As previously mentioned, carbohydrates are deemed the "fuel" for your body. Through digestion, your body uses carbs to produce energy to keep it running as it should. Eating an adequate amount of carbohydrates can influence everything from mood to memory. To fully understand why you need carbohydrates, it's important to discuss the differences between simple and complex carbs.

What Are Simple Carbohydrates?

Much like how they sound, simple carbohydrates have a much simpler chemical structure than a complex carb. Because simple carbohydrates commonly contain just one or two sugars, they are absorbed more easily than complex carbs. The quick rate at which they are digested and absorbed can lead to energy spikes and heightened blood sugar levels. Both of which can wreak havoc on your health. Simple carbs are most commonly found in processed foods such as candy, syrups and sodas. They do not contain vitamins, minerals or fiber and will not keep you full for very long.

What Are Complex Carbohydrates?

Nutrition is a huge differentiating factor when determining whether a carb is bad or good. Unlike simple carbohydrates, complex carbohydrates are made of three or more sugars. The added sugar molecules in complex carbs formulate a slower digestion process, which means that the energy produced by these carbs is more evenly distributed. Aside from long-lasting energy, complex carbs are usually more filling than simple carbs. When choosing which carbs to include in your healthy diet, it's best to focus primarily on complex carbs. Found in high-fiber whole foods like vegetables, fruits and whole grains, they're not hard to spot!

Healthy Carbohydrates That You Should Incorporate into Your Diet

What Is a Carbohydrate & What Does It Do for Your Body? | Bob's Red Mill Blog When choosing which complex carb foods to add to your diet, we recommend beginning with whole grains. Whole grains are one of the best sources of good carbs and are packed with essential vitamins and minerals. While whole grains are a healthy choice, they're not the only choice. Veggies, legumes, nuts and some fruits all contain a tremendous number of complex carbs. To truly have a well-balanced diet, each of these foods should be included in your daily meals. Make your next grocery store run easier by reviewing this list of nutrient-rich complex carbs beforehand.
  • Whole Grain Bread
  • Whole Grain Pasta
  • Barley
  • Farro
  • Quinoa
  • Corn
  • Legumes
  • Sweet Potatoes

Healthy Complex Carbohydrate Recipes

Now that you understand the benefits of regularly eating the right kind of carbs, it's time to include them in your weekly meals. Continue reading to discover our favorite healthy recipes full of good carbs to keep you energized and strong.

Spinach Quinoa Bites

What Is a Carbohydrate & What Does It Do for Your Body? | Bob's Red Mill Blog Spinach and quinoa might sound a bit too healthy for your liking, but when prepared correctly, they can create a dish overflowing with flavor. These Spinach Quinoa Bites are not only easy to make, but they're also easy on the budget. The perfect plate to serve up on a party platter, this snack-sized finger food tastes great when served with marinara sauce or used as a plant-based substitute for meatballs in your favorite pasta recipe. We can't think of a more satisfying way to eat our carbs!

Sweet Potato Pie Bars

Warm, smooth and creamy, these Sweet Potato Pie Bars are a bite of heaven for those seeking a good carb, gluten free dessert. The delicious pie layers feature a rich combination of roasted sweet potato and pecans to create a flavorful melt-in-your-mouth treat. This healthy dessert is approved by children and adults alike. It's the ultimate gluten free and vegan dessert with a gluten free crust made of pecans, gluten free flour and oats. Top it off with whipped coconut cream for even more sweetness!

Cassava Gnocchi

What Is a Carbohydrate & What Does It Do for Your Body? | Bob's Red Mill Blog As easy to make as it is delicious, this tasty Italian dish can be enjoyed by nearly everyone! Our Cassava Gnocchi is gluten free, vegan and loaded with complex carbohydrates. In this recipe, the potato and all-purpose flour traditionally used to make gnocchi are swapped for mashed cauliflower, cassava flour and potato starch. Top it with your favorite pasta sauce, pair it with a salad, or cover in a blanket of cheese, toasted nuts and fresh herbs. This filling dinner will be devoured so quickly; some may even say it's magic.

Coconut Oatmeal Ice Cream Cookie Sandwiches

This classic dessert is the ideal way to end any meal. In fact, it's so good that it may ignite a protest of who gets the first bite. While the white chocolate and coconut cookies are delicious on their own, by turning them into ice cream sandwiches, you'll quickly become the start of your next get-together. Serve them as is, or take this dessert up a notch and sprinkle the sides with a fun topping such as granola or cinnamon!

Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Chia Balls

What Is a Carbohydrate & What Does It Do for Your Body? | Bob's Red Mill Blog Peanut butter lovers will go nuts for these tasty bite-sized Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Chia Balls. Packed with great-for-you ingredients like rolled oats, peanut butter, honey and chia seeds, they're the perfect grab and go snack. They're produced in batches of eight servings and can be prepped and made beforehand. By making this sweet treat ahead of time, you can be sure that you always have something healthy to reach for on days when you're short on time. Serve them at room temperature or pop them in the freezer for a refreshing way to cool down on a hot summer day.

Bacon and Sage Cornbread Stuffing

Mom's love to make sure that there's enough stuffing to fill everyone at family gatherings. For your next family get-together surprise your guests by making this Bacon and Sage Cornbread Stuffing. A fun twist on traditional stuffing, this recipe uses our Gluten Free Cornbread Mix, bacon, chicken broth and sage to create a flavorful meal that will pair well with any protein choice.

Avocado Cashew Dip

What Is a Carbohydrate & What Does It Do for Your Body? | Bob's Red Mill Blog We revamped our favorite creamy dip into this easy-to-make Avocado Cashew Dip. The flavor of this recipe is hearty enough to be eaten as a dip, yet mild enough to be used as a spread, cream or sauce. A fantastic addition to your next party spread, try topping a plateful of nachos or tacos with this dip for a truly mouthwatering treat! Now that we've answered commonly asked questions like "what are carbohydrates in food" and "what are carbohydrates made of," it's time to put your knowledge to the test. Whether you choose to make some of the recipes in this article or whip up a dish of your own, we're confident that you can now make a healthy high-carb dish with ease. Have a favorite complex carb food of your own? We'd love to hear what it is. Let us know about your favorite complex carb foods and recipes in the comments below. From everyone at Bob's Red Mill, we wish you a happy and healthy day!  
Bob's Red Mill
July 03 2020

Comments