Eric Siler

 When you eat carbohydrates the body breaks them down to its simplest form called glucose.  Now the body produces insulin, which then takes the glucose and stores it into muscles, the liver, and even body fat.

 Found in many types of foods: ◦ Bread, beans, milk, potatoes, spaghetti, soft drinks, corn, and even cherry pie!  Carbohydrates come in a variety of forms including: ◦ sugars, fibers, and starches.  For every Carbohydrate Molecule, the basic building block is a sugar molecule made up of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen coming together.

 Carbohydrates are a main source of energy for the body.  They are the quickest form of energy after you eat them, and it takes the body less work to covert them into energy than any other nutrient. When your body needs energy, it looks for carbohydrates first.  Carbohydrates also protect muscles!

 Regulate the amount of sugar circulating in your blood so that all your cells get the energy they need.  Provide nutrients for the friendly bacteria in your intestinal tract that help digest food.  Assist in your body’s absorption of calcium.  May help lower cholesterol levels and regulate blood pressure.

 A diet that is high in good carbohydrates is potentially the best for an endurance athlete because if gives the best energy without harming the body and the body has to do the least amount of work to get the carbs into usable energy.