Adams Media - Nutrition: Carbohydrates, Sugar, and Fiber: The most important information you need to improve your health

Food is everywhere. Every street has a restaurant, every event has a concession stand, and every commercial is dripping with cheese. Billboards, newspapers, and the Internet are constantly trying to sell you food. And you want to buy it. But is whats out there really something you need? Does it do your body any good? Is it making you healthy and strong? And what about the kids? How are they handling being inundated with constant food opportunities? Are they growing up healthy, lean, and fit? If they live in America, theres a good chance they arent.

Poor nutrition is a growing problem in the United States. Its not that we dont have enough to eat. Its that we have too much of the wrong stuff to eat. You probably already know you should lay off the fast food and pick up an apple instead of that doughnut. But have you ever wondered what healthier foods could really do for you?

Did you know that eating the right carbohydrates can give you ongoing energy? Did you know that bright fruits and vegetables can help protect you against cancer? Did you know that eating right at an early age can protect kids from food allergies?

Food is fuel. It can be delicious fuel, but it can also be the wrong fuel. Like putting diesel fuel in a gasoline engine, people often choose the wrong food. Without the proper fuel and regular intervals throughout the day, you sputter and stall and will likely need a tuneup, or worse, a complete overhaul. Getting the right fuel is not mysterious, difficult, expensive, or time-consuming. The Everything Healthy Living Series: Nutrition will show you exactly what, when, and how much you need to eat to get back on the road to good health.

Focusing on lifestyle changes instead of following a specific diet is the ticket to achieving optimal health, decreasing your risk of illness, increasing your energy level, improving your quality of life and well-being, and reducing your medications. In this series, youll find everything you need to know to get your family on the road to life-long good health.

If youd like to learn more about nutrition, check out The Everything Guide to Nutrition, available in print (978-1-4405-1030-4) and eBook (978-1-4405-1159-2) formats.

Carbohydrates are necessary for achieving optimal health, and are found in four of the major food groups: whole grains, fruit, vegetables, and dairy products. These are your body and brains main source of fuel. Carbohydrates are also needed to maintain proper function of the central nervous system, muscles, and metabolism of fat and protein. Today, we find carbohydrates in many forms, making it difficult to distinguish which ones are truly beneficial for us. All carbohydrates break down into sugar in your blood, which causes your pancreas to release insulin that transports sugar to your cells for energy. However, the rate at which food breaks down into sugar determines if your energy levels are going to be stable or climb quickly then crash. Fiber found in carbohydrates slows digestion and helps keep energy levels and hunger in check.