The concept of carbohydrate is formed from two terms: I carbon and hydrate. A carbohydrate, therefore, is a carbohydrate.

Hydrates are those substances that contain water (H2O). Carbon, for its part, is a chemical element. Carbohydrates, in short, are organic substances made up of oxygen, hydrogen and carbon. See ABBREVIATIONFINDER.ORG for abbreviations related to Carbohydrates.

Also called carbohydrates, carbohydrates are biomolecules (molecules that make up a living being) that are made up mostly of carbon and hydrogen atoms. Oxygen is the element present in the least amount.

The function of carbohydrates, which have covalent bonds that are difficult to break, is to provide energy. This energy can be used immediately or stored for later use. Certain carbohydrates also act as structural elements, forming part of cell walls.

It is possible to differentiate between different kinds of carbohydrates. The simplest are called monosaccharides, such as glucose and ribose. These carbohydrates have a single molecule. The disaccharides (the lactose, the sucrose), in turn, are composed of two monosaccharides.

There are also oligosaccharides, which have between three and nine monosaccharide molecules, and polysaccharides, with more than ten monosaccharides.

Carbohydrates are essential for all people since the energy they provide allows the development of muscle and neuronal activity and keeps blood pressure and body temperature stable. In the case of athletes, eating foods rich in carbohydrates (such as noodles or other pasta) is essential to be able to perform great physical efforts.

Let’s look at these and other benefits of carbohydrates in more detail below:

* improves mood: we cannot deny that goodwill and positive ideas are not enough for us to feel good, but we need energy from the time we get up until we go to bed. For this we have foods such as carbohydrates and others that complement them with high levels of protein;

* improves digestion: for a good digestion it is necessary to eat a lot of fiber, and carbohydrates are very rich in this component, which is also necessary to fight against fatigue and constipation;

* stabilizes sugar levels: simple carbohydrates are quickly digested and produce much more glucose in the blood than complex ones. To carry out an adequate control of excess sugar in the blood, it is recommended to include complex carbohydrates in the diet;

* Increase resistance: this property is noticed especially by people who practice sports at a professional level. To feel that the muscles do their work with a sufficient amount of energy, it is necessary to consume the calories that carbohydrates provide us in a proportion of at least 50 grams per hour of exercise;

* accelerate muscle recovery: a quick and easy tip to follow is to drink a protein and complex carbohydrate shake after every workout. Let’s not forget that during physical exercise, nutrient, liquid and energy reserves are consumed, which is why it is necessary to recover them to achieve the expected objectives;

* improves blood supply: to support the heart system, it is ideal to eat vegetables such as spinach, bananas, quinoa and sunflower seeds. The cereals, in turn, provide fibers that reduce the risk of hypertension by 19%. In addition to consuming these foods, it is advisable to be relaxed during meals, avoid excess salt and drink tea;

* increases resistance to infection: since the perfect situation is not achievable, it is preferable to strengthen our body to worry about eliminating all threats from our environment. We will always have to face attacks by viruses and bacteria, which is why the contributions of carbohydrates are essential to have the appropriate weapons.