How much is carbohydrate intake ideal for daily eating?
It would be best if you had the energy to survive and sustain your lives. It is energy that helps complete all your body’s structural, mental, and physical activities. Whether casually walking in a park or running on a track, you need energy. Even a slight movement of a finger demands energy. Your body cannot survive long without the availability of energy, and a lack of power for a long time can even lead to death.
So from where do we get this energy? The answer is simple and obvious; the food we eat. Food contains various nutrients that can be described as micronutrients and macronutrients. Micronutrients are minerals and vitamins that are needed in small quantities. Macronutrients are fat, protein, and carbohydrate, which are required in bulk and vital for energy production.
Although fats produce extra energy, they cannot be used as prime energy producers because it is hard to convert them into energy. On the contrary, the amount of energy produced by proteins and sugars is the same. Still, proteins are slow to produce energy at a slower rate due to their complexity.
Given that, sugars are the only option for producing energy quickly. Carbohydrates make power faster, and they are converted into energy soon after being ingested, and your cells can instantly turn them into fuel molecules. That is why they are the primary source of energy.
Types of carbohydrates
They have the following types:
- Monosaccharides.
- Oligosaccharides.
- Polysaccharides.
These types are based on the number of monomers they contain. A monomer is a single molecule that, bonding with other similar units, produces larger molecules or polymers.
Monosaccharides
Monosaccharides are considered the most uncomplicated sugars, which is why they are called simple sugars. Monosaccharides work as building blocks for the production of complex sugars. They are composed of two functional groups, ketone or aldehyde and multiple hydroxyl groups.
Monosaccharides have the following properties:
– Monosaccharides cannot be digested into simpler units and can easily dissolve in water.
– Their taste is sweet, for instance, the taste of glucose.
A famous example of simple sugars is glucose.
Monosaccharides are required by the body mainly for energy production. They also act as building blocks for the production of larger molecules.
Oligosaccharides
Oligosaccharides comprise three to ten monosaccharide units. In terms of complexity, they are intermediate between the other two kinds. The digestion of polysaccharides can also produce oligosaccharides. Their main characteristics are mentioned below:
– Oligosaccharides are digested into monomers.
– Their water solubility is more minor than simple sugars, and they are less sweet than monosaccharides.
The most common example of oligosaccharides is raffinose which is present in many plants, including asparagus and cabbage.
Oligosaccharides perform various functions; for example, they improve immunity and mental health. They are also needed for the cell recognition process. They also act as prebiotics, meaning they supply food for beneficial bacteria.
Polysaccharides
The most complex type is known as polysaccharides. These are composed of a long chain of monomers. On the breakdown, they yield either oligosaccharides or monosaccharides. Your food contains more polysaccharides as compared with the other two kinds.
Polysaccharides show the following properties:
– They can be broken down into monosaccharides and oligosaccharides.
– They cannot be dissolved in water quickly and are not sweet.
The most common polysaccharides found in living organisms are starch and glycogen.
Polysaccharides play vital roles in your body. They support bodily structures, work as energy storage molecules and release energy in an emergency. Furthermore, some polysaccharides are also essential for the cell signaling process.
Process of energy production
Glucose, among all the sugars, works as a primary energy source for the body. Therefore, complex carbohydrates are always digested into glucose by specific enzymes.
This glucose then travels through the bloodstream to the cells. But cells themselves cannot absorb glucose directly from blood. For this purpose, they need a hormone called insulin produced by pancreatic glands in response to the high glucose level in the blood. Insulin helps cells in the absorption of glucose. At the same time, cells get oxygen from the blood.
Once glucose enters the cell, a process, namely aerobic respiration, starts. During this process, mitochondria use oxygen to produce an energy-rich molecule, adenosine triphosphate (ATP). The body then uses ATP as an energy currency as it can store and release energy whenever the body needs energy.
Carbohydrates are essential for you, and their importance is second to none, from producing energy to boosting the immune system. However, they can also be harmful if not consumed carefully.
One of the most efficient ways to optimize your daily sugar intake is to eat them per your body type.
Body types and carbohydrates intake
We all are born with unique body types. These body types are based on our unique composition and skeletal frame. That is why you see people with different body shapes. Some are skinny, some are round, and others are muscular. Similarly, it is not difficult for some people to maintain weight, but it becomes challenging for others.
People are born with three different body types:
– Ectomorph
– Endomorph
– Mesomorph
According to experts, most people are combinations of these body types.
Your body type dramatically influences the effectiveness of nutrients you take daily. Therefore, to live a healthy life, you must consider your unique body type before deciding about your daily intake of carbohydrates.
Carbohydrate intake for ectomorphs
Ectomorph body type is described by slimness, bony stature, and slow metabolic rate. People with this body type resemble models. Their main body characteristics are described below:
– They have a speedy metabolism, so they are less likely to gain weight even after eating a lot.
– They have reduced muscle mass.
– Typically, they are slimmer than the other two body types.
– They are characterized by tall height.
– Women with this body type have small breasts.
Due to the high-speed metabolic rate, they burn calories quickly. Moreover, they find it difficult to deposit fats, so gaining weight becomes challenging.
If you have an ectomorph body type and trying to increase your weight, your food must comprise more calories. Please do not follow in the footsteps of people who run away from carbs because they are a significant source of calories for you.
Hence, your diet must be more carbohydrates than the other two macronutrients. The exact amount of carbohydrates for you depends upon your body weight. However, according to experts, daily carbohydrate intake for an ectomorph must be 2-2.5 grams per lb.
Your meal should comprise more complex carbohydrates, as complex sugars are digested slowly and release energy at a slow rate, checking the release of insulin. Hence, polysaccharides or oligosaccharides help you gain more muscles.
Ideal carbohydrates sources for you are:
– Grains, for example, oats, brown rice, and buckwheat.
– Refined grains like white flour and white rice.
– Legumes such as lentils, split peas, and garbanzo beans.
– Fruits, for instance, grapefruit and apples.
– Vegetables such as spinach and cucumber.
The sources mentioned above will prove helpful in building your muscles.
Carbohydrate intake for endomorph
Endomorph body type is characterized by roundedness, medium bone stature, and slow metabolic rate. They are commonly known as heavyset. Endomorph body type has the following properties:
– They have a slower metabolic rate than the other two body types. Therefore, weight maintenance is a more challenging task for them.
– Endomorphs have more fats but more minor muscles.
– They are plumper with bigger bellies.
– Their heights are shorter than ectomorphs and mesomorphs.
– Women with this body type have full breasts.
Their slower metabolic rate is a big hurdle in managing fitness and weight. They are susceptible to fat deposition and hence, tend to be overweight. That is why this body type is known as the hardest one.
If you have an endomorph body type, you must be focused on maintaining your weight. It is a big challenge for you because of your slow metabolism. Unlike ectomorphs, extra calories are not suitable for you. Therefore, you need to avoid excess carbs in your daily food intake.
That is why you must eat food deficient in carbs, which are rich in calories. Otherwise, you will not be able to process extra calories and might become obese. According to nutritionists, your carbohydrate intake must be as low as 30-35 grams daily as an endomorph. Additionally, eat more non-insulin-producing sugars.
Your carbohydrate sources should include:
– Dietary fibers such as unpeeled fruits and whole grains.
– Vegetables, especially cauliflower and broccoli.
– Eggs
– Meats, for example, lamb, pork, and beef.
– Fish, for instance, trout and sardines.
– Low-carb seeds and nuts, such as sesame seeds, chia seeds, and brazil nuts.
All the sources mentioned above contain fewer carbohydrates. Consumption of these foods will help you manage your weight effectively.
Carbohydrate intake for mesomorphs
Mesomorph body type is muscular, strong, and slender. This body type is considered attractive and ideal. From metabolism to weight management, they have everything in moderation. The following properties characterize mesomorphs:
– Moderate metabolic rate makes weight maintenance easy for them.
– Their bodies are more muscular and less fatty.
– They are slim but athletic.
– They have average heights.
– Mesomorph women have rounded breasts.
Mesomorphs have an ideal metabolic rate that is neither too slow nor too fast, and this moderation in metabolism helps them manage their body weight efficiently. However, they are also susceptible to weight gain if no balance exists in their diets.
If you own a mesomorph body, it is essential to balance your diet to keep the conditions ideal. Your need for calories is higher than that of the other two types because of more muscles. But these extra calories must not come from carbohydrates because instead of turning them into strengths, they become fat.
Hence, it would be best if you ate fewer carbohydrates. Out of the 2000 calories, you ingest daily, 800 calories shall come from sugars. In other words, your carbohydrate intake should be 35% only daily.
Carbohydrate sources for you are:
– Meats, for example, turkey, chicken, and lean steak.
– Fruits like oranges and apples.
– Vegetables such as cauliflower and Brussels sprouts.
– Seeds and nuts as sunflower seeds and pistachios.
– Grains, especially rice.
Eating carbohydrates per body type will further optimize your metabolism and save you from gaining weight.
Conclusion
Although all three macronutrients produce energy, the body uses carbohydrates as the key source. Carbohydrates are preferred because they are easily transformed into an energy-rich molecule, ATP, using oxygen.
Carbohydrates are divided into three types: monosaccharides, oligosaccharides, and polysaccharides. Polysaccharides are the most abundant carbohydrates in our food. However, the body uses only glucose, a monosaccharide, to produce energy. That is why polysaccharides are first digested into glucose. Despite energy production, carbohydrates perform various essential functions in the body. Carbohydrates are used for lipid metabolism, cell recognition processes, and boosting immune response.
Despite their importance, it is essential to consider your genetics before determining the proper amount of carbohydrates for your body type. In other words, genes determine the effectiveness of carbohydrate utilization in your body. Overconsumption of carbohydrates not matching what your body requires will result in additional fat stores in your body. In addition, the adverse effects of simple carbs, when not eaten responsibly, include elevation in blood triglyceride levels, increased LDL or bad cholesterol, and insulin resistance.
To avoid these problems, it is necessary to optimize your carbs intake. The most efficient way is to take a DNA test for carbohydrate metabolism, and your genome dramatically influences how your body processes these macronutrients.
HealthCodes DNA is the best platform for DNA testing to determine the optimum carbs intake based on your genes. The DNA health testing kit for carbohydrate macronutrient metabolism helps you evaluate your genetic predisposition to carbohydrate intake using high-quality DNA testing technology.
Evaluating your body’s need for daily carbohydrate intake via a DNA test will result in a healthier lifestyle. This knowledge will also release you from the fear of any health issues related to an imbalanced daily intake of carbohydrates.
HealthCodes DNA cares for your better health; as a result, every client receives their DNA test results within three weeks of the sample submission. The DNA test results include a customized daily carbohydrate, fat, and protein intake plan for you that aligns with your goals and body’s needs. Visit HealthCodes DNA now to know about your genome’s impact on carbohydrate metabolism.