Despite their bad rap, carbohydrates are vital to your health for a number of reasons.

• Providing energy
• Protecting against disease
• Controlling weight

Carbohydrates are a type of macronutrient found in many foods and beverages. Most carbohydrates occur naturally in plant-based foods, such as grains.

There are three main types of carbohydrates:

• Sugar. Sugar is the simplest form of carbohydrate and occurs naturally in some foods, including fruits, vegetables, milk and milk products
• Starch. Starch is a complex carbohydrate, meaning it is made of many sugar units bonded together.
• Fiber. Fiber also is a complex carbohydrate.

Major & minor side effects of Carbohydrates

• Obesity with high intake of carbohydrates
• Carbohydrates can cause diabetes
• hypertension, or high blood pressure
• high blood fat levels, or triglycerides
• low levels of “good” HDL cholesterol
• weight gain
• a range of chronic diseases

Refer to your doctors