Colorado Reader March 2020: Building Blocks Fuel Your Fun | Page 5

Building Block:
Carbohydrates
There are two types
of carbohydrates:
• Sugars are simple
carbohydrates because
your body digests them
quickly and easily.
• Starches are complex
carbohydrates
because it takes
your body longer to digest them.
What do carbohydrates do?
Carbohydrates give energy to all the cells in your
body. They provide your body glucose. Glucose gives
you quick energy. Your body’s cells can’t use it all at
once. Extra glucose that your body’s cells can’t use
is saved in your liver and muscles as glycogen.
Some simple carbohydrates come from foods like soft
drinks and candy. These foods have lots of sugar but
don’t have important vitamins and minerals which your
body needs. Some simple carbohydrates come from
foods such as apples, bananas, grapes, raisins, as well
as low-fat ice cream and frozen yogurt. These foods
do provide you with some vitamins and minerals.
Complex carbohydrates, also called starches, come
from food like bread, cereals, pasta and vegetables
like corn, potatoes and carrots. They give you energy
more slowly so it lasts longer and they have a variety
of vitamins and minerals, which your body needs.

Building
Block:
Fats
Fat is the major source of stored energy for the body.
Some foods, including most fruits and vegetables,
have almost no fat. Other foods have plenty of fat.
They include nuts, oils, butter, and meats. You need
fat in your diet so your brain and nervous system
develop correctly. Dietary fat helps your body grow
and develop. Fats fuel the body and help absorb
some vitamins. Fats also are the building blocks for
hormones and they insulate the nervous system.
There are three types of fat that we eat.
Saturated fatty acids - from animal foods, dairy
foods and some oils that come from plants.
Unsaturated fatty acids - from
plants, fish and most plant oils.
Mono unsaturated fatty acids - from some
plant products such as olive oil and canola oil.
What does fat do?
• acts as the body’s reserve tank of energy
• protects our organs - like a cushion
• helps our bodies stay warm in cold weather
• helps hormones keep blood pressure steady
• helps keep skin and hair healthy
• gives some vitamins a place to stay and
helps them get around in the blood
to where the body wants them
You should get most of your fat from lean meats, fish,
and heart healthy oils. Some fat is important for good
nutrition, but too much can cause health problems.
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