Eating Well - Beaming with Health

Carbohydrates: Fael and Fibre 23
Complex carbohydrate no. 2: Glycogen
Glycogen is the second type of complex carbohydrate. It is
how the human body stores glucose. Sometimes called
'animal starch', glycogen does not occur in plants. We store
most of it in the liver (up to 400 grams) as well as in the
muscles (up to 100 grams). Glycogen is stored as ready
energy. Like going to the store for food, if insufficient glucose
is available from the bloodstream, it can be obtained by
breaking down stored glycogen.
Complex carbohydrate no. 3: Ffbre
The third type of complex carbohydrate is fibre (also see
fibre, page 29). At first glance under the microscope, fibre
looks very similar to starch - a large group of glucose molecules.
Upon closer examination the dissimilarity becomes
apparent: the bonds holding the glucoses together in starch
are different from the bonds holding the glucoses together in
fibre. Humans don't possess the specific enzymes to untie
these bonds, so the fibre continues down the digestive tract
undigested. Cows and other animals have these enzymes in
their rumen which explains why a horse can enjoy a square
meal of hay and we can't.
Glycaemtc index
The glycaernic index is a ranking of foods based on their
immediate effect on blood sugar levels. The greater the
index, the quicker and higher blood sugar levels rise.
Glucose is the gold standard at 100. Blood sugar levels
are important for many things, including brain function,
energy levels, insulin production and mood.
Not all sugars are created equal. Glucose readily
crosses over the intestinal wall into the bloodstream.
The other single sugars vary in the speed at which they