The good and bad about Carbs
Research and statistics provided by Michael Langel
Carbohydrates are found in just about everything, whether it be fruits, vegetables, breads, cereals, milk, and sugary foods. Carbs are also the primary source of energy to the brain. When carbs are ingested, they are broken down into glucose, the more complex the carbs makes the production of glucose slower, meaning it takes longer for you to feel hungry again. When the glucose is not used, it is stored in the liver or in the muscles to be used when needed.
The Carbs Balancing act
Just like everything else, carbs are unhealthy when too much or too little are ingested. Typically a healthy amount of carbs should take up 45-65% of the calories daily. Since the healthy amount of carbs is derived from the number of calories consumed, a teenagers activity level effects this balance. On average teen girls consume 225 to 325 grams of carbs, where as teenage boys are usually more active consume 293 to 423 grams.
Too many carbs, particularly simple carbs, can led to obesity and the whole host of problems that come with it, such as high blood pressure and heart disease. But since the brains main source of energy comes from carbs, an absence can make you feel slow mentally and even cause headaches and fatigue.