balance

• if you have too few carbohydrates, the level of glucose may drop below the normal range and you will feel hungry
• if you have too few carbohydrates, you may feel weak and dizzy
• if you have too few carbohydrates, your body starts to burn fat and then protein for energy
• if you eat too many carbohydrate based foods, the extra glucose from starch and sugar will be stored in the liver and muscles as energy
• if you eat too many carbohydrates the extra glucose will be converted into fat and stored in the adipose tissue
• too much carbohydrates can lead to weight gain and over time obesity
• too many carbohydrates can put you at risk of heart disease and type 2 diabetes
• too much carbohydrates can cause tooth decay and dental cavities
• carbohydrates should make up approximately half of our food energy per day
• most energy should come from starchy foods and natural sugars such as those found in bread, pasta, fruit and vegetables
• free sugars such as those added to food and drinks and sweet foods should make up no more than 5% of our daily intake
• if we take in more energy from carbohydrates than our body uses the extra carbohydrate is converted into fat. too much fat can causes obesity and other diet-related health issues