Student guide to food

With so much crap in the paper about Atkins’ diets and such I’ve decided to just list the main things found in foods and why you need them all. The most important thing to remember is that all these foods are fine in moderation, the key is moderation.

Carbohydrates: Many new radical diets are telling people to completely cut carbohydrates from their diets, as they are high in calories. Did you know that there are as many calories per gram of carbohydrates as there are per gram of protein? Carbohydrates are a vital source of energy and are required if a person wants to do more than just sit down for the whole day. If you are planning on doing any sort of exercise then it is essential that you are supplying your body with enough carbohydrates.

There are two different types of carbohydrates, simple and complex. Simple carbohydrates are found in sugar rich foods such as chocolate and sweets. They are more likely to be stored as fat if not used up by the body quickly. So if you are planning on rowing down the Thames or going for a long distance bike ride then a mars bar could be a good idea, as it will provide the body with a quick source of energy.

But remember if you don’t use this energy up the body will store it as fat. Complex carbohydrates are found in foods such as bread, rice, pasta, vegetables, cereal and potatoes. Complex carbohydrates are stored much longer in the body before being turned into fat. A carbohydrate rich lunch can leave you feeling energetic for the rest of the day helping you to maintain concentration during even the most boring of lectures.

Next: Proteins >>