Carbohydrates produce glucose which every produced cell in one's body depends on. Cells in the nervous system and brain use glucose almost exclusively for energy. Brain growth is one of the major changes one goes through during their teenage years. With brain cells using glucose to such a high level, it is important to receive the proper amount in order for one's brain to fully and healthily develop.
However, there are two types of carbohydrates: simple carbohydrates and complex carbohydrates. Simple carbohydrates are monosaccharides and disaccharides. These are not necessarily extremely important for one's body. Complex carbohydrates are glycogen, starches, and fibers. Glycogen is released when one's body needs glucose for energy. Starches hydrolyzes starch to glucose with each intake. Fiber can protect against heart disease and diabetes by lowering both cholesterol and glucose levels. Fiber can also provide a sense of fullness and help proper bowel movements. With all that complex carbohydrates do, they are definitely an important part of the diet of a growing young teen.
Proteins are involved when one's body is growing, repairing or replacing tissue and it is also a big part of the composition of bones, teeth, muscles, skin and blood. Proteins can regulate fluid balance, act as enzymes or transporters and even some hormones are proteins. Proteins can also be used as energy. Bone growth, along with muscle and skin growth, occur almost constantly for teens. This makes proteins and extremely important part of a teen's diet.
Proteins are made up of amino acids which are needed for growth. The two types of proteins, complete and incomplete proteins, are both needed for a teen to develop properly.
Fats are arguably the most important of these three nutrients. Fat provides us with 60% of our energy, spares protein, insulates one's body and protects our bones and vital organs by providing cushion. Fat also aids in the absorption of vitamins A, D, E, and K.
There are two types of fats that one can consume: unsaturated fats and saturated fats. If one wishes to avoid heart disease, one should also avoid an excess amount saturated fats. Saturated fats can be found in animal sources like meats, cheeses, and milk. In contrast, unsaturated fats are typically found in vegetable oil, nuts, and oily types of fish. Unsaturated fats have been found to reduce the risk of heart disease. Fats are definitely important to a teen's diet because of the energy and insulation it provides to a teen's body.
