How is sugar absorbed and used in the body?
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All carbohydrates, whether sugars or starches, are digested in the intestine to form glucose, which is transported around the body via the blood and taken into cells to be converted into energy. The hormone insulin, secreted by the pancreas gland within the abdomen, controls this action of cell glucose uptake. Excess glucose is converted into glycogen, which is stored in the liver or in fat around the body. If the body needs more energy, a second hormone, glucagon, is secreted by the pancreas which converts the glycogen back into glucose. It is then released back into the bloodstream so that with the help of the insulin, the cells can take up the glucose to release the energy they need.
The glucose or sugar metabolism of the body is a cycle of glucose, insulin and glucagon reactions. The slower the release of glucose and hormones, the more stable and sustainable the energy levels of the body. It is generally accepted that the more refined the carbohydrate, the faster the glucose will be released into the blood, resulting in less stable energy levels in the body. Complex carbohydrates provide a slower and more sustained release of energy than the simple carbohydrates.
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