Looking for boosted energy, mental sharpness, workout efficiency and/or weight control? Adding healthy carbs to your diet (in moderation) could help you achieve those goals. These nutritious carbohydrates contain fiber, which your digestive system works to break down before they can be absorbed.

You know a granola bar isn’t the most nutritious or weight-loss-friendly snack, but when you’re on the go, it’s a heck of a lot easier to eat than an egg omelet. Can a busy schedule and a low-carb diet really coexist?

If you retain fluid after downing a sugar-laden soda or after a meal high in simple carbohydrates, you're not alone. A diet high in simple sugars can cause water retention, which leads to swelling, especially in your hands, fingers, legs, feet and face.

Protein and carbohydrates are essential parts of a healthy diet. Protein helps supply you with energy and might help you maintain a healthy weight. Carbohydrates are also a source of energy and can supply important vitamins and minerals. Many foods that contain protein or carbohydrates are cooked before you eat them.

Carbohydrates are one of the three essential macronutrients -- which include fat and protein -- and its primary role in your diet is to provide your body with energy. Carbohydrates are so important to your health that they should make up the bulk of your calorie intake, 40 to 60 percent.

Carbohydrates and gluten often go hand in hand. Wheat-based flours are one of the most common ingredients used to make breads, cereals and other carb-rich foods, and gluten is a natural component of wheat. You'll also get gluten from foods made using rye and barley.

If you're a spud lover but try to keep your calorie or carbohydrate count to a minimum, the thought that presoaking potatoes might remove carbohydrates could have you cheering.

Blastocystis hominis is a parasite that can infect your intestines. The effect of this parasite on human health is still debated, according to the Mayo Clinic, because it appears to cause symptoms in some, but not all, people.

Carbohydrates are your body's main source of energy, giving you fuel to exercise and perform daily tasks. The Institute of Medicine advises consuming 45 to 65 percent of your daily calories in the form of carbs. There are different types of carbs, which produce different effects in your body.

The "D" and "L" specifications in the names of D-glucose and L-glucose are used to differentiate between two different shapes of the glucose molecule. D-glucose and L-glucose are enantiomers, meaning that their molecular structures are mirror images of each other.

On a low-carb diet, you might eat anywhere from 20 to 100 grams of carbs a day, depending on the plan. The results you want also figure in – you might be looking to lose weight, manage diabetes, or both.

It’s always a good idea to keep track of the sugar in your diet, but when you decide to cut down on the amount you eat, don’t start by eliminating fruit. First purge added sugar you might get from baked goods, candy and sodas. Then, if necessary, you can choose fruits with less sugar.