Understanding carbohydrates and glycemic index can seem like a boring journey in to science and nutrition that few of us have time to take. However, a basic understanding of how our bodies process and metabolize these macronutrients can make a huge difference in our understanding and motivation of nutritional choices. It is not enough to just “Avoid Carbs”. What are the different types of carbs and how do they affect the body? Photo from , labeled for reuse. Simple Carbohydrates are classified as simple sugars whose chemical structure has only one or two sugars. Examples of these are processed table sugar, products with white flour, honey, milk, yogurt, candy, chocolate, fruit, fruit juice, cake, jam, biscuits, molasses, soda and packaged cereals. Some of these foods such as fruit may still be good for you for the fiber and other nutrients they contain. Complex Carbohydrates are those with a chemical structure made up of three or more sugars. These types of sugars are rich in vitamins,minerals and fiber. They take longer to digest and don’t elevate blood sugar levels as quickly as simple carbs do; thereby leaving you satisfied longer and less likely to overeat. Photo from , labeled for reuse. Diets with complex carbs over simple carbs are less likely to experience blood sugar surge and crashes which contribute to cell damage. This article is filled with nutritional-speak, but I urge you to read through it and glean what you can about the subject. Typically, complex carbs are found in whole grain breads & cereals, vegetables, and many legumes. Nutritional values in complex carbs tend to be much higher than those in simple carbs. What is Glycemic Index and how does it affect your health as you make certain food and nutritional choices in your lifestyle of good fitness? on the American Diabetes Association site does a good job of explaining the Glycemic Index and provides short lists of examples of foods that have high, medium and low GI ratings (under 55). : The
