what is carbohydrates. simple carbs vs complex carbs

What is carbohydrates,

What is Carbohydrate? A Carbohydrate is a molecule composed of carbon, oxygen, and hydrogen and serves as a source of energy for animal body.

What’s most important is the type of carbohydrate you choose to eat because some sources are healthier than others. The amount of carbohydrate in the diet – high or low – is less important than the type of carbohydrate in the diet. For example, healthy, whole grains such as whole wheat bread, rye, barley and quinoa are better choices than highly refined white bread or French fries.

Many people are confused about carbohydrates, but keep in mind that it’s more important to eat carbohydrates from healthy foods than to follow a strict diet limiting or counting the number of grams of carbohydrates consumed

The healthiest sources of carbohydrates—unprocessed or minimally processed whole grains, vegetables, fruits and beans—promote good health by delivering vitamins, minerals, fiber, and a host of important phytonutrients.

Unhealthier sources of carbohydrates include white bread, pastries, sodas, and other highly processed or refined foods.  These items contain easily digested carbohydrates that may contribute to weight gain, interfere with weight loss, and promote diabetes and heart disease.

Types of carbs,

1. Simple carbs,

 Simple carbs equal simplistic nutrition

Simple carbs are sugars. While some of these occur naturally in milk, most of the simple carbs in the American diet are added to foods.

Common simple carbs added to foods include:

• raw sugar
• brown sugar
• corn syrup 
• glucose, fructose, and sucrose
• fruit juice concentrate
  

COMPLEX CARBS,

The more complex the carb, the better

Complex carbs pack in more nutrients than simple carbs. They’re higher in fiber and digest more slowly. This also makes them more filling, which means they’re a good option for weight control.

They’re also ideal for people with type 2 dybiteas because they help manage blood sugar spikes after meals.

Fiber and starch are the two types of complex carbohydrates. Fiber is especially important because it promotes bowel regularity and helps to control cholesterol.

The main sources of dietary fiber include:

• fruits
• vegetables
• nuts
• beans
• whole grains

Starch is also found in some of the same foods as fiber. The difference is certain foods are considered more starchy than fibrous, such as potatoes.

Other high-starch foods are:

• whole wheat bread
• cereal
• corn
• oats
• peas
• rice

Complex carbohydrates are key to long-term health. They make it easier to maintain a healthy weight and can even help guard against type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular problems in the future.