Most foods contain carbs, which the body breaks down into simple sugars and are the major source of energy for our bodies. Understanding carbs and their purpose will help us make healthier carb choices and not get caught up in fad carb diets.
Carbohydrates give the body energy to perform its many functions. There are two different types of carbs; simple and complex.
Simple Carbs (simple sugars) are found in table sugar, candy, fruit and milk. Of those three, fruit and milk are the healthier choices. Fruit contains vitamins and fiber and milk contains calcium. (I am not a big advocate of milk and I will share why at a later time). While simple sugars give a quick energy increase, they also crash quickly causing you to be hungry sooner.
Complex Carbs(starches) include the grain products; bread, pasta, crackers, vegetables and rice. It is always best to select unrefined grain products over refined. Refined, are white flour, white rice any thing that has been bleached and or processed. Unrefined grains are best because they have not been processed to the point of removing fiber, vitamins and minerals. These carbs stick with you longer with the added bonus of fiber, which helps with digestion and elimination.
NancyT
