Essay On Carbohydrates

What are Carbohydrates? Carbohydrates are the sugars, starches, and fibers found in fruits, grains, vegetables and milk products. Carbohydrates are sugars that break down inside the body to create glucose. Glucose is moved around the body in the blood and is the primary source of energy for the brain, muscles, and other essential cells. There are two types of carbohydrates, simple and complex; Simple carbohydrates refer to sugars with a simple molecular construction of one or two parts. Because of their simple molecular structure, the body can process these simple sugars quickly , this leads to an energy spike, a sudden rush of energy as sugars are converted to glucose followed by a low once the process is complete and the simple carbohydrates have been used. Processed and refined sugars tend to have a high Glycemic Index (GI) – affecting blood sugar levels quickly - compared to naturally occurring complex carbohydrates which in turn have a lower GI. Refined sugar is a common source of simple carbohydrates in the modern diet. Many processed, packaged and fast foods contain simple carbohydrates as ‘sugar’ is used as a
Foods rich in complex carbohydrates also contain valuable vitamins, minerals and fiber which are vital to overall health and wellbeing. As foods containing complex carbohydrates are processed more slowly by the body they can provide sustained energy levels over longer periods of time than simple carbohydrates. The Glycemic Index (GI) of foods rich in complex carbohydrates is, therefore, lower. Foods rich in healthy complex carbohydrates include whole grains, wholemeal bread, and whole grain breakfast cereals, oats, pasta, rice (especially brown rice), potatoes, beans, lentils, and