Everywhere you look, people are talking about carbs. Low-carb, no-carb, and much more. Many people get the sense that carbs are inherently bad, but this is just not true. Let's take a look at the two different types of carbs and how our bodies use them.
What are carbohydrates? They're essentially sugars that provide lots of fuel for our brains and our muscles, and they come in two major kinds: simple carbohydrates and complex carbohydrates.
Simple carbs have a simple chemical structure, as they are simply one or two sugar molecules, and are digested easily and quickly. You tend to feel hungry soon after eating simple carbs, due to the fact that they are easily digestible. Some common types of simple carbs added to foods include raw sugar, fructose, fruit juice concentrate, corn syrup, high-fructose corn syrup, glucose, sucrose, and more. Check out this list of foods that commonly contain lots of simple carbs. The general consensus surrounding simple carbs among nutritional experts is that they should generally be avoided.
The other major type of carbohydrate is the complex carbohydrate. These carbs have a more complex chemical structure, meaning that they take longer to digest, which keeps you fuller for longer. Complex carbs are found in foods with higher amounts of fiber, vitamins, and minerals - all of which are important for your health. Unprocessed grains (quinoa, whole-wheat pastas, buckwheat, etc), vegetables, high-fiber fruits, beans, and many other foods are great sources of complex carbohydrates that keep you fuller for longer and provide your body with important nutrients.
Now that we know the two main types of carbohydrates, let's think back to the "low-carb" diet trend. While this trend sometimes does aim to reduce the amount of simple carbs eaten, which can be beneficial to your health, more often than not these diets aim to reduce all carbohydrate intake, which is not healthy. Your brain and muscles depend on carbohydrates as their main energy source. Without any carbs, you will be sluggish and weak.
Now that you're equipped with these basics on carbohydrates, go out there are choose the carbs that are best for you and your body.
