Carbohydrates are a major macronutrient and one of your body’s primary sources of energy. Some diets discourage eating them, but the key is to find the right carbs rather than avoid them entirely. You may have heard that eating complex carbohydrates is preferable to simple carbohydrates. However, nutrition labels do not always indicate whether the carbohydrate content is simple or complex. Understanding how these foods are classified and how they work in your body can help you choose the right carbs. Recognizing Carbohydrates: Carbohydrates are a vital nutrient found in a wide variety of foods. Carbohydrates are commonly associated with bread and pasta, but they can also be found in: • dairy products • fruits • vegetables • grains • nuts • legumes • seeds sugary foods and sweets The three components of carbohydrates are fibre, starch, and sugar. Fiber and starch are both complex carbohydrates, whereas sugar is a simple carb. The amount of each of these found in a food determines its nutrient quality. Simple carbs equal simplistic nutrition: Simple carbohydrates are sugars. While some of these occur naturally in milk, the majority of simple carbohydrates in the American diet are added. • raw sugar is a common simple carbohydrate added to foods. • dark brown sugar • corn syrup and high-fructose corn syrup • glucose, fructose, and sucrose• fruit juice concentrate Simple carbohydrate foods to avoid: Try to avoid some of the most common refined sources of simple carbs and look for alternatives to satisfy those sweet cravings: 1. Soda Sugary soda is harmful to your health in a variety of ways. Instead, try water flavoured with lemon. 2. Baked goods Instead of baked goods loaded with simple carbs and added sugars, satisfy your sweet…
