Simple Carbohydrates
Vs. Complex Carbohydrates
Every cell in your body uses carbs for energy.
In fact, your brain can only use carbohydrates for energy. Carbohydrates also protect your muscles. When you need
energy, your body looks for glucose from carbohydrates first. If no glucose is
available, because you’re on a carbohydrate-restricted diet or have a medical
condition that prevents you from using the carbohydrate foods you consume, your
body begins to pull energy out of fatty tissue. Your body's next move is to
burn its own protein tissue (muscles). If this use of proteins for energy
continues long enough, you run out of fuel and die. Carbs provide
nutrients for the friendly bacteria in your intestinal tract that help digest
food, assist in your body’s absorption of calcium.
Unfortunately, over-consumption of
sugar, high-fructose corn syrup and other highly refined carbohydrates has been
associated with a higher incidence of diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and
even breast cancer. Eating refined carbs can result in almost uncontrollable
sugar cravings. Being addicted to sugar, flour
and processed food can come with a laundry list of problems. Simple
carbohydrates are simple sugars with a chemical structure that is composed of
one or two sugars. They are refined sugars that have little nutritional value
to the body. You should limit your intake into small quantities. In comparison
to complex carbohydrates, simple carbohydrates are digested by the body more
quickly, because they have a very simple chemical structure.
Fruits and vegetables are actually simple
carbohydrates — still composed of basic sugars, although they are drastically
different from other foods in the category, like cookies and cakes. The fiber
in fruits and vegetables changes the way that the body processes their sugars
and slows down their digestion, making them a bit more like complex
carbohydrates. Soda, candy, artificial syrups, sugar, white rice, white bread,
and white pasta Potatoes (which are technically a complex carb, but act more
like simple carbs in the body) Pastries and desserts You can enjoy simple
carbohydrates on occasion, you just don't want them to be your primary sources
of carbs. And within the simple carb category, there are better choices — a
baked potato, white rice, and regular pasta — than others — chips, cakes, pies,
and cookies.
Complex
carbohydrates are considered "good" because of the longer series of
sugars that make them up and take the body more time to break down. They
generally have a lower glycemic load, which means that you will get lower
amounts of sugars released at a more consistent rate — instead of peaks and
valleys —to keep you going throughout the day. Some great healthy complex carbs
are; Spinach , grapefruit , turnip greens ,lettuce ,zucchini oatmeal, asparagus,
plums and celery
If you are not ready to make a complete change in
lifestyle but want to feel better and lose some weight, making small changes in
your diet can help. Switching out simple carbs for more complex carbs, in
addition to eliminating refined sugar will result in steady fat loss. Add in a
stable exercise routine and you are on your way to healthier you.
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