Are There Good Carbohydrates?
Question: What is the difference between complex carbohydrates and simple carbohydrates?
Answer: The carbohydrates in your diet should be complex carbohydrates. Simple carbohydrates should be avoided. Simple carbohydrates are sugars that are converted into glucose and absorbed by the blood too rapidly. They will give you an immediate shot of energy followed by a sudden loss of energy. Simple carbohydrates include sweets like candy, cookies and desserts and anything made with white flour...like sandwiches made with white bread, white rice, flour tortillas, etc. You may notice that after you have a lunch of a sandwich on a French roll you feel tired an hour later. That is because white flour has almost the same effect on the bloodstream as straight table sugar.
Complex carbohydrates, on the other hand, are made up of starches and fibers, and break down into glucose slowly providing a consistent supply of energy for a long period of time.
Foods high in complex carbohydrates include vegetables cooked or raw, potatoes, whole grain breads, pastas and cereals, legumes (beans, peas, lentils) seeds and nuts.
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