Carbohydrates provide energy for the body and can be consumed in various ways. Simple carbohydrates are quickly digested and low in nutrients, while complex carbohydrates take longer to convert and are high in vitamins and nutrients. Prediabetic and diabetic individuals are advised to focus on complex carbohydrates and limit intake of certain types.
There is a lot of talk about carbohydrates these days. Some diets involve eating a large number of carbohydrates, while others recommend only a modest daily intake of carbohydrates. While several approaches to carbohydrate consumption are recommended, all agree that the main function of carbohydrates is to provide the body with material that can be converted into energy.
Carbohydrate consumption is something that everyone does on a daily basis. While carb isn’t the only means of providing the fuel for energy in the body, it is often considered one of the most efficient. The function of carbohydrates in the body is to produce both sucrose and glucose, which the body in turn can absorb and convert into energy with relatively little effort.
Over time, investigations into the form and function of carbohydrates have led many health enthusiasts to divide carbohydrates into two different camps. Simple carbohydrates are those carbohydrate-laden foods that can be digested quickly in the system. Sometimes referred to as bad carbohydrates, simple carbohydrates tend to provide fewer essential vitamins and nutrients than other foods. Simple carbohydrates are often obtained from refined and packaged foods, such as sugar, honey, milk and fruit juices.
By comparison, complex carbohydrates will take longer for the body to convert to sucrose or glucose and will be high in vitamins and nutrients. Referred to as good carbohydrates, the function of carbohydrates that fall into this category is to provide a constant release of energy into the body while providing more of what each of us needs from our daily diet. Carbohydrates in this category tend to be very low in processed sugars and other additives. Fresh and frozen vegetables, oatmeal, various types of legumes, dark breads and pastas are generally considered to be good examples of complex carbohydrates.
People who are in a prediabetic condition or who are able to manage their diabetes with diet are often advised to focus their carbohydrate intake on complex carbohydrates and omit simple carbohydrates from their daily meal plan. Because the function of carbohydrates which are considered complex, a small amount will provide much needed nutrients with a relatively small amount of sucrose and glucose that the body needs to process.
Even within this recommendation, it may be wise for some diabetics to avoid the daily intake of certain complex carbohydrates. Eating less bread, pasta, and starchy vegetables while increasing your intake of fresh green leafy vegetables often helps keep blood glucose levels closer to normal ranges while still providing plenty of energy for the body to work with.
Protect your devices with Threat Protection by NordVPN
