What are "carbohydrates"?

What are "carbohydrates"?

Susan Silberstein & Marilyn Joyce (Health and Nutrition Educator & Heath Counselor) gives expert video advice on: Will carbohydrates make me fat?; How do I avoid simple carbohydrates while eating out? and more...

Many people don't understand that there are what we call simple carbohydrates and complex carbohydrates. Simple carbohydrates are the ones that are broken down immediately in the bloodstream, and turn to sugar. This is when the problems begin with the high spikes of sugar in the blood and then the drops; the sudden drops. Complex carbohydrates are very high fibre foods; fruits, vegetables, whole grains, legumes, beans, peas, lentils, and split peas. Those are all high fibre foods that break down more gradually so that there's a steady, even influx of sugar into the blood, rather than huge amounts at one time. It's a gradual breaking down and actually the fibre, as we talk to our clients about, also helps the nutrients get dispersed throughout the body. So, it's very important to understand that the fibre in complex carbohydrates has all the many benefits that fibre has, as well as the benefit that it breaks down more slowly; you don't have that sudden glycaemic load that you get when you just drink a cup of juice, for example. You have a lower glycaemic level.