Carbohydrates can be simple and well…… complex! Carbohydrates in our diet are the main sources of energy, sounds simple enough, but let’s take a hopefully not too complex look at the differences between carbohydrate sources. 

Carbohydrates or carbs as they are otherwise known, come from plant based cereals, legumes and fruits. These include rice, jowar, bajra, ragi, wheat, bread and fruit sugars like glucose and fructose.  This food group should never be avoided, but one needs to choose wisely!

Simple and complex carbohydrates vary in their chemical composition and in the way the body breaks them down for energy. Complex carbohydrates like whole grains take longer for the body to break down and to get utilized. They release glucose into the body slowly preventing sudden spikes in blood sugar. These are preferred over simple carbs, which are simple to digest and break down quickly. 

Healthy carbs are high in fibre and low in sugar, this is the best way of remembering if a cereal is healthy or not. A more scientific concept used to distinguish carbohydrates is the Glycaemic Index. This indicates how soon and how high your blood sugar will rise after having a particular carb. Lower GI foods are healthier and keep you full for longer. Complex carbs have a low GI.