Information on carbohydrates can be confusing, so here are some useful terms. Some of them are used more widely than others, but you will see them on products, in diet plans and in magazines.
- Carbohydrates: One of the three main forms of food in the human diet (the other two are fats and protein). Carbohydrates are a wide range of organic compounds, that come from plants. They include carbon, hydrogen and oxygen. Starches and sugars are some examples of the carbohydrates we eat.
- Complex carbs: Carbohydrates with a more intricate chemical composition. Because of their intricate composition, our digestive system takes longer to break these carbohydrates down into basic sugars. Plant-based foods in their raw or natural form are mostly composed of complex carbohydrates, as well as fibre, plant-based fats and nutrients. It is this winning combination of nutritious ingredients and slow digestion that makes plants, in their natural form, among the healthiest foods available to humans. Diet experts often call these "good carbs."
- Simple carbs: These are chemically simple, so they digest quickly into glucose, or blood sugar. While some plant foods — such as potatoes and carrots — contain lots of simple carbohydrates, most of the simple carbohydrates in our diet are a result of the refining processes that food manufacturers use. White flour, refined sugar and white rice are the most common simple carbohydrates. The process that simplifies carbohydrates often removes the fibre, plant fats and micronutrients from the original plant, thus stripping it of much of its nutrition value. Diet experts may call these "bad carbs."
- Net carbs: (also known as "smart carbs" or "impact carbs") This is a recently devised concept. Essentially, net carbs are complex carbohydrates minus their fibre and certain natural sweeteners. The theory is that net carbs are the parts of the carbohydrate that affect blood sugar levels, but most nutritionists consider these sorts of carbohydrate measurements to be gimmicky, invalid and not at all useful.
Whether you're embarking on a diet or just trying to eat more healthily, keep these terms in mind to help you understand the different kinds of carbohydrates. You could also use this information to help start a conversation with your doctor or nutritionist about your diet and how to improve it.
