Simple Carbohydrates vs. Complex Carbohydrates
Article Sources
- 1. ’Carbohydrates.’ Cleveland Clinic. www.my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/15416-carbohydrates
- 2. Kandola A. ‘What to know about simple and complex carbs.’ Medical News Today. www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/325171
- 3. Holesh J; Aslam S; Martin A. ‘Physiology, Carbohydrates.’ National Institutes of Health. www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK459280/
- 4. ’Glycemic index for 60+ foods.’ Harvard Health Publishing. www.health.harvard.edu/diseases-and-conditions/glycemic-index-and-glycemic-load-for-100-foods
What Are Simple Carbohydrates?
Carbohydrates are organic compounds made up of short and long chains of glucose molecules called saccharides. The simplest ones, monosaccharides, are the most basic and include glucose, lactose and fructose, known as simple sugars. Sucrose, or table sugar, is a disaccharide with two monosaccharides combined.3Holesh J; Aslam S; Martin A. ‘Physiology, Carbohydrates.’ National Institutes of Health. www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK459280/
Simple carbohydrates contain one or two glucose molecules, are the most easily used for energy and cause a rapid rise in blood sugar. They're found in candy, soda, syrup, fruit juice and table sugar. Some types aren't nutritionally valuable, while others have some vitamins and other nutrients.1’Carbohydrates.’ Cleveland Clinic. www.my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/15416-carbohydrates
