Simple vs. Complex Carbohydrates
Simple vs. Complex Carbohydrates
Many health experts recommend cutting down or eliminating sugar and other simple carbohydrates, and increasing the servings of complex carbohydrates in the diet.
Carbohydrates are necessary to your health because every cell in your body uses them for energy. In fact, your brain can only use carbohydrates for energy. Unfortunately, high consumption of sugar and other highly refined carbohydrates has been associated with a higher incidence of diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and even breast cancer. According to the World Health Organization, sugars and other simple carbohydrates are a leading factor in the worldwide obesity epidemic.
With the popularity of low-carb diets, many people are afraid to eat many carbohydrates, but it is important to distinguish between the health-robbing effects of simple sugars and other carbs, and the health-giving properties of complex carbohydrates.
Complex carbohydrates are high fiber foods which improve your digestion. They help stabilize blood sugar, keep your energy at an even level, and help you feel satisfied longer after your meal.
In contrast, sugar and other simple carbohydrates can alter your mood, lead to cravings and compulsive eating, cause wide swings in your blood sugar levels, and cause weight gain in most people. In addition, a high consumption of sugar can led to uncomfortable withdrawal symptoms when you finally decide to improve your diet and forgo the sweets.
If you are trying to eliminate simple sugars and carbohydrates from your diet but you don’t want to refer to a list all the time, here are some SUGGESTIONS:
Read the labels. If the label lists sugar, sucrose, corn syrup, white or “wheat” flour, they contain simple carbohydrates. If these ingredients are at the top of the list or within the first 5 ingredients, they may contain mostly simple carbohydrates and little else. They should be limited as much as possible. They won’t be completely avoidable, but do your best.
Look for foods that have not been highly processed or refined. Choose a piece of fruit instead of fruit juice, which is very high in naturally occurring simple sugars. Choose whole grain breads instead of white bread. Choose whole grain oatmeal instead of packaged cold cereals.
*Any weight loss or health testimonials presented here are applicable to the individuals depicted and are not a guarantee of your weight loss nor are they typical. Herbalife products can be a healthy part of your weight loss program, which includes diet and exercise.
An extensive questionnaire generated responses from more than 200 U.S. Herbalife Independent Distributors about their weight-loss programs and results. They reported weight loss ranging from 4 pounds to 167 pounds and a reduced body mass index (BMI) of 1.5 points to 24.1 points, suggesting that consumption of Herbalife® products is associated with weight loss and improvement in BMI in those ranges.
**These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.
