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Was Simple Simon Really Simple or Complex? The Skinny About Carbohydrates.
By Larry Seitz | February 8, 2008
Simple Simon says: “Complex carbohydrates are better than simple ones.” Wait, before you take that step, let’s think about it.
Carbohydrates are organic chemical combination compounds of carbon, oxygen, and water, a bond between oxygen and hydrogen. Carbohydrates, the Greek word for saccharides means sugar. Its family, bio-molecules comprise all living organisms.
Carbohydrates provide energy, needed by the body to work. The ‘carbs’ come in stored forms. Starch, a plant polysaccharide as cellulose forms a major part of the cell wall. In animals and humans, a denser polysaccharide, glycogen can quickly be converted into energy. Carbohydrates, the most common energy source requires less water to digest than proteins or fats.
The simplest form of a carbohydrate is a monosaccharide, which are usually small compounds. They are called simple sugars, in the form of glucose or dextrose, galactose, and fructose. Simple sugars are found in honey, jams, jellies, syrup, table sugar, candies, soft drinks, fruits, and fruit juices, and vegetables. In general, foods containing simple sugars provide the body with energy and calories, but are considered “empty calories.” Empty equals no nutritional value. Are you listening Simon?
Occasional simple sugars are practically unavoidable; however ingesting too many simple sugars can create hyperglycemia. This is when glucose enters the blood stream and the blood sugar concentration becomes high. Under normal situations, your body will produce Insulin to combat that sugar overload. When glucose is not used immediately, the body stores it in the form of glycogen in the liver and muscles, awaiting the call to convert it back to glucose for energy. The problem is that this excess of glycogen is then stored as fat.
Diabetes Mellitus occurs when the body can no longer produce the correct level of insulin or use it effectively to reduce sugar in the blood. The insulin defect occurs most often in overweight people or “couch potatoes.” Fat…overweight…glycogen storage…obesity…diabetes? Simon, do you see a “simple” relationship occurring?
Complex carbohydrates can provide phytochemicals, vitamins, minerals, and fiber. The best ones come from vegetables, whole grains, breads, seeds, pasta, rice, legumes, and beans excluding those that are refined. Glucose, broken down in the body by several enzymes, goes into your blood stream, taking a longer time to be released avoiding that sugar rush.
Simon, you have answered the question. Complex carbohydrates are better than simple. So, lets take that step. It is that simple.
Brianna Blueberry™, one of the SunPower Kidz™ healthy complex carbohydrates filled with nutritional things.
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