Carbohydrates
Carbohydrates are an essential part of our diet, but it is important for our physical and mental health that we make the right choices when it comes to carbs.
Simple carbs can be turned into sugar very quickly and create rapid blood sugar fluctuations which can create fatigue, mood swings, energy peaks and troughs and are not good for many physical and mental health conditions.
Complex carbs are better as they take longer for the body to break down providing a more sustained amount of energy over longer periods. Simple carbs also often lack vitamins and minerals many complex carbs have.
Please see our article on carbohydrates for more information, here we find a list of carbohydrates in each of their forms.
Simple carbohydrates in their natural form are found in:
Strawberries
Raspberries
Bananas
Kiwi
Oranges
Apples
(Many other fruits)
Simple carbohydrates in their refined form are found in:
White sugars
White bread/Flour/Pasta/Rice
Pizza
Biscuits, pastries and cakes/Donuts
Candy/Chocolate
Sugary processed breakfast cereals
Ice cream
Jam/Jellies
Fizzy drinks
Best source of complex carbohydrates, as these foods are in their most natural state
Bran
Wheatgerm
Barley
Maize
Buckwheat
Cornmeal
Oatmeal
Good source of complex carbohydrates
Beans
Chickpeas
Lentils
Potatoes/Root vegetables
Wholegrain cereals (Weetabix/Shredded Wheat very good)
Wholemeal bread/cereals/flour/pasta
Brown rice
Barley
Oats
Nuts
Brown rice
Potatoes
Other root vegetables
Wholemeal bread
Granary bread
Pitta bread (brown best)
Bagel
Wholegrain cereals
High fibre breakfast cereals
