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Carbs
in All Types of Food and Drink |
Glycemic Index GI of Carbs |
Carbohydrates in FoodCarbs are one of three main nutrients in food, the others being fats and protein. There are three common types of carbs in foods: (1) Sugar; (2) Starch; and (3) Dietary fiber. Only sugar and starch is digested, as the human body lacks the digestive enzymes to break down (metabolize) dietary fiber in the intestinal tract. Carbs in Processed FoodSugar is the most widespread form of carbohydrate. Not least because one of the most common ingredients in processed food, is sugar. In fact, about half our sugar intake comes from 'invisible' sugars inside foods (rather than sugar we add), the main sugar culprits being sodas, cakes, cookies and candy. Carbs in Natural FoodsSugar-carbs are found in a range of natural food, including milk (containing lactose, or milk sugar), fruits (containing fructose, or fruit sugar) and sugar beet (containing sucrose). Starch-carbs are found in all cereal grains, as well as roots and tubers. Starchy foods include: bread, pasta, rice, noodles, couscous, tapioca, potatoes, sweet potatoes and yams. Dietary fiber carbohydrates (soluble and insoluble fiber) are found in most plant foods, like fruits and vegetables, legumes and whole grain cereals. Foods Contain Different Types of CarbsMany foods contain a mixture of different types of carbohydrate. For example, many whole grain cereals and beans contain both starch and fiber (soluble and insoluble). Digestible or Net CarbsWith the advent of low carb diets and carb-counting, it is common to see the phrase "Net Carbs" or "Digestible Carbs." In simple terms, this refers to the total amount of carbs in a particular food that can be absorbed and digested in the intestinal tract. It therefore excludes dietary fiber as this cannot be digested. In simple terms, the easiest way to calculate "net carbs" in a food, is to subtract its content of dietary fiber from it's total carb content. Glycemic Response to Carb FoodsTo see how rapidly carb-rich foods raise blood glucose levels, GI Values for Carbohydrates. Nutrition in CarbohydratesFor details of vitamins, minerals and other nutrients, like phytochemicals, see below. |
Carb Content of
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Carbs-Information.com provides general information about different types of carbohydrate, like monosaccharides, disaccharides, oligosaccharides, polysaccharides, as well as nutritional value of carbohydrates, carb-content of foods, plus details of GI values of all food groups, plus advice about diabetes, impaired glucose tolerance and insulin resistance. But no information is intended as a substitute for medical advice. Copyright 2003-2021. |