What are the foods that contain carbohydrates?

When we talk about diets, meal plans, losing weight, etc. We come across terms like calories and carbohydrates. In the end, we all keep repeating that we have to count the calories we eat and that we have to take care of the carbohydrate content in food; but do we really understand what carbohydrates are? And do we know which are the foods that contain carbohydrates?

In this article we will tell you everything you need to know about carbohydrates, so you can start making decisions nutritionally more accurate based on foods that contain carbohydrates, as well as having better control over your feeding.

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What are carbohydrates?

Carbohydrates, which They are also called carbohydrates, carbohydrates, or saccharidesThey are a very important nutrient for the proper functioning of our body. Carbohydrates are molecules that are made up of carbon, hydrogen and oxygen, and are fundamental for our body since they are in charge of providing the energy we need and of store it.

All the functions of our body need energy. When we eat foods that contain carbohydrates, an enzyme called amylase is responsible for breaking down these carbohydrate molecules into glucose; Glucose is the gasoline used by the body to carry out its functions.

For every gram of carbohydrate we eat, we get 4 kilocalories (Kcal). The distribution of that energy (kilocalories) in the form of sugar in the blood is made by our body, first supplying all calorie needs for the proper functioning of the body, and then storing a small amount in the liver and muscles.

From there, all that excess glucose remains inside the body converted into adipose tissue, that is, fat. This is why calorie counting has become so popular, especially in weight loss programs; so that in our nutrition, foods that contain carbohydrates, adapt to the caloric intake that our body needs without leaving any remaining that can be transformed into fats.

Are Carbs Bad?

It is often said that "carbohydrates make you fat." We normally think of carbohydrates as bad because we only associate them with stored fat and weight gain, so we try to avoid them at all costs. The truth is that carbohydrates are essential for our body, as long as it can correctly fulfill all its functions.

What you should learn is to better choose foods that contain carbohydrates, so that they are healthier and quickly absorbed, supply all the necessary calorie intake and avoid the surplus. So you won't have to worry about a few extra kilos.

So you should know that there are two types of carbohydrates: simple and complex; and they are determined according to their nutritional content and the speed with which the body can absorb them.

Simple carbohydrates are those that are composed of fast-absorbing simple sugars and that have a fairly low nutritional contribution, which is also why are called "bad carbohydrates".

On the other hand, structurally complex carbohydrates are made up of three or more types of sugars that form a chain. They are complex because their nutritional content includes fiber, vitamins and minerals; its absorption is slower so it does not increase blood sugar levels for that reason they are also known as "good carbohydrates".

Carbohydrate-containing foods

These are the foods that contain carbohydrates, we deliver them to you differentiated between simple and complex, so that you can identify them and make better nutritional decisions.

Simple or "bad" carbohydrates

Foods that contain simple carbohydrates are characterized by having fructose, glucose, galactose, sucrose or maltose.

These are sugar, white flour and refined foods such as puff pastry, pastries, sweets, chocolates, honey, jam, soft drinks, packaged cereals, sweets, drinks carbonated (soft drinks), white rice, pasta, pizzas and prepared meals, beers, alcoholic beverages, products processed from corn and products processed from potatoes.

• Tip: Fruits, for their fructose content, and products derived from milk, for their content of galactose, being of only one type of sugar, are considered as foods that contain carbohydrates simple. However, they are rich in vitamins and minerals! If you choose simple carbohydrates, let it be these.

Complex or "good" carbohydrates

Foods that contain complex carbohydrates are characterized by including starch, pectin, glycogen and fiber.

You find them in starchy foods such as the legume family (lentils, beans, chickpeas, barley), in foods made with cereals whole grains (different breads, brown rice, whole wheat pasta), vegetables (broccoli, spinach, zucchini, bananas, avocado, asparagus, cabbages, aubergines, cucumber, celery, carrots, mushrooms, peppers, garlic, onion, tomatoes and many others), tubers (cassava, potato), seeds such as walnuts, oats, corn, quinoa.

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Remember that the secret is always a balanced diet And, in terms of carbohydrates and calories, try not to eat more than your body needs so that you do not store them as fat. Read food labels if you're not sure which group of carbohydrate-containing foods it belongs to.

Don't obsess over counting calories; Instead, he integrates the basics of a healthy diet and makes it a part of your life. Keep in mind that we do not all have the same needs and our bodies are different; So find the balance that your body needs.