
05/02/2025
All About carbohydrates
Hey everyone! Happy New year 2025
I have seen a lot of misleading information about wholemeal foods and simple carbs floating around, and I wanted to take a moment to clear things up. There’s a misconception that wholemeal foods are just like refined carbs or that all carbs are bad, but that’s far from the truth!.
It’s important to differentiate between simple sugars (monosaccharides and disaccharide (like glucose, table sugar) which can lead to rapid spikes in blood sugar)
Vs
complex carbohydrates (polysaccharides) which include;
starch (digestible)
Glycogen (digestible)
Cellulose (fiber)
Let's shift our focus on Fiber now
Types of dietary fiber and their Functions
Insoluble fiber
Carbohydrate that does not dissolve in water and the body cannot digest it because it lacks enzyme cellulases
Function
It promotes regular bowel movement Prevents constipation
Slows down digestion hence controls sugar absorption helping keep blood sugar on check.
Good sources of insoluble fiber include:
Whole grains
Green beans
Nuts
Vegetables
All fruits with edible skins
Soluble fibre
It dissolves in water forming a gel-like substance.Just like any other organism, bacteria in the gut need to eat to get energy to survive and function.
These bacteria are able to ferment soluble fibre producing gas (excreted as farts) and short chain fatty acids(SCFAS) namely
acetate, propionate, and butyrate. These fatty acids offer several health benefits like:
Acetate is absorbed into the bloodstream and used by various tissues as an energy source.
Propionate may help regulate cholesterol levels and contribute to reducing the risk of heart disease.
Butyrate functions to Provide energy to colon cells, supports gut health, and has anti-inflammatory properties.
Good sources of soluble fiber include:
Oats
Bananas
Chia seeds
Nuts
Seeds
Legumes
Berries
Citrus fruits
:Photo courtesy 👇