Carbohydrates can be a complicated and perplexing topic because there are different types and they are not all made equal…. To clear up any misunderstandings, I’d like to examine this topic a little bit further today and clarify that when it comes to fertility, we all need to include some carbohydrate in our daily diet and it’s the TYPE of carbohydrate you’re eating that matters.
What exactly is a carbohydrate?
Carbohydrates are an important macronutrient that should account for about half of our daily energy needs (ideally around 45% when it comes to fertility). All plant foods, including fruit, vegetables, nuts, seeds, grains, and legumes, offer them to us. Carbohydrates are sugars, starches, and fibres that occur naturally in the foods we eat. Simple sugars, such as glucose, make up the majority of carbohydrates. Starches and fibre are formed when multiple simple sugar molecules are joined together. Our bodies break down starches to generate glucose, whereas fibre travels through our digestive tract largely undamaged carrying toxins with it along the way.
What are simple and complex carbohydrates?
Carbohydrates are classified as either simple or complex based on their chemical structure and how they are digested by the body. Simple carbohydrates are made up of small sugar molecules that are simple to digest by your body. Some of these sugar molecules are found naturally in food such as fruits, while others are highly processed and added to baked goods. Here’s an example of how not all carbohydrates are created equal: as, not all simple carbohydrates such as those found in fruit, are bad; instead, the focus should be on how quickly they raise blood sugar levels.
Simple, PROCESSED carbohydrates, on the other hand, are the ones to watch, as they are linked to insulin resistance, high cholesterol levels, and metabolic syndrome, all of which are diseases that may hinder conception.
Complex carbohydrates on the other hand (or ‘slow’ carbs) contain longer chains of molecules and are digested more slowly. Examples of ‘slow’ carbohydrates are foods such oats, brown rice, cooked sweet potato, beans, some fruit and vegetables, wholegrains and lentils. Slow carbohydrates also contain vitamins, minerals and fibre. This type of carbohydrates help balance the blood sugar levels making you feel less hungry.
Tools to assist you in making informed carbohydrate choices…. The Glycemic Index (GI) and Glycemic Load (GL).
When it comes to choosing carbohydrates and fertility, it is a good idea to think ‘slow and low’. The Glycemic Index (0-100) ranks carbohydrates according to how quickly they elevate blood sugar levels. Pure glucose has the highest GI (with a value of 100) and is used as the comparison point for other foods.
Glycemic load (GL), on the other hand, takes into account the amount of carbohydrate that is consumed as well as how quickly that carbohydrate raises blood sugar. To calculate GL, divide the glycemic index of a food by the quantity of carbohydrate it contains per serving and multiply by 100; GL = (GI x carbohydrate (number in grammes) / 100. When creating an optimal fertility diet, Glycemic Load is more informative because it tells you how a serving of food will affect your blood sugar.
Slow carbohydrate foods (such oats, brown rice, cooked sweet potato, beans, lentils) have a lower GL than fast carbohydrate foods (like sweets, cakes, and processed foods), which cause blood sugar levels to rise and fall. As a result, eating more low-GL meals slows digestion and regulates energy release from foods and drink.
Low GL carbohydrates help to keep blood sugar levels in check by regulating sugar release. You may feel tired, irritated, and depressed if your blood sugar levels lower too much and so foods such as oats, beans, lentils etc help to keep blood sugar levels more ‘balanced’. Complex carbohydrates also aid in the appropriate absorption of tryptophan, a natural precursor to serotonin (the brain’s “feel-good” neurotransmitter).
The important take away….
A decent rule of thumb when it comes to carbohydrates is to think to yourself… Is this a wholefood carbohydrate in its natural state or has it been processed?
There will be more on carbohydrates coming soon…………
To book a personalised Nutritional Therapy consultation with Sue or for more details please email her sbnutrition@btinternet.com
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