Table of contents:
- What are refined carbohydrates?
- What are some examples of refined carbohydrates?
- What are the health effects of refined carbohydrates?
- 1. Overweight
- 2. Type 2 diabetes
- 3. Heart disease
The food we eat certainly has an effect on health. In general, all foods contain nutrients that are good for the body if consumed in accordance with what the body needs. And, if the food is consumed in excess, it can certainly have an impact on health. However, sometimes in the food you eat, you don't know what it is and how much is in it. One of the things you may have just heard about is the content of refined carbohydrates in food. What is it and is consumption of refined carbohydrates harmful?
What are refined carbohydrates?
Carbohydrates are substances that the body needs, as the main source of energy for the body. You can get these carbohydrates from eating a variety of foods. Many foods contain carbohydrates. However, the types of carbohydrates contained in the food you eat are not always the same. One of the types of carbohydrates commonly found in food is refined carbohydrates.
Refined carbohydrates are carbohydrates that have gone through many processes to become the food you eat. This process removes the coating of seeds, bran, fiber, vitamins and minerals. So, what remains is fine grains with very little nutritional content, maybe even none.
What are some examples of refined carbohydrates?
There are two main types of refined carbohydrates, namely:
- Sugar: such as refined sugar, sucrose (table sugar), and high fructose corn syrup
- Refined flour: grains that have been processed to remove fiber and nutrients. Like refined wheat flour.
Some of the foods you may not know may contain these refined carbohydrates. Examples of some foods that contain refined carbohydrates are:
- Various snacks, such as chips, crackers, pretzels
- White bread and pasta, these are processed foods made from flour. Flour is a fine grain obtained from processing grains.
- Sweetened drinks, such as soft drinks, energy drinks, and packaged teas usually contain added sugar, such as high-fructose corn syrup
What are the health effects of refined carbohydrates?
Refined carbohydrates are carbohydrates that have been processed into substances that are easily absorbed and digested by the body. Because they are very easily digested by the body, refined carbohydrates are also called simple carbohydrates. The removal of fiber, vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, fat, and protein during the process makes refined carbohydrates very easily absorbed by the body.
1. Overweight
However, this is also bad for your health. The absence of the nutrients contained in refined carbohydrates means you only eat foods that are 'zero' but high in calories. If consumed in excess, of course this can lead to weight gain.
In addition, its fiber content is very little and very quickly digests also makes you feel full after consuming it for a long time. As a result, you will overeat, which can support weight gain and obesity.
2. Type 2 diabetes
Besides being able to cause obesity, you can also experience it type 2 diabetes mellitus if you eat too much refined carbohydrates. The sugar and starch content in refined carbohydrates can quickly raise your blood sugar levels after you eat these foods. The pancreas will then produce insulin to control blood sugar levels.
However, if your intake of refined carbohydrates is excessive and your pancreas can't produce enough insulin, your blood sugar levels will be high and lead to type 2 diabetes.
3. Heart disease
Excess consumption of refined carbohydrates can also cause heart disease. This can happen because it turns out that refined carbohydrates can increase triglyceride levels and reduce levels of good fats in your blood. So, it can increase your risk of developing heart disease. Foods that contain refined carbohydrates are usually high in sodium, saturated fat, and bad fats, which can increase your risk of heart disease.
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