Behind the hype:

Why is this an issue?

Popular media suggests we should cut carbohydrates from our diets. This opinion is often based on suggestions that eating carbohydrates provides excess energy to the diet and contributes to weight gain. What are carbohydrates? In a nutshell Carbohydrates are organic compounds naturally occurring in many foods, including fruits, Carbohydrates are essential for good vegetables, breads, cereals, pasta and rice. health because they provide the main Carbohydrates are classified according to their source of energy for the body and brain. chemical forms. Polysaccharides (previously classified as complex carbohydrates) include Eat carbohydrates with a higher fibre starch and fibre and are found in fruits, vegetables content, such as wholegrain breads, and wholegrain cereals. rolled oats or wheat biscuits rather than Sugars (previously classified as simple lower fibre carbohydrates, such as white carbohydrates) occur naturally in foods such as bread or puffed wheat. fruits, and milk. Fruits are also a source of vitamins so should be eaten every day. The word ‘sugar’ usually refers to refined table sugar Eat at least five servings of fruits and (), but there are many other types of sugar vegetables every day. eg, lactose, , maltose and . Sugars can be added to foods in many other forms, such as molasses, glucose, dextrose, brown sugar, fruit Avoid energy-dense foods that are high purees, honey, golden syrup, palm sugar or corn in sugar and fat such as soft drinks, syrup. Look out for these on food labels. lollies, cakes, biscuits and sweetened breakfast cereals. Dietary guidelines do not recommend limiting sugars such as those in fruit and milk as these foods are not considered to have adverse health All fruit juices and fruit drinks contain outcomes and provide other beneficial vitamins lots of sugar – even those labelled as and nutrients. However, added sugars (ie, added pure fruit juice. Restrict consumption of by the cook, manufacturer or consumer) plus these beverages. sugars concentrated in honey, syrups and fruit juices should be limited.

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NPA042 ǀ JUN 2019