Types of carbohydrates

There are three main types of carbohydrates:

• Sugar– Sugar is the simplest form of carbohydrate. Sugar occurs naturally in some foods, including fruits, vegetables, milk, and milk products.
• Starch- Starch is a complex carbohydrate. Starch occurs naturally in vegetables, grains, and cooked dry beans and peas.
• Fiber- Fiber is a complex carbohydrate which occurs naturally in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, cooked dry beans and peas. Your body cannot break down most fibers, so eating foods with fiber can help you feel full and make you less likely to overeat. Diets high in fiber have other health benefits.

The amount of carbohydrates that people should eat varies depending on factors, such as age, sex, health, and whether you are trying to lose or gain weight. On average, people should have 45% to 65% of their calories from carbohydrates daily. Knowing how to read nutritional facts and food labels correctly is important when monitoring carbohydrates.