While complexes require a slower digestion process
However, the classification of carbohydrates goes beyond these two categories. They are further divided according to their structural complexity:
Sugars and simple short-chain compounds (monosaccharides and disaccharides) – Because of this property, they are also known as simple carbohydrates. They are found, for example, in some fruits, honey (fructose), milk (lactose), and white sugar (sucrose) – an ingredient found in many industrial products, such as sweets, drinks and various sweetened foods.
Starch, a longer chain of sugar compounds (polysaccharides). This type includes cereals (rice, corn, wheat, oats, rye, barley), tubers and roots (sweet potatoes, potatoes, yams, cassava, cassava), and legumes (beans, peas, lentils, chickpeas, soybeans).
Dietary fiber is also a polysaccharide, but it is a type of carbohydrate that the body does not digest. Instead, they pass relatively intact through the stomach, intestines and rectum until they are eliminated. Precisely for this reason, it is important for digestion and bowel function. They are found only in foods of plant origin, such as: fruits, vegetables (greens), whole grains, seeds, and nuts.
3. Do carbs make you fat?
It depends. For those who consume foods made with sugar and white flour/excessively refined grains (i.e. when they undergo industrial processing), such as sweets, biscuits, pasta, rice and bread, you are very likely to see a few extra pounds gain weight over the course of your life.
Charlotte Whitmore is a contributor at Mediarunsearch.co.uk, covering a broad range of topics including news, politics, business, technology, sport, entertainment, and lifestyle. She focuses on delivering clear, balanced reporting and practical information that helps readers stay informed about current events and emerging developments. Her work highlights stories that matter to everyday audiences, with an emphasis on accuracy, relevance, and accessible journalism that keeps readers connected to the issues shaping the UK and beyond.