What do carbs do for the body?

Besides providing energy, foods containing carbohydrate are typically packed with vitamins, minerals, fiber and phytochemicals. Carbs fuel our muscles and brain, and supply the energy for essential body functions like breathing and heartbeat. Without enough carbs in our diet, our body has to rely on alternate, more inefficient energy pathways that ultimately leave us weak, tired and light-headed.

What's the difference between simple and complex carbs?

All carbs are made of those same three elements: carbon, hydrogen and oxygen. To form different types of carbohydrates, the elements are arranged in a different order. Simple carbs have a very simple chemical structure, while complex carbs are, well, more complex! Think of the difference between a straight line (simple carbs) and a road map with many branches (complex carbs). Since they're both made of the same elements, the big difference is in how they're digested. This isn't rocket science: Simple carbs are digested more quickly, and complex carbs take longer because of their more complex structure.

What are some simple and complex carbs?

The simplest form of carbohydrate is glucose, or blood sugar. Simple sugars that are found in foods include sucrose (table sugar), fructose (fruit sugar), and lactose (milk sugar). So foods that contain primarily these simpler forms of carbohydrate are known as simple carbs: white sugar, brown sugar, confectioner's sugar, corn syrup, honey, maple syrup, high-fructose corn syrup, molasses. You should also include fruit juice, milk, yogurt, candy, cookies and pastries in the simple carb listing, because they're made primarily from sugar.