Current healthy eating advice is to base meals on starchy carbohydrates such as bread, pasta, potatoes, rice and cereals. The trouble is that these starchy foods break down into glucose, potentially causing blood sugar problems and weight gain. The recommended daily carb intake is at least 250g, but if you’re aiming to manage your blood sugars or lose weight, this may be up to five times more than your body can handle.
THE TRUTH ABOUT SUGARS IN FOOD
After they are broken down by digestion, starchy foods are absorbed into the bloodstream in exactly the same way as sugar. The chart, right, shows the ‘sugar equivalent’ of some everyday starchy foods, and may help explain why you’re not losing weight or improving blood sugars on your current diet.