Carbohydrates

Carbohydrates are the number one fuel for energy and should supply 50% of your calorie intake, with the majority coming from complex carbohydrates such as bread, cereals, pasta, potatoes and rice.

As a staple food, rich in complex carbohydrates bread can help:

• Increase your stamina and fight fatigue
• Boost energy and performance
• Fill you up so you're not tempted by those fattening snacks
• Make you feel happier! A breakfast rich in complex carbohydrates such as bread has been shown to improve your mood and make you feel more alert
• Can help you lose weight as part of a low fat diet
• A high intake of fibre rich carbohydrate can reduce the risk of developing cancers of the gastrointestinal tract including colon cancer
• The Government, nutritionists and dietitians are placing increasing emphasis on the role of carbohydrates in a healthy diet. The UK's Committee on Medical Aspects (COMA) Food Policy's 1994 Report on cardiovascular disease recommended a 50% increase in the consumption of complex carbohydrates such as bread.

The Government, nutritionists and dietitians are placing increasing emphasis on the role of carbohydrates in a healthy diet. The UK's Committee on Medical Aspects (COMA) Food Policy's 1994 Report on cardiovascular disease recommended a 50% increase in the consumption of complex carbohydrates such as bread.The British Nutrition Foundation, the British Dietetic Association and the Food Standards Agency recommend that consumers should be eating 50% of their calories as carbohydrates. Have a look at the Balance of Good Health to find out what foods you should be eating more off.  It is a pictorial food guide showns the proportion and types of food that are needed to make up a health balanced diet.

In 2003 the Medical Research Council (MRC) Human Nutrition Research produced an obesity report in association with FAB entitled 'Tackling the Weight of the Nation'. The report found there is strong evidence from lifestyle intervention studies in Europe and North America that overweight individuals who become active, reduce the fat in their diet and include unrefined carbohydrates can significantly reduce their weight over several years. Modest weight losses of 5-10% of initial weight over a 4-year period have been shown to more than halve the new cases of diabetes.

The health strategies that can achieve this require people to:

• Be more active, reducing sedentary activities and increasing programmed exercise
• Eat less fat
• Eat proportionally more wholegrain and high-fibre carbohydrate foods
• Reduce added sugars, especially soft drinks
• Reduce portions of energy-dense foods
• Plan regular meals, including breakfast

For more information on 'Tackling the Weight of the Nation' please click here.