Although all carbohydrates have some structural similarities, the way in which your body uses them can vary widely. The National Institutes of Health and National Library of Medicine explain that carbohydrates can be classified as either complex or simple, which refers to their molecular structure but also affects their rate of digestion. The organizations explain that simple carbohydrates are absorbed more quickly by your body--these are often referred to as "fast" carbs. Meanwhile complex carbohydrates take more time to be broken down by your body and are called "slow" carbs. Each type of carbohydrate has unique qualities.
Fruits
According to the Utah Education Network, fruits are foods that contain fast, or simple, carbohydrates. The network explains that nearly all fruits contain glucose and fructose, both of which are simple sugars. The Utah Education Network explains that these simple sugars provide a quick source of energy,but they usually do not contain fiber. Unlike most other fast carbohydrate sources, fruits do provide vitamins and minerals, however.
Honey
According to the National Library of Medicine and National Institutes of Health, honey is a simple carbohydrate source. The organizations note that although most double sugars, such as sucrose, or table sugar, do not contain vitamins and minerals, honey does provide some nutrients. However, the organizations also recommend not giving honey to children younger than one year old.
Potatoes
According to the magazine "Psychology Today," potatoes are a fast carbohydrate source. The magazine explains that potatoes have a very high glycemic index, or GI, rating. The GI scale measures the effect a food source has on your blood sugar levels. The higher the GI rating, the quicker and more significant the impact on your blood sugar levels. "Psychology Today" explains that high GI foods may promote an initial burst of energy followed by a crash.
White Bread
"Psychology Today" explains that white bread has a higher GI rating than whole wheat bread, and contains little fiber, a nutrient that helps slow down digestion. "Psychology Today" notes another drawback of this fast carbohydrate source, explaining that research found the consumption of low-fiber, fast carbohydrate sources at breakfast led to higher calorie consumption at lunch compared to complex carbohydrate sources.
Dairy
The National Institutes of Health and National Library of Medicine note that lactose is a simple, or fast carbohydrate, and that this is the main sugar in dairy products. This means that foods such as milk and yogurt, which are high in lactose, are fast carbohydrate foods. In addition, yogurt with fruit included and chocolate milk contain added sugars, which are fast carbohydrates.
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