Have you ever eaten a bowl of pasta or a slice of white bread and found yourself hungry again within half an hour? Or maybe you’ve felt that familiar post-meal crash, the sleepiness, the irritability, the sudden need for another snack just to stay upright.
This isn’t your imagination, and it’s not a personality flaw. It’s your body responding to fast, simple carbohydrates, and the way they influence your blood sugar.
At Dietapplements, we want nutrition to feel clear, practical, and realistic, especially for women who are busy, tired, and fed up with feeling hungry all the time. Understanding carbs is one of the easiest ways to change how you feel every single day.
Carbs Aren’t the Enemy, But Some Behave Very Differently
We often hear that “carbs give you energy,” but that statement is only half true. Yes, sugar and refined carbs can give you a quick burst of energy but it’s short-lived and usually followed by an energy crash.
The right carbs, however, provide slow, steady fuel that lasts for hours. They help stabilise your mood, support healthy hormones, and even deliver valuable vitamins and minerals. Not all carbs are created equal, and your body responds to them in dramatically different ways.
Fast (Simple) Carbs: The Ones That Spike and Crash You
Fast carbs are digested rapidly, sending your blood sugar soaring. Insulin rushes in to clean up the spike, and within 30 minutes your energy drops and hunger comes roaring back.
These include:
– Bread of all kinds (white, brown, seeded, sourdough)
– Pastries
– Pasta
– Rice
– Cereals
– Crackers
– Biscuits
– Sugary snacks
– Most processed grains
Think of simple carbs as throwing a piece of paper into a fire,it burns bright and fast, then dies out almost instantly. That’s exactly what happens to your energy levels.
This rapid up-and-down cycle is what leaves you feeling:
– Sleepy
– Cranky
– Hungry again soon after eating
– Prone to cravings
– Mentally foggy
Slow (Complex) Carbs: The Ones That Keep You Steady
Complex carbs take time to digest because they naturally contain fibre and starch. This slows down the release of glucose into your bloodstream, preventing sudden insulin spikes.
Examples include:
– Potatoes
– Sweet potatoes
– Carrots
– Root vegetables
– Lentils
– Chickpeas
– Beans
These carbs act like adding a log to the fire,a slow, steady burn that gives you long-lasting energy and keeps your blood sugar stable.
The benefits of slow carbs include:
– Feeling full for hours
– Fewer cravings
– Better mood stability
– Reduced blood sugar swings
– Support for hormones like progesterone and cortisol
– Better weight management
What This Looks Like on Your Plate
Making simple swaps can completely change how you feel throughout the day.
Try replacing:
– Rice → quinoa
– Cereal → yoghurt topped with seeds or berries
– Bread → root vegetables such as carrots or potatoes
– Plain meals → add beans or lentils to soups and salads
And if you do choose fast carbs occasionally, pair them with protein or healthy fat to slow down the blood sugar spike. For example:
– Cheese or avocado on sourdough
– Almond butter with a banana
– Apples dipped in peanut butter
– Rice served with salmon instead of on its own
It doesn’t have to be a perfect diet, just one that works with your blood sugar instead of against it.
A Helpful Addition for Blood Sugar Support
Apple cider vinegar has been shown in studies to help reduce meal-related insulin spikes by around 30%. Taking it before meals can help your body handle carbs more efficiently. Our raw, unfiltered apple cider vinegar with the mother also includes superfoods, bio-cultures, and essential nutrients to support metabolic health.
Final Thoughts
Understanding the difference between simple and complex carbs is one of the most powerful ways to improve your energy, mood, and appetite control. When you fuel your body with the right carbs, you’ll experience fewer crashes, more stable hormones, and a calmer, more nourished mind and body.
Eat wisely, go gently, and trust your amazing body—it knows what to do when you give it the right tools.
--Written by Hala Ali, founder of Dietapplements
