Exam 4: The Carbohydrates: Sugar, Starches, and Fibers

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The glycemic response, or the speed at which glucose is absorbed into the blood stream, increases when glucose is easily digested, such as when you consume large amounts of foods containing added sugars, like honey or corn syrup, particularly in the absence of any other foods. The glycemic response would decrease when the carbohydrates are less easily digested, such as when you consume foods that are high in polysaccharides, like fruits and vegetables, or when you eat the sugars with other foods that may alter sugar absorption. It is better to have a low glycemic index, as this maintains more steady-state levels of glucose and allow for lower levels of insulin to be released, rather than a large spike of glucose triggering a larger bolus of insulin, which would then lead to a sharp decline in glucose levels.