drink alternative to non-sugary bread, i.e. complex carb drink

[Veri]

Hello, is there a specific drink (powdered or ready-made) please that substitutes for low-sugar bread in that
1. it comprises mostly complex carbohydrates but
2. no/negligible mono/disaccharides (i.e. not sugary) and also
3. has no icky artificial sweeteners? esp not sucralose.

Basically, when you're told to "have some complex carbs e.g. bread", what can you have that's in liquid rather than solid form?

 

[Westley]

I've heard of bodybuilders using Cream of Rice, which is technically a complex carb, but assuming it's like eating white rice, it wouldn't be very slow release compared to low sugar solid bread. You could maybe add in some form of soluble fibre to slow things down though.
I think most shop bought plant milks like oat tend to have a lot of other stuff in, and aren't that great nutritionally.

A search also turns up Isomaltulose, which you can buy as a powder:

Isomaltulose - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

Interesting question. Why would you want this?

 

[KennyA]

Hello, is there a specific drink (powdered or ready-made) please that substitutes for low-sugar bread in that
1. it comprises mostly complex carbohydrates but
2. no/negligible mono/disaccharides (i.e. not sugary) and also
3. has no icky artificial sweeteners? esp not sucralose.

Basically, when you're told to "have some complex carbs e.g. bread", what can you have that's in liquid rather than solid form?

The thing that would suggest itself is something that's often called "liquid bread" - and that's beer.

I'm a bit confused about why you'd be looking to avoid sugar yet want a high carbohydrate drink. Carbs are digested to glucose anyway. What were the circumstances where someone was told to "have some complex carbs"?

 

[Veri]

I think most shop bought plant milks like oat tend to have a lot of other stuff in, and aren't that great nutritionally.

Mm, I am thinking now about brown rice drinks which seem to be sold in supermarkets and I found at least one brand (Rude Health) that's basically that, oil, water and salt.

A search also turns up Isomaltulose, which you can buy as a powder:

I'll check about that, thank you. It seems to be disaccharide but slowly digested, so maybe it will be approved!

Interesting question. Why would you want this?

Scenario is family member with Parkinson's and diabetes (T2 insulin dependent) who is told at certain times of day to have some wholemeal bread, specifically for slow release sugar during digestion, but on days when their dexterity is worse it can be easier to drink through a straw rather than pick up food. Also I'm thinking to the longer term future - there must be solutions in place for people who are both diabetic and whose Parkinson's eventually makes it hard to swallow.

They tried protein drinks at some point and found the unpleasant way that they do not have a nice reaction to sucralose, which rules out a few ready-made shakes.

So I am hunting for some ideas that might work in practice that I could propose to the diabetes nurse for a yay/nay.

 

[lovinglife]

When my dad lost his swallow to Lewys body syndrome & Alzheimer’s he was T2 on insulin he just had food he would normally eat but well blended until very smooth, dad was on level 3 liquidised. Don’t know if he link below helps you any

IDDSI Diet Levels & Information - St George's University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

7 – Regular 7* – Regular Easy Chew 6 – Soft and Bite Sized 5 – Minced and Moist 4 – Pureed 3 – Liquidised Transitional Foods Level 7 – Regular What is a Regular diet? It is a diet which: Normal, everyday foods of various textures that are … Continue reading →

www.stgeorges.nhs.uk

 

[Melgar]

@Veri yes, complex carbs take longer to digest, therefore the glucose released will enter the bloodstream more slowly. Wild rice would be a complex carb, whole wheat foods, 'healthy' foods (from whole food stores) generally use complex carbs . Watch out for the sugar.
Although all carbs convert to glucose of course, the complex ones take longer to enter your blood stream than simple carbs like white rice, breads with white flour. The latter are more likely to cause a spike.

 

[Westley]

@Veri yes, complex carbs take longer to digest, therefore the glucose released will enter the bloodstream more slowly. Wild rice would be a complex carb, whole wheat foods, 'healthy' foods (from whole food stores) generally use complex carbs . Watch out for the sugar.
Although all carbs convert to glucose of course, the complex ones take longer to enter your blood stream than simple carbs like white rice, breads with white flour. The latter are more likely to cause a spike.

I think there's some confusion about terminology here. I believe in the standard usage even white rice is technically classified as a complex carbohydrate because it consists of polysaccharides, in contrast with simple carbohydrates which are monosaccharides like glucose or disaccharides like sucrose.

Carbohydrate - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

Some complex carbohydrates can cause quite rapid BG rises.
Whole grain vs refined grain is maybe a more useful distinction if we want to separate between slower acting and faster acting carb sources.

 

[Melgar]

I think there's some confusion about terminology here. I believe in the standard usage even white rice is technically classified as a complex carbohydrate because it consists of polysaccharides, in contrast with simple carbohydrates which are monosaccharides like glucose or disaccharides like sucrose.

Carbohydrate - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

Some complex carbohydrates can cause quite rapid BG rises.
Whole grain vs refined grain is maybe a more useful distinction if we want to separate between slower acting and faster acting carb sources.

You are quite right @Westley. I was trying to simplify so thanks.
White rice sends my own blood sugars up very quickly. I made full use of complex carbs when I was running competitively .

 

[grantg]

try look at "wiltshire farm" booklet i recall my gran used them as she had difficulty swallowing... they do pre made meals in variious forms, from chuncky regular food, minced, to various forms of puried food alongside some that are pretty much liquid having added water. another company she used very occassionally was "mrs gills" however she didn't enjoy those as much. there was another couple of companies that the hospistal suggested to her, i can't recall them at the moment, however if it comes back to me I'll update the thread. hopefully that may help a little bit

 

[grantg]

About Wiltshire Farm Foods Food.

Our chefs are dedicated to creating delicious dishes that tickle taste buds to help you get the most out of life.

www.wiltshirefarmfoods.com

Home - Gills Shop

mrgills.co.uk

forgot to post links to those. looking through wiltshire foods on their broachure imo is easier they'd send you one out if call them

 

[grantg]

oh other bit of maybe useful info she had some powder that put in water to thicken it up a little bit no idea at the moment what that was called. there was also some protien shake things which she had prescibed (cant think of the name of them at present) perhaps your gp may know otherwise i can try look through over old images of her flat to see if can spot one in any might take me several days she lived til 93 around 15 years on the softer foods from wiltshire.