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Australian scientists were the first in the world to apply the concept of the glycaemic index to sport and exercise. Canadian scientists invented the G.I. Approach to help classify carbohydrates but Australian researchers could see that what they were doing had important implications for sporting performance. The rest of the world is still catching up. Manipulating the G.I. of the diet can give you the winning edge—whether you are one of the elite or a weekend warrior.
Misconceptions about carbohydrates. In the past we were taught that simple carbohydrates (sugars) were digested and absorbed rapidly while complex carbohydrates (starches) were digested slowly. We assumed (completely incorrectly) that simple carbohydrates gave the most rapid rises in blood sugar while complex carbohydrates produced gradual rises. Unfortunately, these assumptions had no factual or scientific basis. They were based on structural considerations, smaller molecules, like sugars, being thought to be easier to digest than larger ones, like starches. Even though incorrect, the logical nature of these assumptions meant that they were rarely ever questioned.
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