COMPLEX CARBOHYDRATES

Not all carbs are bad for you - the same way not all fats are bad for you. Carbs are the preferred fuel source for the human body and are found mostly in plant foods. Carbs are composed of single sugars (glucose, fructose), double sugars (table sugar), and multiple chains of sugars (polysaccharides). Complex Carbohydrates are polysaccharides and are broken down during digestion to form glucose. Cellulose, the polysaccharide abundant in plant foods cannot be broken down. Cellulose passes through the digestive tract undigested, providing bulk and helping to move foods through the intestines. Cellulose is the principle component of fiber.

The best sources of carbs are complex carbohydrates. This is because the break down of complex carbs into simple sugars is slower, allowing a more gradual release of glucose into the blood. This is especially true of the carbohydrate-containing food is also high in fiber.

Vegetables are a wonderful low-calorie, nutrient-rich source of complex carbohydrates. Fruits contain a lot of natural simple sugars, but these sugars are balanced by fiber and water in the fruit; fruits, therefore, can also be consumes in moderation. Two servings of fruit per day is best.

Americans simply take in too many refined simple carbs, such as bread, pasta, and sugar. This is sometimes the most difficult food group to moderate, especially with the effects of stress driving us to crave these foods.