Complex Carb

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alex51026
alex51026 Posts: 71
in Food and Nutrition
What is a complex carb and why should I be eating them? What are simple foods that have them?

Thanks y'all.

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  • asissell
    asissell Posts: 2
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    Glucose, Fructose, and Galactose are simple carbohydrates or monosaccharides because they only consist of a single molecule. Sucrose and lactose are considered simple carbs, although the are disaccharides, consisting of a Glucose and Fructose combination and a Glucose-Galactose combination, respectively. With these sugars, that's all you get. Very little nutritive value in them. In fact, simple sugars cause a a spike in insulin, which triggers the body to convert the sugars to fat. Complex carbohydrates, or polysaccharides, have multiple and varied combinations of sugar molecules. The fact that there are multiple bonds to break by the body when processing these sugars, means the body is utilizing energy to break them down. Also, Polysaccharides also have the ability to create bonds with other molecules to provide essential nutrients to the body.

    Examples of complex carbohydrates inclube fiber, starch, glycogen, and cellulose. Whole grain breads and fruits and vegetables are the best way to get them. AVOID PROCESSED FOODS! The benefits are found in where the byproducts are stored, how they are broken down, and their nutrient value.
  • asissell
    asissell Posts: 2
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    Here is a list of fiber sources pulled from Wikipedia:

    Soluble fiber is found in varying quantities in all plant foods, including:

    legumes (peas, soybeans, lupins and other beans)
    oats, rye, chia, and barley
    some fruits and fruit juices (including prune juice, plums, berries, bananas, and the insides of apples and pears)
    certain vegetables such as broccoli, carrots, and Jerusalem artichokes
    root tubers and root vegetables such as sweet potatoes and onions (skins of these are sources of insoluble fiber)
    psyllium seed husk (a mucilage soluble fiber).

    Sources of insoluble fiber include:

    whole grain foods
    wheat and corn bran
    nuts and seeds
    potato skins
    flax seed
    lignans
    vegetables such as green beans, cauliflower, zucchini (courgette), celery, and nopal
    some fruits including avocado, and bananas
    the skins of some fruits, including tomatoes.

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