Your Questions About Complex Carbohydrates

Donald asks…

Complex carbohydrates?

What are complex carbohydrates?
What foods contain them?
How are they different from other carbohydrates?

admin answers:

Starches are fairly easy to digest. However, your body doesn’t digest cellulose, which is an important component of dietary fiber.

Complex carbohydrates are found in fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds and grains. Some examples of foods high in starchy complex carbohydrates include bread, cereal, rice, pasta, potatoes, dry beans, carrots and corn. Green vegetables like green beans, broccoli and spinach contain less starch and more fiber. All grains include starchy carbohydrates. However, whole grains — such as whole wheat pasta — are better for you because they also have more fiber.

David asks…

Complex Carbohydrates?

Hi everyone i am learning about the complex carbs: starch glycogen and cellulose. In my book it asks: how does the body use them? I can’t find the answer anywhere? If someone could please explain the answer i would very much appreciate it! Thank you for all your help!

admin answers:

Your body digests carbohydrates(starch and disaccharides, which are sugars) into simple sugars such as glucose and fructose, which can be absorbed and we use it for energy. We can not digest cellulose, but our body uses it as fiber to help push the digesting mass along the digestive tract. Glycogen is how our body can store some of the excess sugar in the liver. It is readily available to convert back to glucose and be used for energy.

Nancy asks…

What are complex carbohydrates and is sweet potato one of them and are they good for me?

Waht are these complex carbohydrates and if they are good for me,how are the good for me and what can i find them in.

admin answers:

Complex carbs are the opposite of simple carbs. When your body takes them in, it converts them to sugar that your body uses for energy. (On a much more complex level, they go through Glycolisis, Pyruvate formation, Krebs, and ETC) but carbs are simply a compliment to proteins that your body craves for energy. Complex carbs are good for you because they provide you with energy longer than simple carbs. Whole grains, sweet and white potatos, pasta, beans, and oatmeal are all great sources.

Jenny asks…

What’s the difference between complex carbohydrates and simple sugars?

Aren’t they basically the same and make you gain weight? Why do some people think complex carbohydrates or starches are good for you while simple sugars or simple carbohydrates are not?

admin answers:

Both have the same amount of calories (4 per gram of carbohydrate) but their nutritional value is very different. Complex carbohydrates are what you find in whole grains (brown rice, whole wheat, quinoa, etc), beans/legumes, vegetables.
Complex carbohydrates are better for you, and are an essential part of your diet, because foods with complex carbs have high amounts of fiber in them, which improves digestion. Foods that are more digestible have their nutrients better absorbed into the body and give you better energy. Foods with complex carbohydrates also have more protein.
Simple carbohydrates include fruit, which should be a part of your diet as well. Foods with lots of added sugar, like cake, candy, soda and honey, have little nutritional value and are likely to make you gain weight.
Don’t be afraid of carbohydrates, your body needs them to function properly.

Richard asks…

Q. What are the names of 2 other complex carbohydrates that are found in the diet apart from starch?

Q. What are the names of 2 other complex carbohydrates that are found in the diet apart from starch? Can we digest these compounds to obtain energy, if not, why are they important in digestion?

admin answers:

1) Cellulose is not digestible by humans and is often referred to as ‘dietary fiber’ or ‘roughage’, acting as a hydrophilic bulking agent for faeces.

2) Chitin found in cell walls of some fungi, crustaceans exoskeletons..
Similar to cellulose, not digested, serves as a source of fibre.

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