Diet Makeover! (Continued) day 4

So what are complex carbohydrates, and where can I get them?

A complex carbohydrate is a carbohydrate containing chains of three or more single sugar molecules linked together. There are many different sources of complex carbohydrates, and they can be obtained from grains, potatoes, and vegetables just to list a few. One way to make sure that you are getting complex carbohydrates is to only purchase whole grain or complete grain products when buying things like; bread, pasta, flower, or cereal. Also you will want to choose sweet or red potatoes over white potatoes and brown rice over white rice. Oatmeal and legumes are also excellent sources of complex carbohydrates. As long as you make sure you are getting your carbohydrates from sources like the ones listed above as opposed to sugars or refined, bleached, and over processed items like white breads, pastas, and cereals, then you should be headed in the right direction. Some of the benefits of consuming complex carbohydrates over simple carbohydrates are; higher fiber content, they take longer to digest, you will feel fuller longer, and they don’t spike your insulin levels as much as simple carbohydrates.