We think you're near Los Angeles

Currently in Los Angeles

Location: Los Angeles Current temperature: 76°F: Current condition: Clear See Extended Forecast

Natural foods provide complex carbohydrates that are essential for health

Humans need complex carbohydrates from natural foods like fruit
Humans need complex carbohydrates from natural foods like fruit
Photo credit: 
Cliff Smith/Jane's Raw Fruit Tart

Complex carbohydrates are vital to humans and natural foods offer the most efficient way to include them in any diet. Complex carbohydrates take longer to burn as fuel, thus providing more long term satisfaction of hunger and more long lasting energy. This makes weight management and natural weight loss easier to achieve.

The human body needs carbohydrates, fat, protein, vitamins, minerals, and fiber. All of these essential elements are abundant in whole foods such as fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. Complex carbohydrates from these kinds of natural foods are essential for energy and proper brain function.

Complex carbohydrates are different from simple carbohydrates because they are made up of three or more sugar molecules linked together, instead of only one or two. Of course, simple carbohydrates can be from natural foods, but refined sugar products do not provide the same benefits as natural foods such as fruits, vegetables, nuts and whole grains. High fructose corn syrup and table sugar are examples of products that contain far too many simple carbohydrates.

Simple carbohydrates do occur naturally in fruits and vegetables, but in much smaller amounts than in products like cookies, candy, ice cream and cakes. Some high starch natural foods such as potatoes, corn, carrots and whole grains include even longer chains of complex carbohydrates. That’s why these natural foods provide long lasting energy without the sugar crashes associated with simple carbohydrates.

Experts suggest that half of the calories consumed each day should be from complex carbohydrates. There are so many items to choose from that this daily recommended amount should not be a problem. However, some do find it difficult to eat enough of the right kinds of carbs each day. Maybe they don’t care for the taste of a large enough variety of fruits or vegetables to consume the daily required amount. In those cases, there are concentrated products which can provide plenty of nutrition in formulas that are easy to drink. In fact, it is now easier than ever to consume the right kinds of complex carbohydrates in advanced health food formulas that provide an abundance of nutrients from natural foods.

For more info:

Natural replacement for sugar makes it easy to cut back on extra sugars

Natural weight loss with low carb foods

Health food that really makes people healthy

5 guidelines for healthy food choices

Advertisement

, Phoenix Healthy Food Examiner

Cliff Smith has been a healthy food fanatic in Phoenix for over 15 years. He worked as the first morning radio personality on Smooth Jazz 95.5FM KYOT. Then, he created his own online health food store, www.BestHealthFoodStore.net, offering unique, all natural foods and health drinks not sold in...

Don't miss...