Our body has a lot of processes that go into the whole system as it will break down and digest anything that person consumes. One of the biggest sources of energy is complex carbohydrates.
Complex carbohydrates are a type of carbohydrate that has a complex sugar structure, which the body breaks down and absorbs. The energy is broken down through digestion and exercise. (see aerobic exercise and mechanical and kinetic energy)
It is very important to know how to identify complex carbohydrates as they are one of the biggest contributors of glycogen, which will turn into fat if the body does not burn the energy. If you want to learn more about simple carbohydrates vs. complex carbohydrates and other complex carbohydrate articles, then you may click any of the links above.
Begin by identifying and outlining the supertype or overall category of the food you are trying to identify. Most simple foods like candies and juices have simple carbohydrates.
All complex carbohydrates have starch, but not all starchy food are complex carbohydrates. This means you have to determine if the food has starch as one of its key components.
Grains and other fibrous foods are examples of complex carbohydrates. Check if the food you are identifying has whole or refined grains in its makeup.
Complex glucose or sugar structure creates complex carbohydrates. Refinement or processing can break those carbohydrates down into simpler structures which will turn the complex carbohydrate into simple carbohydrates.
People have found out that there are three main types of carbohydrates that people categorize based on their source and chemical composition, properties, and reactions. Sugar is a type of carbohydrate that is the most simple form of carbohydrates, which means it is very easy to find and consume. Starch is the second type of carbohydrate, which is a product of multiple sugar molecules. People call the third type of carbohydrate fiber, which is a complex carbohydrate due to the complex sugar structure of the carbohydrates.
There are many types of everyday food you can eat to obtain complex carbohydrates. Whole and unprocessed grains like rice and whole wheat bread have a lot of complex carbohydrates in the form of fiber. You can also find complex carbohydrates in fruits like apples, oranges, and kiwis due to their sugar composition. There are also vegetables with complex carbohydrates like sweet potatoes and broccoli.
Four elements make up complex carbohydrates, each with its specific functions and benefits when the person digests and absorbs these carbohydrates. Starch is the first element that makes up complex carbohydrates, a person’s saliva will easily digest and break down starch into sugar for chemical energy or potential energy. Glycogen refers to the stored energy the person’s body does when it does not need to digest carbohydrates. Cellulose and chitin are specific wall-like structures that humans cannot digest but have different uses in the digestive tract.
Complex carbohydrates are a sub-type of carbohydrates that have a complex sugar structure. It is important to know how to identify complex carbohydrates that will allow the person to prepare their daily food intake. Simple carbohydrates and complex carbohydrates are commonly found in most of our food, therefore it is important to know how to properly pace and prepare the type of food and carbohydrates we consume.
