All about complex carbohydrates !

Maintaining lifelong health is not an easy task. The price you must pay for good health is proper care and maintenance.  Proper care and maintenance involve regular exercise, keeping a regular schedule, and of course, a balanced diet.

Balanced Diet

‘Diet’ is defined the food you eat on a day to day basis. A balanced diet is a diet which includes all important nutrients and minerals in the correct proportion. The correct amount is necessary for perfect health. A balanced diet should ideally include carbohydrates, proteins, vitamins, fats, minerals, and roughage etc. in the perfect amount and proportion. These nutrients are essential for a perfectly functioning body. In this article, we are going to focus on complex carbohydrates, or the energy giving nutrients.

Diet

What are carbohydrates?

Of all the nutrients available, only 2 of them provide you with the energy you require to carry out your day to day activities: Fats and carbohydrates.
You might be wondering what is the difference between the two is? Fats provide greater energy than carbohydrates but cannot be directly used by the body. Any excess carbohydrates ingested, which your body no longer requires is converted to fats and is stored in your adipose tissue. When you are energy deficient, your body breaks down these fats into carbohydrates and uses the energy. You can see how important carbohydrates are when it comes to providing energy to your body.
Another question which may bug you is, why should you take carbohydrates at all when fats provide greater energy? Well, a major reason is that readily available active carbohydrates do not come with the side effects a fat-filled diet can have.

Why are fats bad for your body?

Eating an excess amount of Transfat can increase your blood sugar and cholesterol levels, causing serious illnesses such as diabetes. Excess fat consumption increases weight, makes you fat and is not only aesthetically displeasing, but can hinder your daily activities as well, making life a lot more difficult.
Carbohydrates: the chemical definition
A carbohydrate, by chemistry, is a molecule that contains a carbon, hydrogen and oxygen atom and maintains the ratio of hydrogen: oxygen as 2:1.
Simple Carbohydrates vs/ Complex Carbohydrates 
Carbohydrates can be divided into 2 categories, based on the kind of work they do and where their source mainly lies.
Simple Carbohydrates: Simple carbohydrates are considered to be ‘bad’ because they are easily broken down by the body and rapidly absorbed. They are usually simple sugars like sucrose, glucose, etc or any compound whose name ends in ‘ose’. However, these simple sugars are the quickest source of energy in patients who are suffering from energy deficiency. For example, ORS is a quick energy replenisher. Food sources of simple carbohydrates include milk, cold drinks, and simple sugars.
Complex Carbohydrates: Complex carbohydrates are better for the body in the long run because it takes a long period of time to break them down, and hence a judicious use of the carbohydrates is greatly appreciated.

Natural sources of complex carbohydrates :

1. Breadfruit: Tropical by nature and a member of the family of jackfruit, it’s a very effective and natural source of complex carbs.
2. Sweet Potato: Rich in vitamins, beta-carotene, complex carbohydrates, and starch.
3. Chickpeas: A Legume which can not only help you stay lean but also provide you with the carbs you need for your body to work to its fullest capacity.
4. Oats: One of the healthiest dietary options in today’s age, oats come packed with carbohydrates and provides energy via a substance known as beta glucan.
5. Bananas: Present in almost every household, this fruit is not only tasty and easy to digest but it will help you in maintaining a proper bowel system and increase your carb content.
   
   

   Sweet Potatoes

Hence, you see the multiple benefits of complex carbohydrates, and how easily they can be added to your daily diet. Why not add these wonderful carbs and gain its wonderful benefits!