Complex Carbohydrate
carbohydrates or also known as saccharides, are the most plentiful out of the four major classes of biomolecules. They have several tasks such as storing and transporting energy and being the structural building blocks of living things.Carbohydrates also play a major role in the functioning process of the immune system, fertilization, blood clotting and development.They play a vital role in interactions between cells and other elements, interactions between cells in the cellular environment.
Not all carbohydrates are bad and not all carbohydrates are good. Some are essential for a healthy lifestyle while certain carbohydrates ,if eaten in excess, can pose a threat to one’s health by causing diabetes and coronary heart disease. Carbohydrates are a vital element of a healthy diet as it is the provider of bodily fuel for physical activities and for proper organ functioning. Vegetables, fruits, whole grain and fiber are ample sources of carbohydrates, as they provide oneself with the necessary vitamins and minerals.Beans,milk,potatoes,cookies,corn,pasta and bread include carbohydrates within them. The most common and abundant forms are sugars, fibers and starches.
A sugar molecule is the basic building block of every complex carbohydrates which is a combination of carbon, oxygen and hydrogen.Some contain hundreds of sugars such as starches and fibers that are chains of sugar molecules. The carbohydrate is broken down by the digestive system into separate sugar molecules it would be small enough to pass through the blood stream.The cells take in the digestible carbohydrates that convert into glucose as a universal energy source. Fiber cannot be broken down into sugar molecules so it is undigested in the body. Soluble fiber and insoluble fiber don’t provide the body with any nourishment, although they contribute to the health through many ways. Fiber lowers low-density lipoprotein and regulates the body’s use of sugars. The insoluble fibers help the food push through the intestinal tract encouraging regularity.
Foods such as whole wheat bread, brown rice and whole grain pasta will help protect the body against a range of chronic diseases. A breakfast containing whole grains such as cereals, oats or whole oats would be an ideal way to add more carbohydrate to your diet. Brown rice or whole grain breads should be used for lunch or snacks. If you are an individual who meticulously plan your diet, you go for half whole wheat flour and half white flour. Beans should be amply incorporated into your regular diet as they contain carbohydrates that digest slowly and also because they are rich in protein.