Complex carbohydrates are those that take longer for the body to digest. They have a lower glycemic index than simple carbohydrates and are digested by the body more slowly, providing energy for longer periods of time. The best complex carbohydrates include whole grains, legumes and starchy vegetables like potatoes.
Complex carbohydrates are starches found in foods such as vegetables, legumes and whole grains. They break down into simple sugars during digestion and provide a slow source of energy for your body. Complex carbohydrates contain fiber, vitamins and minerals that help keep your digestive tract healthy and prevent constipation.
Fruits are a good source of complex carbohydrates. They also contain fiber, vitamin C and other nutrients.
Complex carbohydrates include fruits, vegetables, whole grains, beans and legumes. Complex carbohydrates are digested more slowly than simple carbohydrates, providing you with energy over a longer period of time.
Fruits high in complex carbs include:
Apples
Bananas (with the peel)
Berries (blueberries, raspberries and strawberries)
Grapefruit
Complex carbohydrates are found in whole grains, legumes and certain fruits. Complex carbohydrates give your body energy and help keep you full. They’re also known as starches, which are long chains of carbs that the body can break down more slowly than simple carbs.
Here’s a list of fruits that are high in complex carbohydrates:
Apples: An apple a day may keep the doctor away, but it’ll also keep your blood sugar stable. Loaded with fiber and nutrients like vitamin C, apples will help you feel full longer so you don’t overeat later in the day.
Bananas: Bananas are rich in potassium and contain resistant starch, which slows digestion and makes you feel full longer. They’re also a great source of vitamins A and C, B6, folate, thiamin and magnesium.
Berries: Berries like strawberries, blueberries, blackberries and raspberries are all packed with antioxidants that can reduce inflammation throughout the body — including your joints! Eating berries regularly can also lower your risk of heart disease by lowering triglycerides (blood fats) and improving blood vessel function.
Grapes: Grapes have a high water content for making them very hydrating — perfect for hot summer days when you need some
Fruits with complex carbohydrates include:
Bananas
Strawberries
Blueberries
Raspberries
Apples
Pears
Oranges
Grapefruit
Plums
Complex carbohydrates are a type of carbohydrate that are branched, ring-shaped and large. They’re also known as polysaccharides.
Complex carbohydrates include:
Fruits and vegetables (except potatoes)
Legumes (beans, lentils and peas)
Nuts and seeds (except coconut)
Grains like quinoa and brown rice
Complex carbohydrates are a form of starch that the body digests more slowly. They’re made up of chains of sugar molecules.
Vegetables, legumes (beans), whole grains, nuts and seeds.
Fruits contain fructose, a type of sugar that gets absorbed quickly into your bloodstream. This can cause your blood sugar levels to rise rapidly, which can lead to weight gain and other health problems if consumed in excess.
However, fruits also contain fiber, which slows down the absorption of sugars into your bloodstream. This helps prevent spikes in blood sugar levels and reduces insulin resistance over time when you eat an adequate amount of fruit each day.
All fruits are considered complex carbohydrates. There are no fruits that are considered simple carbohydrates. The difference between complex and simple carbs is the plant’s process of digestion.
Complex carbohydrates take longer for your body to digest and absorb, so they provide a more sustained energy source than simple carbs. They also have more fiber and vitamins than simple carbs. Examples of complex carbohydrates include whole grains, beans, legumes, starchy vegetables like potatoes, peas and corn, as well as most fruits.
What are complex carbohydrates?
Complex carbohydrates are the good carbs. They contain fiber, vitamins and minerals — all things that your body needs to function properly.
What are simple carbohydrates?
Simple carbohydrates are bad carbs. They’re called simple because they’re made up of one or two sugar molecules. Simple carbs break down quickly and cause a big spike in your blood sugar. This can make you feel hungry again sooner than expected, which leads to overeating and weight gain.
Which fruits have complex carbohydrates?
Not all fruits are created equal when it comes to their carbohydrate content. Some fruits contain more complex carbs than others, which makes them better choices for those following a low-carb diet plan. These fruits include:
Apples (1 medium) — 17 grams of carbohydrates, 4 grams of fiber = 13 grams net carbs
Blueberries (1 cup) — 22 grams of carbohydrates, 12 grams of fiber = 10 grams net carbs
Fruits are a great source of complex carbohydrates, as well as vitamins and minerals. Many fruits also have a low glycemic index, which means they won’t spike your blood sugar levels like simple carbohydrates can.
There are many fruits that contain complex carbohydrates. Berries, apples, pears and bananas are good examples of fruit that contains simple sugars but also fiber. These fruits will digest more slowly than other fruits because of the fiber content.
However, there are some fruits that don’t contain any complex carbohydrates at all. Some examples include grapes and plums. These fruits contain a lot of sugar — but no fiber substance to slow down their digestion rate.
There are many different types of carbohydrates, but the most common ones are simple sugars and complex carbohydrates.
Simple carbohydrates (sugars) are broken down very quickly by your body and provide a burst of energy. These sugars can be found in things like fruit and dairy products.
Complex carbohydrates (starches) take much longer to digest, so they provide a more sustained source of energy for your body. Examples include whole grains, vegetables, legumes and fruits.
Fruits are considered complex carbohydrates because they’re high in fiber and nutrients but low in fat and protein compared to other foods. However, some fruits have higher levels of simple sugars than others — especially tropical fruits like mangoes and pineapple.
There are two types of carbohydrates in foods: simple and complex. The difference between these two types is not just about how quickly your body digests them. It’s also about the nutrient profile and how your body utilizes them.
Simple carbohydrates are found in foods like white bread, sweets, and fruit juice. They’re broken down quickly into glucose molecules that can be absorbed directly into the bloodstream through the digestive tract. Simple carbs are good sources of energy, but they don’t provide much nutrition or other benefits to our bodies.
Complex carbohydrates include whole grains, beans, legumes and starchy vegetables such as potatoes and corn. These foods take longer to digest because they contain fiber and other nutrients that help keep blood sugar levels stable. Complex carbs often have more vitamins, minerals and fiber than simple carbs do. This means they can help regulate blood sugar levels better than simple carbs do when eaten instead of refined grains like white bread or white rice (both forms of starch).