MHVI Owners Manual . Lifestyle Management . Nutrition . Carbohydrates

Complex carbohydrates maintain your fuel supply as you go through your day.

Carbohydrates are the primary source of energy for your body. They provide the immediate fuel that you need to function. The main dietary sources of carbohydrates are sugars and starches.

Sugars are simple carbohydrates. They appear in your diet as either natural or refined sugars. Refined sugar is used as a sweetener in many of our favorite foods such as candy, soft drinks, jams, desserts, and pastries. It is easy to consume too much sugar, which results in extra calories and often extra pounds. Excess sugar also increases insulin production and may cause elevations in a type of blood lipid (fat) called triglyceride.

The healthiest source of natural simple sugars are fruits. Getting your simple sugars from the wide variety of fresh fruits can go a long way toward improving your diet. Fruit contains nutrients as well as fiber that can contribute to your overall health and well-being.

While simple sugars can provide a quick boost of energy, complex carbohydrates maintain your fuel supply as you go through your day. They are called "complex" because they must be broken down in the digestive system to provide the type of sugar your body uses as fuel. This continuous process of breaking down complex carbohydrates helps keep your metabolism at a higher rate so that you can burn calories more efficiently. The foods that are high in complex carbohydrates include starches such as breads, grains, pasta, and rice, and vegetables such as corn, peas, and potatoes. About half of your daily caloric intake should come from these starches. If you eat whole grains such as whole wheat flour, oatmeal or any food that lists a whole grain as its first ingredient, in your diet whenever possible, you will also benefit from natural vitamins, minerals, and fiber that your body needs.

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