Carbohydrates macronutrients beside fats and proteins that provide a significant amount of energy for the metabolic processes in the body. The institute of medicine recommended that 45-65% of your diet should come from carbohydrates. They are found in foods like beans, rice, fruits, vegetables, breads, and pastas.
Nutritionists often refer to carbohydrates as either simple or complex. However, it can be hard to delineate the two categories. In the past complex carbs have been used to distinguish sugars (simple carbs) from other carbohydrates. Complex carbs are typically seen as superior foods.
Some nutritionists use the term complex carbohydrate to refer to any whole food where fiber, vitamins and minerals are also found (as opposed to processed carbohydrates, which provide calories but few other nutrients). Simple carbs are found in common sugar, candy, white bread, and white pasta. Complex carbohydrates are found in foods like whole wheat bread, whole wheat pasta, beans, oatmeal, and brown rice.
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