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Nutrition & Dietetics vocabulary · Macronutrients and Water

Complex carbohydrate

Meaning in nutrition & dietetics, with examples

nounCommon term

In nutrition & dietetics, complex carbohydrate means: A carbohydrate made of long chains of sugar units, such as starch and fiber, found in grains, legumes and vegetables. It is usually digested more slowly than simple sugars.

In Turkish: kompleks karbonhidrat, karmaşık karbonhidrat

How it is used

A common teaching term in schools, gyms and counseling, contrasted with 'simple carbohydrates' or 'simple sugars'. Scientists now often prefer to talk about fiber content, glycemic index and whole versus refined foods, because some starches are digested quickly.

Example sentences

  1. Legumes are an excellent source of complex carbohydrates and protein.

  2. White bread contains complex carbohydrates, but its starch is digested very quickly.

Common collocations

  • simple carbohydrates
  • starchy foods
  • refined carbohydrates
  • source of complex carbohydrates
  • carbohydrateA macronutrient found in foods such as bread, rice, fruit, legumes and milk. The body breaks it down mainly into glucose, its main source of energy; it gives about 4 kcal per gram.
  • whole grainA grain such as wheat, oats, barley or brown rice that still contains all three parts of the kernel: the bran, the germ and the endosperm.
  • glycemic indexA scale from 0 to 100 that ranks carbohydrate foods by how quickly they raise blood sugar compared with pure glucose, which has a value of 100.
  • dietary fiberThe parts of plant foods that the human small intestine cannot digest, found in whole grains, legumes, vegetables, fruit, nuts and seeds. It supports bowel function and can help control blood sugar and cholesterol.

More terms: Macronutrients and Water

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This page explains English vocabulary for learners. It is not medical advice.