Getting Enough Complex Carbohydrates?

[WyoShiela]

Hi Everyone,

Does anyone know what gluten-free foods are high in Complex Carbohydrates? Everything I'm eating seems to be either protien or simple carb. I just heard that Complex Carbs are the only fuel that the brain can use efficiently, and boy does my brain need fuel!

Patricia

[WGibs]

I know the diet can feel limiting at first, but you have lots of choices for complex carbohydrates. The best choices are foods that are naturally gluten-free: rice, beans, potatoes, buckwheat, sweet potatoes or winter squash, corn, peas, lentils, cream of rice cereal...

Then there are the gluten-free versions of breads and pastas and cereals. The breads are usually better toasted. Pasta made from brown rice (Tinkyada is a good brand) is almost identical to traditional semolina pasta. For cereal, I've found good gluten-free versions of corn flakes, rice crispies, and corn "chex." Whole Foods or a natural foods store are a good place to look for these -- just watch out for malt in the ingredients list; it's a popular sweetener and comes from barley.

I'm sure more experienced people will have more ideas for you -- I'm pretty new at this.

Good luck, and enjoy trying new foods!

[WyoShiela]

Thank you WGibs,

I didn't realize that vegetables were such a good source. I guess I have more in my diet than I thought.

It's 50 miles to the nearest natural foods store, so I don't go to often to get the pasta's and cereals, but have been using beans and rice to make bread.

Thank you, I feel re-assured now, and will keep eating my vegetables!!!

Welcome to the celiac diet. It always keeps me on my toes.

Patricia

[ohmyheavenwhy]

great! i will have to keep this list in mind! i've noticed lately that i've been craving sugar to an extreme.... i think my body is trying to make up for the lack of complex carbs that i haven't been careful to make sure i consume! never had to worry about that before..... ha!

when i first went off gluten, whenever i wanted bread i ate chocolate instead. not to make me feel better, just i will crave really specific things, and apparently to my body chocolate was the next best thing.

does anyone have any more complex-carb rich foods to contribute to the list? i would appreciate it!

[Generic]

Fruits, veggies and whole grains are complex carbs. If you are craving sugars you are craving simple carbs, which is white rice, noodles, sugars, potatoes,etc. Basically anything that is starchy or sugars your body can turn into energy easily is not a complex carb.