Why is oatmeal a complex carb?

If you love to start the morning with a bowl of oatmeal, keep up the healthy habit. Oatmeal provides complex carbohydrates to help fuel your body and brain and houses a host of other important nutrients as well. read more

The ratio of complex to simple carbs in oatmeal changes drastically when you add sugar, which is why packaged, flavored oatmeal is less healthy than unflavored varieties. For example, a packet of one major brand's apple-cinnamon instant oatmeal contains 14.5 grams of sugar, 3.4 grams of fiber and 15.6 grams of starch. read more

The more complex the carbohydrate molecule is, the longer it takes to be metabolized. So simple sugars are for quick energy and complex carbohydrates are for longer-lasting energy, especially when paired with the right ratio of protein and fat. Oatmeal is classified as a complex carbohydrate by definition of a complex carbohydrate. As a whole, minimally processed grain, oatmeal is a good source of complex carbohydrates. read more