Which statement correctly identifies complex carbohydrates?

Which statement correctly identifies complex carbohydrates?

• A. Simple carbohydrates are sugars found in fruits
• B. Fiber provides energy
• C. Water provides energy
• D. Complex carbohydrates, found in foods like pasta and bread, provide longer-lasting energy

Answer: (D)

Complex carbohydrates supply energy more gradually because their long chains are digested slowly. Foods like pasta and bread are rich in starch, a complex carbohydrate, so enzymes break it down into glucose step by step. This slower digestion releases energy over a longer period, helping sustain activity rather than causing quick spikes and crashes like simple sugars do. Fiber is also a complex carbohydrate, but it isn’t digested into glucose, so it provides little direct energy while supporting digestion. Water has no energy to offer. So this statement correctly identifies pasta and bread as sources of complex carbohydrates that provide longer-lasting energy.

Complex carbohydrates supply energy more gradually because their long chains are digested slowly. Foods like pasta and bread are rich in starch, a complex carbohydrate, so enzymes break it down into glucose step by step. This slower digestion releases energy over a longer period, helping sustain activity rather than causing quick spikes and crashes like simple sugars do. Fiber is also a complex carbohydrate, but it isn’t digested into glucose, so it provides little direct energy while supporting digestion. Water has no energy to offer. So this statement correctly identifies pasta and bread as sources of complex carbohydrates that provide longer-lasting energy.