Avoid these foods unless they are made with sugar substitutes. Read package labels to avoid foods containing sugars. Look for terms such as sugar, corn syrup, corn sweetener, or high fructose corn syrup. Complex carbohydrates and proteins are important in the diet. They are a basic source of energy.
Complex carbohydrates are many molecules of simple sugars linked together like beads on a string.
They take longer to break down in the intestine, and this helps to keep blood glucose levels more consistent. Pasta, grains, and potatoes are complex carbohydrates. Proteins are made of amino acids that the body needs for growth and good health. Foods from animal sources contain protein, but so do legumes, nuts and seeds. Most food protein can be converted into glucose by the body, but since this process takes some time, the glucose gets into the bloodstream at a slower, more consistent pace.