Complex carbohydrate foods are those that will last longer and are better for you and having a list of complex carbohydrate foods can make shopping much easier. You want to focus on eating these foods if you are looking at losing weight because complex carbohydrates take longer to break down and be metabolized when compared to simple carbohydrates.

Besides taking longer to breakdown complex carbohydrates tend to be all natural and not processed or refined which means they also contain more of the nutrients and vitamins your body needs. Most complex carbohydrates do not contain preservatives or other additives.

Most complex carbohydrates are found in plants in the form of starches. Plant starches which include fiber and cellulose cannot be digested by humans. Then there is glycogen which is found in animals. These carbohydrates are actually long chains of sugar molecules. So you need more energy to break the sugar molecules apart and then metabolize the single sugar molecules.

These complex carbohydrates have been found to be a good replacement for fatty and cholesterol rich foods as they help stabilize your blood sugar and provide more energy. If you follow the glycemic index then complex carbohydrate foods will be found with a GI of 15 to 50, depending on the item. Many people that suffer from diabetes use the glycemic index to help them choose proper food.

The best complex carbohydrates include barley, bran, wheat germ, maize, cornmeal, buckwheat and oatmeal. Other foods that are good sources of these carbohydrates include Pasta, spaghetti, potatoes, whole meal breads, brown bread, bagels, all bran, cassava, yam, peas, macaroni, brown rice, root vegetables, granary bread, pita bread, wholegrain cereals, porridge and muesli.

Some fruit and vegetables that contain plenty of complex carbohydrates include spinach, okra, tomatoes, kidney beans, grapefruits, carrots, onions, zucchini, lentils, apples, pears and oranges.