Carbohydrates:Mainly sugars and starches, together constituting one of the three principal types of nutrients used as energy sources (calories) by the body.Carbohydratescan also be defined chemically as neutral compounds of carbon,hydrogenandoxygen.
Carbohydrates comeinsimple forms such as sugars and in complex forms such as starches and fiber. The body breaks down most sugars and starches intoglucose, a simplesugarthat the body can use to feed its cells. Complex carbohydrates are derived from plants. Dietary intake of complex carbohydrates can lowerbloodcholesterol when they are substituted forsaturated fat.
Carbohydrates are classified into mono, di, tri, poly and heterosaccharides. The smallest carbohydrates are monosaccharides such as glucose whereas polysaccharides such as starch, cellulose and glycogen can be large and even indeterminate in length.
The energy produced by carbohydrates is 4 calories pergram.Proteinsalso provide 4 calories per gram.Fatsare high-cal; they provide 9 calories per gram.
Etymology:Carbohydrates are called carbohydrates because the carbon, hydrogen and oxygen they contain are usually in the proportion to formwaterwith the general formula Cn(H2O)n.
