Nutrition and Health

Carbohydrates are made up of atoms of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen synthesized by plants through photosynthesis. The basic carbohydrates are:

Monosaccharide

Glucose (blood sugar)
Fructose (fruit sugar)
Galactose (a kind of milk sugar)

Oligosaccharides

Sucrose (table sugar)
Lactose (milk sugar)
Maltose (malt sugar)

Polysaccharides

Plant polysaccharides (starch and cellulose)
Animal Polysaccharides (glycogen)

Simple carbohydrates, such as those found in fruits and processed sugar, metabolize very quickly in the body. Complex carbohydrates, starch and cellulose primarily, are found respectively, in foods like potatoes and rice and in a wide Variety of vegetables. Complex carbohydrates take longer to metabolize and therefore have a kind of time-release effect in providing energy to the body.

Carbohydrates are the easiest form of food for the body to convert into energy. Once ingested, carbohydrates are turned into glucose, which circulates in the bloodstream and fuels muscular contraction, and glycogen, which is stored in the muscles and the liver for future use. Adequate supplies of carbohydrates is essential.

For the best sources of Carbohydrates please consult the USDA website.