Carbohydrates are nutrients that our bodies use for energy. We can find them in many types of food like grains, fruits, vegetables and dairy products.
Carbohydrates are one of the main nutrients that provide energy and essential nutrients to the body. They are made up of carbon, hydrogen and oxygen atoms.1
There are three types of carbohydrates:
- Sugars: Sugars are simple carbohydrates made of one or two sugar molecules. Examples include glucose, fructose and lactose.
- Starches: Starches are complex carbohydrates made up of many sugar molecules linked together. Starches are found in grains, legumes and starchy vegetables.
- Fiber: Fiber is also a complex carbohydrate but it cannot be digested by the body.
Carbohydrates provide energy to the body’s vital organs such as the brain and muscles. During digestion carbohydrates break down into glucose which the body uses for immediate energy or stores in the liver and muscles as glycogen for future use. 1