WHAT ARE

CARBOHYDRATES?
 Carbohydrates
Carbohydrates are organic molecules in which Carbon,
hydrogen, and oxygen bond together in the ratio:
Cx (H2O)y, where x and y are whole numbers that differ
depending on the specific carbohydrate to which we are
referring. Animals (including humans) break down
carbohydrates during the process of metabolism to
release energy. For example, the chemical metabolism
Of the sugar glucose is shown below:

C6H12O6 + 6 O2 6 CO2 + 6 H2O + energy

What is the difference
between simple and
Complex Carbohydrates?
 Simple Carbohydrates
•Simple Carbohydrates are also called simple sugars
and are chemically made of one or two sugars.

Glucose Fructose

•Disaccharides have two sugar units bonded together.

 Simple Carbohydrates

•Common table sugar is sucrose, a disaccharide that

consists of glucose

Sucrose
 Complex Carbohydrates
Complex carbohydrates are polymers of the simple sugars. In
other words, the complex carbohydrates are long chains of
simple sugar units bonded together (for this reason the
complex carbohydrates are often referred to as
polysaccharides). Starch is a polymer of the monosaccharide
glucose.
How are sugars broken
down and used in the body?
 The Sugar Breakdown
The liver digests carbohydrates by breaking them down into
simple sugars, or glucose, which stimulates the production of
insulin in the pancreas.

The insulin functions to get the sugar into the body’s cells to
be used as energy.
• If the body produces too much glucose, it will be stored in
the liver and muscle cells as glycogen, to be used for when
the body needs and extra burst of energy.

• Left over glycogen that isn’t stored in the liver and muscle
cells is stored as fat.

• Recommendation from the institute of medicine suggest

that 40 – 65% of adult’s dietary energy should come from
carbohydrates.
What are the benefits that
carbohydrates provide to the
body?
 The benefits of Carbohydrates
•They are an excellent energy source

• They are a rich source of fiber

• They are a rich source of vitamins

•They are a rich source of phytonutrients

 SUMMARY

Carbohydrates are often seen as the nutrient that you

want to avoid when it comes to healthy eating and
weight loss. People seem to forget that they are the
best and most efficient way for your body to get energy.
Carbohydrates are also a great source of many healthy
nutrients including fiber and vitamins which are often
unavailable in other food types. Without carbohydrates
your body will become malnourished and inefficient.
 References:
What are carbohydrates,
http://www.wisegeek.com/what-are-carbohydrates.htm

Basic Nutrition Lesson One - Carbohydrates An Introduction

to Carbohydrates, http://
nutrition.about.com/od/basicnutritionecourse/a/carbohydrates.htm

Time-to-run, http://www.time-to-run.com/nutrition/carbohydrates/index.htm

What are carbohydrates? And how do they affect the body? http://
www.eruptingmind.com/complex-carbohydrates-simple-carbohydrates