Carbohydrate: essential for health

The term "carbohydrates" may bring to mind foods such as bread, cakes, crackers, potatoes, pasta, rice and other foods which are commonly termed as "carbs".

However, from a scientifc perspective carbohydrates are a family of organic compounds which contain, in various formulae, carbon (C), hydrogen (H), and oxygen (0).

From a nutritional perspective carbohydrate compounds are considered to be macronutrients and are a source of energy and in some instances fibre.

Various carbohydrates, simple and complex, are components of many foods and beverages which usually also contain other macronutrients: water, protein and fat, and various micronutrients such as vitamins, minerals, and phytochemicals.

The many different carbohydrate compounds are commonly grouped as sugars, starches, and fibres.

Sugars (monosaccharides and disaccharides) are often referred to  as simple carbohydrates, while starches and fibres (polysaccharides) are commonly known as complex carbohydrates.

The majority of carbohydrates have chemical formulae with a ratio of one carbon atom (C) to one water molecule (H₂O) = CH₂O. Different carbohydrate compounds are composed of differing multiples of this single unit.

Monosaccharides

Monosaccharides are represented by the chemical formula C₆H₁₂O₆ (6 x single unit). Nutritionally, there are three important monosaccharides:

• glucose
• fructose
• galactose.

Glucose is an essential and significant energy source for your body. Fructose occurs naturally in fruits and...link to the full article to learn more.