Carbohydrate: Mainly sugars and starches, together constituting one of the three principal types of nutrients used as energy sources (calories) by the body. Carbohydrates can also be defined chemically as neutral compounds of carbon, hydrogen and oxygen.
Carbohydrates come in simple forms such as sugars and in complex forms such as starches and fiber. The body breaks down most sugars and starches into glucose, a simple sugar that the body can use to feed its cells. Complex carbohydrates are derived from plants. Dietary intake of complex carbohydrates can lower blood cholesterol when they are substituted for saturated 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 per gram. Proteins also provide 4 calories per gram. Fats are 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 form water with the general formula Cn(H2O)n.
Library > Literature & Language > Dictionary ( kär ' bÅ-hÄ« ' drÄt ' ) n. Any of a group of organic compounds that includes sugars, starches, celluloses, and gums ...
Choose good carbs, not no carbs. The best sources of carbohydrates--whole grains, vegetables, fruits and beans--promote good health by delivering vitamins, minerals ...
The WHO also recommends that no more than 10% of carbohydrate consumption come from simple carbs. The body needs a certain amount of carbohydrates to function ...
A carbohydrate is an organic compound. with the empirical formula C m (H 2 O) n; that is, consists only of carbon. hydrogen, and oxygen, with a hydrogen:oxygen atom
noun any of a class of organic compounds that are polyhydroxy aldehydes or polyhydroxy ketones, or change to such substances on simple chemical transformations, as ...