Carbohydrates

Carbohydrates are found in many food ingredients. Carbohydrates are created by atoms, including carbon, oxygen and hydrogen. They are a main source of energy for body cells. When we eat carbohydrate-rich food items, it easily gets digested and easily breaks down to release energy within the different cells of our body.

Carbohydrates break into glucose molecules, which are released into the bloodstream. The excess amounts of glucose molecules get stored in the liver.

Carbohydrates have many varieties of sugar units, including:

Monosaccharides (aldohexose and fructose)
Disaccharides (saccharose and lactose)
Oligosaccharides
Polysaccharides units (starch, glycogen, and cellulose).
Carbohydrate compounds:

Sugars: A simple structure made up of glucose molecules. It easily gets dissolved in water.
Starch: Complex in structure, less sweet compared to sugars.
Fibre: Fibers have a complex structure and take time to break down.