The Nutrition Information Centre of the
University of Stellenbosch (NICUS)
Nutrients
Carbohydrates
It is the body's primary source of energy and is mainly found in plant based foods.
-
The brain is highly dependent on a regular, predictable supply of glucose.
-
The building blocks of carbohydrate are called sugars or simple sugars i.e. glucose, fructose and galactose
|
Carbohydrate: | |
Simple sugar: |
|
Sucrose (table sugar) |
= |
glucose + fructose |
|
Maltose (malt sugar) |
= |
glucose + glucose |
|
Lactose (milk sugar) |
= |
glucose + galactose |
- Simple sugars link together to form large complex carbohydrates which are present in food i.e. sucrose, maltose and lactose.
- In plants carbohydrates are stored as starch
- In animals carbohydrates are stored as glycogen
