Carbohydrate

Carbohydrates (compounds of sugar unit chains) are essential structural components of living cells which are responsible for storing energy. They are made up of carbon, hydrogen and oxygen. Important units of carbohydrates are Monosaccharides, Disaccharides and Polysaccharides.

Examples of simple carbohydrates are table sugar (sucrose), fruit sugar (fructose) and milk sugar (lactose).

The Mayo Clinic endorses the following: "The Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommend that carbohydrates make up 45% to 65% of total daily calories. So if you get 2,000 calories a day, between 900 and 1,300 calories should be from carbohydrates. That translates to between 225 and 325 grams of carbs a day."

See also

• Carbohydrates and brain function
• Mayo Clinic advice on carbohydrates