Carbohydrates

Sugar

Besides fat, the carbohydrates (= saccharide, or colloquial sugar) are the most important engergy source of our food. In a balanced diet the carbohydrates cover 50-55% of our energy demand. Comestible goods with a high carbohydrate portion are pastas, potatoes, rice and cereal products.

A distinction is made between simple (monosaccharides) two-fold sugar (disaccharides) or complex (oligosaccharides and polysaccharides) carbohydrates.

The calorific value of one gram carbohydrate is 4.1 kcal (=17.2 kJ).