Carbohydrates
Alternate Names : Starches, Sugars
What food source is the nutrient found in?
Carbohydrates are found in various foods:
3 ounce sirloin steak = 0 grams (g)
1 medium carrot = 7 g
1 cup skim milk = 12 g
1 slice whole wheat bread = 16 g
1 cup oatmeal = 25 g
1 ounce licorice candy = 26 g
1 medium boiled potato = 27 g
1 cup orange juice, from concentrate = 27 g
1 large apple = 32 g
1 cup raisin bran = 42 g
1 cup cranberry-apple juice = 43 g
1 cup brown rice = 45 g
Carbohydrates are found in many foods in the
food guide pyramid.
They provide over half the calories of a balanced diet. Carbohydrates can
be found in the breads, cereals, and grains group at the base of the
pyramid. They are also found in the fruit group, the vegetable group,
and the milk, yogurt, and cheese groups. In fact, carbohydrates are
abundant in all the groups of the food guide pyramid except
the meat and meat substitutes group.
How does the nutrient affect the body?
The main role of carbohydrates is to provide energy to the
body. Carbohydrates are broken down into a form of sugar known as glucose.
Glucose is carried to every cell in the body by the blood and can be used
right away for energy.
Glucose can be combined into larger sugar units called
glycogen, which is a storage form of glucose. A certain amount of
glycogen is stored in the liver. It serves as an energy reserve until it's
needed by the body. To a lesser degree, glycogen is stored in muscles.
It is a key fuel source for the muscles, especially during exercise.
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