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Article: Carbohydrates
- Article from:
- Nutrition and Well-Being A to Z
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CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2004 The Gale Group, Inc. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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Carbohydrates
Carbohydrates
are one of three macronutrients that provide the body with
energy
(
protein
and fats being the other two). The chemical compounds in carbohydrates are found in both simple and complex forms, and in order for the body to use carbohydrates for energy, food must undergo digestion,
absorption
, and
glycolysis
. It is recommended that 55 to 60 percent of caloric intake come from carbohydrates.
Chemical Structure
Carbohydrates are a main source of energy for the body and are made of carbon, hydrogen, and
oxygen
. Chlorophyll in plants absorbs light energy from the sun. This energy is used in the process of photosynthesis, which allows green plants to take ...