What are carbohydrates?

Carbohydrates are biomolecules containing generally a complex chain of carbon (C), hydrogen (H) and oxygen (O) atoms.

Carbohydrates (carbs) are found in various foods.

When we eat carbohydrates, enzymes present in saliva break them down into the sugar glucose. This process of breaking down carbohydrates into sugar continues in our small intestine.

Glucose is then absorbed into the bloodstream, and with the aid of a hormone called insulin (produced in pancreas), it travels into the body's cells, where it is converted into energy.

What are three types of carbs?

• Sugar or simple carbs, the body doesn't have to do a lot of work to break these down into glucose.
• Starches or complex carbs, the body needs to perform some effort to break them down into glucose.
• Fibers, these are not broken down into glucose in any way.