carbohydrate
- Noun:
- An essential structural component of living cells and source of energy for animals; includes simple sugars with small molecules as well as macromolecular substances; are classified according to the number of monosaccharide groups they contain: A carbohydrate is an organic compound composed of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen, serving as a primary energy source and structural material in living organisms. This category encompasses simple sugars like glucose and complex molecules like starch and cellulose.
- Noun:
- Bread and pasta are rich in carbohydrate.
- The body breaks down carbohydrate into glucose for energy.
- Fiber is a type of carbohydrate that the body cannot digest.
"Complex carbohydrate": Refers to carbohydrates with long, complex chains of sugar molecules, such as those found in whole grains and vegetables. They are digested more slowly than simple sugars.
- Nutritionists recommend getting most of your energy from complex carbohydrates.
"Simple carbohydrate": Refers to carbohydrates composed of one or two sugar molecules, such as those found in table sugar, honey, and fruit.
- Limiting intake of simple carbohydrates can help manage blood sugar levels.
"Net carbohydrate": A term often used in dieting, calculated by subtracting fiber and certain sugar alcohols from the total carbohydrate count, as they are considered to have a minimal impact on blood sugar.
- Some food labels list net carbohydrates for those on low-carb diets.
Carb (informal noun): A common, informal shortening of "carbohydrate."
- I'm trying to cut back on carbs.
Carbohydrate loading (noun phrase): A strategy used by endurance athletes to maximize the storage of glycogen in the muscles by consuming large amounts of carbohydrates before an event.
- The marathon runner practiced carbohydrate loading the week before the race.
- Saccharide: A technical term for a sugar or sugar derivative, especially a simple sugar (monosaccharide) or a chain of sugars (polysaccharide).
- Sugar (in a broad biochemical sense): While commonly referring to table sugar (sucrose), in biochemistry, "sugar" can refer to the basic units of carbohydrates.
"Refined carbohydrate": Carbohydrates that have been processed, removing parts of the grain like the bran and germ, often found in white bread and pastries.
- Refined carbohydrates are less nutritious than their whole-grain counterparts.
"Carbohydrate metabolism": The series of biochemical processes responsible for the formation, breakdown, and interconversion of carbohydrates in living organisms.
- Disorders of carbohydrate metabolism, like diabetes, require careful management.
- an essential structural component of living cells and source of energy for animals; includes simple sugars with small molecules as well as macromolecular substances; are classified according to the number of monosaccharide groups they contain