Carbohydrates Summary Carbohydrates are one of the main types of nutrients. They are the most important source of energy for your body. Your digestive system changes carbohydrates into glucose (blood sugar). Your body uses this sugar for energy for your cells, tissues and organs. It stores any extra sugar in your liver and muscles for when it is needed. Carbohydrates are called simple or complex, depending on their chemical structure. Simple carbohydrates include sugars found naturally in foods such as fruits, vegetables, milk, and milk products. They also include sugars added during food processing and refining. Complex carbohydrates include whole grain breads and cereals, starchy vegetables and legumes. Many of the complex carbohydrates are good sources of fiber. For a healthy diet, limit the amount of added sugar that you eat and choose whole grains over refined grains. Specifics Added Sugar: Don’t Get Sabotaged by Sweeteners Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research Added Sugars American Heart Association Artificial Sweeteners and Other Sugar Substitutes Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research Carbohydrates and Diabetes (For Parents) Nemours Foundation Counting Carbs? Understanding Glycemic Index and Glycemic Load National Institutes of Health Frequently Asked Questions about Sugar American Heart Association Non-Nutritive Sweeters (Artificial Sweeteners) American Heart Association Sugar 101 American Heart Association Sweet Stuff: How Sugars and Sweeteners Affect Your Health National Institutes of Health Whole Grains: Hearty Options for a Healthy Diet Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research Women Are Artificial Sweeteners OK to Consume during Pregnancy? Nemours Foundation Related Issues Artificial Sweeteners and Cancer National Cancer Institute Carbohydrate-Loading Diet Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research Choosing Whole-Grain Foods: 10 Tips for Purchasing and Storing Whole-Grain Foods Department of Agriculture Glycemic Index Diet: What’s Behind the Claims Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research High-Fructose Corn Syrup: What Are the Concerns? Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research Low-Carb Diet: Could It Help You Lose Weight? Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research Array Calorie count – sodas and energy drinks Carbohydrates Counting carbohydrates Sweetened beverages Sweeteners – sugar substitutes Start Here Carbohydrates Department of Health and Human Services, Office on Women’s Health Carbohydrates: How Carbs Fit into a Healthy Diet Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research Teenagers Carbohydrates Department of Health and Human Services, Office on Women’s Health Carbohydrates and Diabetes Nemours Foundation Low-Carb Diet Children’s Hospital Boston Children Carbohydrates, Sugar, and Your Child Nemours Foundation Cut Back on Your Kid’s Sweet Treats: 10 Tips to Decrease Added Sugars Department of Agriculture Learning about Carbohydrates Nemours Foundation Find an Expert Center for Nutrition Policy and Promotion Center for Nutrition Policy and Promotion Food and Nutrition Information Center Food and Nutrition Information Center Clinical Trials ClinicalTrials.gov: Dietary Carbohydrates National Institutes of Health ClinicalTrials.gov: Sweetening Agents National Institutes of Health Statistics and Research Comparing Low-Fat and Low-Carbohydrate Diets American College of Physicians Consumption of Added Sugar among U.S. Children and Adolescents, 2005-2008 National Center for Health Statistics Consumption of Added Sugars among U.S. Adults, 2005-2010 National Center for Health Statistics Consumption of Sugar Drinks in the United States, 2005-2008 National Center for Health Statistics Encyclopedia Hyperactivity and sugar Sweeteners – sugars Journal Articles Dietary carbohydrates Sugar substitutes Reference Desk You Are What You Eat National Institute of General Medical Sciences Latest News Kids’ Fruit Drinks, Juices Contain Day’s Worth of Sugar HealthDay Coffee, Wine Good for Healthy Gut, Sodas May Be Bad HealthDay
