carbohydrate

One of three major sources of calories in the diet. Carbohydrate is broken down into glucose during digestion and is the main nutrient that raises blood glucose levels. Carbohydrates come primarily from sugar (simple carbohydrate) and starch (complex carbohydrate, found in bread, pasta, beans).

One of three main groups of foods in the diet that provide calories and energy. (Protein and fat are the others.) Carbohydrates are mainly sugars (simple carbohydrates) and starches (complex carbohydrates, found in bread, pasta, beans) that the body breaks down into glucose.

A sugar molecule. Carbohydrates can be small and simple (for example, glucose) or they can be large and complex (for example, polysaccharides such as starch, chitin or cellulose).

See: polysaccharide.

A chemical compound made up of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen. Includes sugars, cellulose, and starches.