Carbohydrates

Carbohydrates

Compounds, such as cellulose, sugar, and starch, that contain only carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen, and are a major part of the diets of people and other animals.

Mentioned in: Laxatives

---

carbohydrates,

n.pl a group of organic compounds with the class name saccharides, which are the aldehydric or ketonic derivatives of polyhydric alcohols. Ones such as sugar, starch, cellulose, and gum are generally synthesized by green plants. They constitute the main energy source in the diet and are classified as mono-, di-, tri-, and polysaccharides.

---

Patient discussion about Carbohydrates.

Q. What are carbohydrates and where they are found and what is their nutritional value?

A. You got it.

Q. I was thinking to shift my diet to protein and carbohydrate based. Will it be good? My dad is a diabetic and he is on the risk of heart disease as well. As per doctors advice we have reduced the use of oil for him. This has in one way helped us to use low oil while cooking. We too fear and thus eat less oil and fat. I know that eating less of them can also bring some problem. I have heard that protein can be converted to fat in the body. So I was thinking to shift my diet to protein and carbohydrate based. Will it be good?

A. it doesn't work. doing an only carbohydrate or just protein diet won't be necessarily healthier. a balanced nutrition (even oil, especially omega-3 oil that our body cannot manufacture by itself) is the best nutrition you can do. most of the time people eat too much fat, or too much cholesterol or too much salt, so it'll be best if they''ll lower the amount. but not eating it at all can do damage too.