Carbohydrates provide the body with heat and can be classified into simple or complex forms. They consist of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen and include sugars, starches, and fibers. Carbohydrates are grouped into monosaccharides, disaccharides, trisaccharides, polysaccharides, and heterosaccharides. They can also be categorized as simple starchy, complex starchy, or complex fibrous carbohydrates. Simple carbohydrates like glucose and sucrose are made of 1-2 sugar molecules while complex starches like whole grains have longer sugar chains. Complex fibrous carbohydrates are found in green vegetables and provide vitamins, minerals and fiber.

1. CARBOHYDRATES

2. CARBOHYDRATES
It is one of various substances found in any
certain foods (such as bread, rice, and potatoes)
that provide our body heat.
Come in simple forms such as sugars, and in
complex forms such as starches and fibers.
The body breaks down most sugars and starches
into glucose, a simple sugar that the body can
use to feed its cells.
Are a biological molecule consisting of
carbon, hydrogen and oxygen atoms.

3. CARBOHYDRATES ARE
CLASSIFIED INTO:
Heterosaccharides
Polysaccharides
Trisaccharides
Disaccharides
Monosaccharides

4. 3 GROUPS OF CARBOHYDRATES
SIMPLE STARCHY CARBOHYDRATES
Simple carbohydrates have a ‘simple’ molecular structure and are made up of 1-2 sugar
molecules. The simplest form of carbohydrate is glucose. Simple sugars that are found
in foods include sucrose (table sugar), fructose (found in fruit), and lactose (found in
milk).
COMPLEX STARCHY CARBOHYDRATES
Complex carbohydrates are also made up of sugars, but the sugar molecules are
strung together to form longer, more complex chains. Complex starchy
carbohydrates include whole grains, peas and beans, which are rich in vitamins,
minerals an fiber.
The problem with complex starch carbs is that often they are refined. White rice,
white flour, white bread, sugary cereals, and pasta, noodles and pretty much
anything made from white flour are all examples of refined carbohydrates.
COMPLEX FIBROUS CARBOHYDRATES
Fibrous carbs are rich sources of vitamins, minerals, phytochemicals and other
nutrients and tend to be green vegetables.

5. COMPLEX FIBROUS
CARBOHYDRATES
COMPLEX STARCHY
CARBOHYDRATES
SIMPLE STARCHY
CARBOHYDRATE
S
Asparagus Oatmeal Fruit
Aubergine (Eggplant) Legumes Dairy products
Bamboo Shoots Potatoes, Yams, Sweet Potato
Green Beans Brown rice
Broccoli Whole wheat pasta
Brussels Sprouts Whole wheat/ Multi-grain bread
Cabbage Whole grain cereals (e.g. muesli, shredded
wheat)
Carrots Whole Barley
Cauliflower Buckwheat
Celery Rye
Cucumber Millet
Lettuce Whole grains
Mushrooms Beans – lima, red, kidney
Okra Black eyed peas, lentils, chick peas
Red/ green Peppers Sweet Corn
Spinach Flour (Whole Wheat)
Zucchini (Courgette)