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Index of Diseases and Conditions: A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

Carbohydrates

Carbohydrates are one of the main types of food. Your liver breaks down carbohydrates into glucose (blood sugar). Your body uses this sugar for energy for your cells, tissues and organs.

Carbohydrates are called simple or complex, depending on how fast your body digests and absorbs the sugar. You get simple carbohydrates from fruits, milk products and table sugar. Complex carbohydrates include whole grain breads and cereals, starchy vegetables and legumes. Complex carbohydrates and some simple carbohydrates provide vitamins, minerals and fiber. Products made with refined sugar provide little nutrition. It is wise to limit these products.

Carbohydrate on Wikipedia

'''Carbohydrates''' (literally ''hydrates of carbon'') are chemical compounds that act as the primary biology means of storing or consuming energy, other forms being fat and protein. Relatively complex carbohydrates are known as polysaccharides. Carbohydrates are naturally produced by plants and animals. Sugars and starches are carbohydrates. A more precise definition of carbohydrates could be: Carbohydrates are polyhydroxyaldehydes, or polyhydroxyketones, and their derivatives.

Structure

as a straight-chain carbohydrate (Fischer projection) (Fischer projection) Pure carbohydrates contain carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen atoms, in a 1:2:1 mole (unit) ratio, giving the general formula C''n''H''2n''O''n''. However, many important carbohydrates deviate from this, such as deoxyribose. Sometimes compounds containing other elements are also counted as carbohydrates (e.g. chitin, which contains nitrogen). The simplest carbohydrates are monosaccharides, which are small straight-chain aldehydes and ketones with many hydroxyl groups added, usually one on each carbon except the functional group. Other carbohydrates are composed of monosaccharide units, and break down under hydrolysis. These may be classified as disaccharides, oligosaccharides, or polysaccharides, depending on whether they have two, several, or many monosaccharide units.

Monosaccharides

Monosaccharides may be divided into aldoses, which have an aldehyde group on the first carbon atom, and ketoses, which typically have a ketone group on the second. They may also be divided into trioses, tetroses, pentoses, hexoses, and so forth, depending on how many carbon atoms they contain. ...   [ Read More ]

External Resources

Herbs for Life - Herbal formulas, shampoo, and carbohydrate drinks designed to remove residues before a drug test. [Salt Lake City, UT, US]

Spectrum Labs Urineluck - Herbal and carbohydrate purifying products. Also sells home drug test kits. [United States]

UR Negative - Home drug test kits, and carbohydrate and herbal products to help remove residues from your system. [Chicago, IL, US]

Test Clear Drug Testing - Home test kits, as well as herbal and carbohydrate products, and urine additives, designed to hide substance residues. [Oklahoma City, OK, US]

The Ideal Diet for Human Health - Offers a book, newsletter and online consultation about a low carbohydrate diet.

The Cardiac Surgeon's Diet and Health Design - Information regarding vitamin and mineral needs; carbohydrates, fat and protein, necessary portion control, the homocysteine factor and lifestyle recommendations. Monthly newsletter.

Control Diabetes the Easy Way-Counting Carbohydrates - User friendly and easily understood. Menu planners and easy explanations.

Nancy's Cookbooks - Diet cookbook with low carbohydrate, high protein recipes.

Truly Low Carb - Cookbook with low carbohydrate receipes.

Recipes4health.com - Low fat meals with equal portions of protein and carbohydrates, sugar free desserts, vegetarian recipes and a healthy restaurant guide. Purchase and download collections.

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