Carbohydrate

A carbohydrate is an organic compound with general formula C''m''(H2O)''n'', that is, consisting only of carbon, hydrogen and oxygen, the last two in the 2:1 atom ratio. Carbohydrates can be viewed as hydrates of carbon, hence their name.

What are Carbohydrates?

Carbohydrates are one of the most important food groups in the diet. They provide essential elements that the body needs for instant energy production and various vital functions.

Carbohydrate Structure

Carbohydrate Monosaccharides

Carbohydrate Metabolism

Foods High in Carbohydrates

Latest Carbohydrate News and Research

7-day creatine ‘wash-in’ boosts muscle mass in women — but not long-term, study reveals

A 7-day creatine monohydrate wash-in increased lean body mass in females, especially in the trunk, but adding creatine to resistance training didn’t boost muscle gains beyond training alone. Higher doses or hydration tracking may be needed for long-term effects.

23 Mar 2025

Strawberries enhance brain speed and heart health, but cognitive benefits remain unclear

Strawberries may modestly enhance processing speed and lower systolic blood pressure in older adults, but they do not significantly improve overall cognitive function or vascular health.

19 Mar 2025

Keto controversy? Experts say it’s here to stay

Low-carb and ketogenic diets offer sustainable solutions for chronic disease, enhancing metabolic health and supporting weight loss through dietary changes.

18 Mar 2025

Bioenergetic age could predict Alzheimer's disease risk

A person's "bioenergetic age"-or how youthfully their cells generate energy-might be a key indicator of whether they're at risk of developing Alzheimer's disease, new research from Weill Cornell Medicine shows.

14 Mar 2025

Study shows how autism-linked picky eating causes serious vitamin deficiencies

Children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) face a high risk of multiple micronutrient deficiencies, especially vitamins A, D, B12, and calcium, due to extreme food selectivity. These deficiencies can lead to severe health issues like rickets, vision loss, and immune dysfunction, even in children with normal body weight.

13 Mar 2025

Could a keto diet replace diabetes meds? New research explores the possibilities

A review published in Nutrients finds that ketogenic diets (KD) may offer superior benefits for weight loss, blood sugar control, and inflammation compared to other diets. Researchers also highlight potential mental health improvements but call for more clinical trials.

11 Mar 2025

Platelet-rich plasma may enhance ovarian rejuvenation and improve egg quality in women

A new research paper was published in Aging (Aging-US) on February 18, 2025, Volume 17, Issue 2, titled "Transcriptomic landscape of cumulus cells from patients <38 years old with a history of poor ovarian response (POR) treated with platelet-rich plasma (PRP)."

10 Mar 2025

Researchers identify unique enzyme that targets prebiotic glycans

Carbohydrate chains, or glycans, are complex sugar-like compounds that play important roles in various biological processes and structures in our bodies.

6 Mar 2025

Carbs aren’t the hunger culprit: New research overturns belief that glycemic index drives overeating

A Cell Metabolism study finds that while high-GI meals spike insulin and glucose, they don’t increase hunger or consistently drive overeating, challenging the carbohydrate-insulin model’s central claims about obesity.

5 Mar 2025

Novel strategy targets beta cell dysfunction in type 2 diabetes

Researchers from the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York have discovered a novel approach to protecting insulin-producing beta cells from the damaging effects of glucolipotoxicity-a harmful condition linked to the progression of type 2 diabetes (T2D).

4 Mar 2025

How accurate are continuous glucose monitors? A study puts them to the test

Continuous glucose monitors consistently overestimate fasting and post-meal blood glucose levels compared to capillary blood glucose measurements.

4 Mar 2025

New discovery sheds light on energy crisis in children with TANGO2 deficiency

Researchers studying a protein linked to a rare, severe disease have made a discovery that sheds light on how cells meet their energy needs during a severe metabolic crisis.

28 Feb 2025

FGF21 hormone drives protein-specific appetite and reward in the brain

When faced with multiple food options and ultimately choosing one, the factors of that decision-making process may be more physiological than previously assumed.

25 Feb 2025

Scientists track diet through stool DNA, revealing a new way to monitor nutrition

Scientists developed MEDI, a method to estimate dietary intake from food DNA in human stool, offering a more accurate alternative to self-reported food tracking.

19 Feb 2025