Carbohydrates can be classified according to how many monosaccharides (sugar molecules) are bound together.
Not all carbohydrates are equivalent, and it is the length of their saccaride chain and their digestibility that makes them different.
The simplest carbohydrates are the sugar molecules.
Glucose, Fructose, and galactose are monosaccharides.
Glucose the molecule into which the body converts other molecules for energy.
Fructose is found in fruits, and galactose is found in dairy products and sugar beets.
Disaccharides are sucrose, lactose, and maltose.
Sucrose is known as table sugar.
It is a glucose molecule and a sucrose molecule linked with an ether bond.
Acids, such as cream of tartar, lemon juice, or gastric juices break the sucrose molecule into its component monosachharides.
Lactose is found in milk, and it is composed of galactose and glucose.
Its formula is C12H22O11.
Maltose is comprised of 2 glucose molecules bonded together.
It is not as sweet as either fructose or glucose.
It is an important part of the brewing process.
The next group of carbohydrates are the partially digestible polysaccharides.
These are 3-20 molecule chain carbohydrates.
Maltodextrin can by enzymatically derived from any starch.
In the US, it is usually extracted from corn, whereas in Europe, it is extracted from wheat.
It is used as a food additive to impact mouth feel.
Fructo-oligosaccharide (FOS) is a sweetener extracted from fruits and vegetables.
Raffinose is a trisaccharide composed of galactose, fructose, and glucose.
It is found in beans, cabbage, brussel sprouts, broccoli, and whole grains.
This sugar is only partially digested and causes flatulence.
Stachyose is found in green beans and soybeans.
Verbascose is the final of the partially digestible polysaccharides.
Amylose, amylopectin, and glucose polymers are digestible polysaccharides with 20+ molecules.
Starch is comprised of 20-30% amylose and 70-80% amylopectin.
Most of the carbohydrates that humans ingest should come from these two molecules.
These molecules should not be confused with polydextrose, which is a synthetic polymer of glucose.
It is known by the brands Litesse, Sta-Lite, Trimcal, and Winway.
Indigestible polysaccharides are 20+molecule non-starch carbohydrates that are generally known as "fiber.
" This group contains cellulose, hemicellulose, pectins, gums, mucilages, algal polysaccharides, beta-glucans, and fructans.
Other carbohydrates are mannitol, sorbitol, xylitol, glycogen, and ribose.
Ribose is a 5 carbon sugar that is part of DNA.
Glycogen is the carbohydrate that is used for energy storage in the human body.
It is a mulit-branched polysaccharide.
Mannitol, Sorbitol, and xylitol are all sugar alcohols.
Sorbitol is found in apples, pears, peaches, and prunes.
Mannitol is found in almost all plants, and is one of the most abundant energy and carbon storage molecules in nature.
Xylitol is extracted from berries, oats, and mushrooms.