With 4 kcal/100 g and more than 50 % of the daily energy required, carbohydrates make the largest contribution to our diet. They consist of sugar molecules and are important fuel for muscles and brain. Depending on the number of sugar building blocks, carbohydrates are divided into three groups:
Simple sugars (monosaccharides): The most important representatives are glucose and fructose.
Disaccharides: These primarily include household sugar and milk sugar.
Multiple sugars (polysaccharides): The most important polysaccharide is starch. The polysaccharides are mainly contained in cereals, whole grain products, potatoes and legumes. Multiple sugars cause blood sugar levels to rise more slowly after eating because they first have to be broken down before they are absorbed into the blood.
Disaccharides and multiple sugars must first be broken down into simple sugars, i.e. glucose, in the digestive tract before they enter the bloodstream. The hormone insulin transports glucose from the blood into the body's cells. A certain blood sugar concentration is important so that the brain is adequately supplied.
