Carbohydrates, also called carbs, are macronutrients mainly found in plants.
Macronutrients are the nutrients we need in relatively large quantities compared to vitamins and minerals, and which provide us with energy.
There are three types of macronutrients: carbohydrate, protein, and fat.
Most carbohydrates molecules contain atoms of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen. They are divided into three groups: sugars, oligosaccharides, and polysaccharides.
Our body can convert one gram of carbohydrate into about 4 kilocalories of energy. This energy conversion varies between 3.8 and 4.1 kilocalories depending on the type of carbohydrates. One exception is fibre which are carbohydrates that cannot be digested by the human body and not converted into energy.
Do you want to know your personal recommendations ?
According to the FNB (Food and Nutrition Board of the Institute of Medicine), carbohydrates intake for most people should be between 45 % and 65 % of total Calories. This is called the “adequate macronutrient distribution range” (AMDR) and is based on decreasing risk of chronic disease and providing adequate intake of other nutrients.
In our app, the default value is set at 55 % of total calories corresponding to the middle value of the range.