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Carbohydrates are organic compounds (i.e., carbon-based compounds) consisting of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen atoms. They serve as a primary source of energy for living organisms. Carbohydrates can be simple sugars like glucose and fructose and complex molecules like starch and fiber in foods such as grains, fruits, and vegetables.
Author and reviewer
Editorial responsibilityReferences and further reading
- World Health Organization. (2023). Carbohydrate intake for adults and children: WHO guideline. Geneva: World Health Organization. ISBN 978-92-4-007359-3. View source
- Dahl, W. J., & Stewart, M. L. (2018). Dietary carbohydrates: a review of international recommendations and the methods used to derive them. European Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 72(5), 678–684. doi:10.1038/s41430-017-0035-4. View source
How to cite this entry
Encyclopedia of Nutritional Psychology. (2026). Carbohydrates. The Center for Nutritional Psychology.
https://www.nutritional-psychology.org/encyclopedia/carbohydrates/Know a term that belongs in the Encyclopedia?
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