Simple Carbohydrates
Sugars can occur naturally or artificially in foods, but your body can’t distinguish between the sources. When people talk about “sugar,” they’re likely
referring to table sugar, which is sucrose (a two-unit sugar). Table sugar belongs to a larger group of sugars, though, known as simple carbohydrates.
Simple carbohydrates include monosaccharides (one-unit sugars) and disaccharides (two-unit sugars). Monosaccharides include glucose, fructose and galactose. These can be absorbed directly and don’t require further breakdown from enzymes, unlike disaccharides and polysaccharides.
Disaccharides are formed chemically when two monosaccharides combine to create once of the following:
Lactose: glucose and galactose
Sucrose: glucose and fructose
Maltose: glucose and glucose
Again, sucrose is just table sugar, and it occurs naturally in several fruits, grains and vegetables. Lactose is also a natural sugar, and it can be found in milk and other dairy products. Maltose forms naturally when starches break down from complex carbohydrates into simple sugars.
Kari Hartel, RD, LD is a Registered, Licensed Dietitian and freelance writer based out of St. Louis, MO
