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==What are Carbohydrates?==

==What are Carbohydrates?==

Carbohydrates (saccharides) are a group of '''carbon-based molecules''', that are naturally found as '''[[Nutrition Glossary#Monosaccharides|monosaccharides]], [[Nutrition Glossary#Disaccharides|disaccharides]], or [[Nutrition Glossary#Polysaccharides|polysaccharides]]'''.<ref name="NRC">National Research Council (NRC). (2006) '''Carbohydrates and Fiber. In Nutrient Requirements for Dogs and Cats.''' 2006 ''Washington, DC: National Academies Press ''p.49-80.</ref> Carbohydrates are a common source of [[Energy - Nutrition|energy]], however they are '''not considered an essential nutrient in dogs or cats'''. Functionally carbohydrates are classified as '''absorbable, digestible, fermentable''' or '''non-fermentable'''. When consumed in food, absorbable and digestible carbohydrates typically provide approximately 4 kcal of energy per gram, whereas fermentable and non-fermentable carbohydrates provide little to no usable energy.   

Carbohydrates (saccharides) are a group of '''carbon-based molecules''', that are naturally found as '''[[Nutrition Glossary#Monosaccharides|monosaccharides]], [[Nutrition Glossary#Disaccharides|disaccharides]], or [[Nutrition Glossary#Polysaccharides|polysaccharides]]'''.<ref name="NRC">National Research Council (NRC). (2006) '''Carbohydrates and Fiber. In Nutrient Requirements for Dogs and Cats.''' 2006 ''Washington, DC: National Academies Press ''p.49-80.</ref> Carbohydrates are a common source of [[Energy - Nutrition|energy]], however they are '''not considered an [[Nutrition Glossary#Essential Nutrients|essential nutrient]] in dogs or cats'''. Functionally carbohydrates are classified as '''absorbable, digestible, fermentable''' or '''non-fermentable'''. When consumed in food, absorbable and digestible carbohydrates typically provide approximately 4 kcal of energy per gram, whereas fermentable and non-fermentable carbohydrates provide little to no usable energy.   

[[Sugars - Nutrition|'''Absorbable''' carbohydrates]] include monosaccharides, such as the '''glucose, fructose,''' and '''galactose'''; the sugar alcohols '''mannitol, sorbitol''' and '''xylitol'''; disaccharides, such as '''lactose''' (glucose + galactose), '''sucrose '''(glucose + fructose) and '''maltose''' (glucose + glucose); and the polysaccharides such as '''[[Starch - Nutrition|starch]], glycogen''' (from animal muscle and liver) and '''amylose''' and '''amylopectin''' from plants.

[[Sugars - Nutrition|'''Absorbable''' carbohydrates]] include monosaccharides, such as the '''glucose, fructose,''' and '''galactose'''; the sugar alcohols '''mannitol, sorbitol''' and '''xylitol'''; disaccharides, such as '''lactose''' (glucose + galactose), '''sucrose '''(glucose + fructose) and '''maltose''' (glucose + glucose); and the polysaccharides such as '''[[Starch - Nutrition|starch]], glycogen''' (from animal [[Muscles - Anatomy & Physiology|muscle]] and [[Liver - Anatomy & Physiology|liver]]) and '''amylose''' and '''amylopectin''' from plants.

'''Fermentable''' and '''non-fermentable polysaccharides''' include '''resistant starches''' (formed from absorbable starch during the cooking process); non-structural short-chain oligosaccharides, such as '''fructooligosaccharides''' (FOS); and structural non-starch polysaccharides from plant cell walls, (commonly referred to as dietary [[Fibre - Nutrition|fibre]]) such as '''cellulose, lignin''' and '''hemicellulose'''.

'''Fermentable''' and '''non-fermentable polysaccharides''' include '''resistant starches''' (formed from absorbable starch during the cooking process); non-structural short-chain oligosaccharides, such as '''fructooligosaccharides''' (FOS); and structural non-starch polysaccharides from plant cell walls, (commonly referred to as dietary [[Fibre - Nutrition|fibre]]) such as '''cellulose, lignin''' and '''hemicellulose'''.