Carbohydrates are sugars and starches that provide energy to the human body. These compounds are classified into four chemical groupings; the monosaccharides, disaccharides, oligosaccharides, and the polysaccharides. Glucose and fructose are monosaccharides that contain the single simple sugar. Sucrose and lactose are disaccharides containing the more complex structure of sugar. Cellulose, glycogen and starch are oligosaccharides and polysaccharides with the even more complex structures, and therefore the most difficult to break down for energy transformation.
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