Energy-producing nutrients

The nutrients that supply us with energy are carbohydrates, proteins and fat.

CarbohydrateSource
SugarsFruits
Honey
LactoseMilk
Dairy products (milk sugar)
StarchesCorn
Wheat
Rice
Barley
Oats
Potatoes
Slowly fermentable fibre like celluloseWheat bran
Moderately fermentable fibreRice bran
Pea fibre
Wheat bran
Rapidly fermentable fibreApples
Citrus pulp
Guar gum

Simple carbohydrates and starches in foods are used by the body as a source of glucose. As such, they have several major functions, they:

  • provide energy
  • produce heat when they are metabolized for energy
  • can be used as building blocks for other nutrients (e.g., certain amino acids, lactose (the sugar in milk) and vitamin C)
  • provide storage of energy in the form of glycogen or fat
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