When you age, body tissues will wear out and must be replaced with ample protein. If certain vitamins are not in your food, then you will suffer disease from the deficiency. Carbohydrates Carbohydrates are compounds containing carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen. Carbohydrates are your chief source of energy. As your body metabolizes carbohydrates, it forms glucose.
Some glucose is converted to glycogen and stored by the liver for later use.
Sugars and starches are examples of carbohydrates that are important in the diet. The body uses carbohydrates to obtain its energy by breaking down sugars. Starches can be easily converted to sugars in the body and therefore can also supply energy. When you digest carbohydrates, the digestive process breaks down the complex sugar or starch molecules into simple sugars that can be absorbed and used by the body. Some carbohydrates, such as starches, are complex carbohydrates, so called because of their more elaborate chemical structures.