What does the term "saccharide" refer to?

The term "saccharide" refers to sugar and carbohydrates, which include simple sugars (monosaccharides), two-sugar units (disaccharides), and complex carbohydrates (polysaccharides). Saccharides are organic compounds made of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen, and they play a crucial role in nutrition as they provide energy to the body. In biochemistry, saccharides are commonly known as carbohydrates due to their chemical structure and properties.

Monosaccharides, like glucose and fructose, are often referred to as simple sugars and are the most basic form of carbohydrates. Disaccharides, such as sucrose and lactose, consist of two monosaccharide molecules and form when two simple sugars link together. Polysaccharides, which include starch, glycogen, and cellulose, consist of long chains of monosaccharide units and serve various functions, including energy storage and structural components in plants.

Understanding the definition and types of saccharides is fundamental in nutrition, as carbohydrates are a primary source of energy for the body.