Carbohydrates as Short-Term Energy Storage

Carbohydrates as Short-Term Energy Storage

Carbohydrates are compounds made of simple sugars. Therefore they contain hydrogen, carbon, and oxygen.

With regard to nutrition, they are one of the major macronutrients, in addition to protein and fats. They are commonly thought of as fuel for the body. Similar to protein, carbohydrates contain 4 calories per gram.

Carbohydrates and lipids are both used for energy storage. This video explains how they are different from each other.

Carbohydrates are used as short term energy storage throughout most advanced animals. By short term, we mean that you will use carbohydrates as energy to get up from your chair, read this article, or run 15 feet. However, any longer term energy needs will require energy to be pulled from the lipid, or "fat", storage banks.