Types of carbohydrate include:

• Starch (such as that found in grains and root vegetables)
• Sugars (including added sugars and naturally occurring food sugars such as lactose in milk and fructose in fruit and honey)
• Most types of fibre

Sugars and starch are broken down in digestion to single carbohydrate units (including glucose, galactose and fructose) for absorption and then as energy by the body. Fibre is similar in chemical structure but differs in that it mostly passes through the bowel, although we now know that some fibre is also converted to energy in the body.

Glucose is the fuel of choice for active muscles. It is also essential for brain function. Although fat and protein can be sources of fuel for the body, carbohydrate is a more efficient source of energy.

For a healthy diet, carbohydrates should provide approximately 45-65% of our daily kilojoules – ideally from a variety of sources. To help ensure adequate carbohydrate in the diet, try to include 2 serves of carbohydrate foods at each meal (1 serve = 2 slices of bread, 1 ⅓ cup of breakfast cereal flakes, 1 cup of cooked rice, 1 medium piece of fruit, 1 tub of low fat yoghurt or a 250ml glass of low fat milk).

Higher carbohydrate intakes are needed for athletes or sportspeople engaged in high intensity and endurance exercise. People in this category need more carbohydrate in order to ensure their muscles get a constant supply of carbohydrate energy needed for optimal performance at high intensity or over long periods of time.

• Help provide energy for metabolism and activity
• Are important for weight control
• Help achieve low fat intakes - important for good health

Sugar is an important source of carbohydrate that provides energy to fuel the body. Sugar is also added to enhance the flavour and texture of our products. While some of our breakfast cereal products contain more sugar than others, they also contribute essential vitamins and are generally a good source of iron.

Kellogg’s® grain based snack foods are made from wholesome ingredients such as grains, fruit and/or nuts. These products provide a balance between nutrition, enjoyment and convenience making them a good food to have on the go.

Within the Kellogg range we have a number of products which contain less sugar to allow you to choose a product to best suit your needs. These include Corn Flakes, Mini-Wheats® 5 Grains, All-Bran® Wheat Flakes and Rice Bubbles®. Each Kellogg’s® product carries a complete nutrition breakdown on the side of pack and a % Daily Intake counter on the front of pack to allow you to make an informed decision about the foods you eat.
 

The main sources of carbohydrate in the Australian and New Zealand diet are:

• Breakfast cereals and grain based foods
• Juices and soft drinks
• Starchy vegetables and legumes
• Milk products
• Fruit

For a copy of our brochure ’Carbohydrates - the Energy Source’ contact our Consumer Contact Centre on 1800 000 474 in Australia or 0800 881 889 in New Zealand.