Answer
The recommended daily allowance (RDA) of a nutrient is the safe estimate of the amount of that an individual is expected to take to meet his/her nutritional needs. These estimates are made and updated by the US National Academy of Sciences.
For carbohydrates (CHO) the RDA for an adult is 125-175 grams(gm) per day. Among Americans in general CHOs account for 40-50% of their daily calories; however, this may be as high as 65% in very active individuals, and it has been reported that the average American consumes 200-300 grams of carbohydrates per day.
Dietary carbohydrates usually come in the forms of polysaccharides, disaccharides, and monosaccharides. Polysaccharides (complex sugars ) are represented mainly by starches. Glycogen is a polysaccharide but it is not an important dietary nutrient--only very small amounts are found in cooked meats. Cellulose and some other polysaccharides that are not digested are not regarded as nutrients because they are not absorbed into human tissues.
Dietary disaccharides are represented by sucrose, lactose (milk sugar) and maltose. The third group the monosaccharides--glucose, galactose, and fructose-- are simple simple sugars; they are derived mainly from the digestion of starches and disaccharides, but much fructose is consumed in American processed foods.
Work Step by Step
Major sources of American Dietary Carbohydrates:
Cereal grains
Yeast bread
Table syrup
Corn syrup
Sugary soft drinks
Root vegetables
Pasta
Fruits and vegetables
