Cereals are the staple foods for many people everywhere on the globe, particularly in the developing countries because they are a relatively cheap source so calories and protein compared to meat. Cereal grains such as wheat, rice, oats and corn are the most nutritious source of carbohydrate because they also contain important vitamins, protein and fiber.
The cereal crops that are grown for their edible fruit are generally called grain, but botanically referred to as caryopsis. The cereal seed consist of two major components, the endosperm and embryo or germ.
The endosperm encompasses the bulk of the seed and is the energy source of stored food.
Carbohydrates in cereals have been classified in a number of different ways. They are conveniently classified on the basis of their polymeric nature, into monosaccharides oligosaccharides and polysaccharides.
Foods containing complex carbohydrates take longer to breakdown. Therefore, they provide longer-lasting energy than foods containing simple carbohydrates.
Cereal as a source of carbohydrates
