Answer
Quiz
Which one of these carbohydrates is NOT a sugar?
a) sucrose
b) dextrose
c) maltodextrin
d) fructose
Answer
maltodextrin
Common point of confusion
All sugars are carbohydrates, but not all carbohydrates are sugars. Maltodextrin is a complex carbohydrate also known as a polysaccharide – meaning that it has a large molecular structure made up of multiple glucose units. It’s basically a bunch of glucose (sugar) molecules stuck together. So if maltodextrin is derived from glucose then why isn’t it also considered sugar? Isn’t this just semantics and they’re all sugar?
NO, and here’s why it matters to athletes:
Because your body can uptake more energy when you use complex carbs instead of simple sugars. If you’re doing any kind of endurance sport, then the more energy you can get from your nutrition the better you’ll perform. This is due to the fact that complex carbs have a much larger molecular structure than simple sugars which in turn allows the fluids to transport more calories as it is absorbed in your gut. For an in depth explanation, read this:
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