Final answer:
Carbohydrates are broken down during digestion into monosaccharides like glucose, which can be used for energy or stored in the body for later use.
Step-by-step explanation:
Digestion and Absorption of Carbohydrates
After digestion, carbohydrates are converted into monosaccharides such as glucose, fructose, and galactose. In the human diet, carbohydrates like starch (a polymer of glucose), sucrose, and lactose begin to break down in the mouth with the help of salivary enzymes. The digestion process is completed in the small intestine, where enzymes like pancreatic amylase further degrade these carbohydrates into smaller fragments that the body can absorb. Most carbohydrates from our diet, especially those from plant sources like amylose, are eventually converted into glucose. This glucose can be used immediately as an energy source or stored in the liver and muscles for later use, contributing four calories of energy per gram.