What is the difference between starch and carbohydrates?
Starch and carbohydrates are closely related, but they are not the same. Carbohydrates are a major group of nutrients that provide energy to the body, while starch is a type of complex carbohydrate found mainly in plant-based foods.
| Starch | Carbohydrates |
|---|---|
| A complex carbohydrate made up of many glucose molecules. | A broad group of nutrients that includes sugars, starches, and dietary fibre. |
| Acts as an energy storage substance in plants. | The body's primary source of energy. |
| Found in foods such as rice, potatoes, wheat, maize, and bread. | Found in cereals, fruits, vegetables, pulses, milk, and many other foods. |
| Can be identified using the iodine test, which produces a blue-black colour. | Include both simple carbohydrates (sugars) and complex carbohydrates (starch and fibre). |
Since starch is one type of carbohydrate, all starches are carbohydrates, but not all carbohydrates are starches.