Saccharides

SUGARS (and therefore CARBOHYDRATES) divided into mono-, di-, tri- and polysaccharides. Monosaccharides are the basic units, simple sugars; disaccharides, e.g., sucrose and lactose, are formed by condensing two monosaccharides and removing water. Sucrose gives, on HYDROLYSIS, a mixture of glucose and fructose; trisaccharides comprise three basic units and polysaccharides are a large class of natural carbohydrates including STARCH and CELLULOSE.

Taken from Dictionary of Science

Facts about Fluids

More than half of the human body is water (59.5%), as compared to 16% protein, 16% fat, 6% minerals, 1.5% carbohydrates and 1% miscellaneous. Dehydration can result in damage to tissues. Therefore, when you sweat heavily during the hot season or after exercising strenuously, you have to replace the water lost through sweating (as well as via urinating and breathing). To restore your body's fluid balance, the best drink is still plain water.

A cold beer won't do the job, because the carbohydrates and the electrolytes (salt and potassium) in the beer have to be broken down by the body before the water content can be absorbed. Besides, the alcohol content can be metabolized only by using more body water. How about soft drinks and sports drinks? They, too, contain glucose and electrolytes that need to be broken down before they can refresh you.

Taken from The Bosconian Forum