This calculator is based on the Dietary reference intakes (DRI) report from the food and nutrition board, institue of medicine of the national academies. You can find the EAR and RDA for each age groups in this page. You can use the calculated result to plan nutrient intakes for yourself or a group.
The primary role of carbohydrates (sugars and starches) is to provide energy to cells in the body, particularly the brain, which is the only carbohydrate-dependent organ in the body. The Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) for carbohydrate is set at 130 g/d for adults and children based on the average minimum amount of glucose utilized by the brain. This level of intake, however, is typically exceeded to meet energy needs while consuming acceptable intake levels of fat and protein. Therefore, the DRI for carbohydrates is calculated based on AMDR
AI: Adequate Intake
EAR: Estimated Average Requirement
RDA: Recommended Dietary Allowance
DRI: Dietary Reference Intakes, you should use this value to find out the daily amount you should intake.
UL: Upper Levels
For Infant, only AI that is based on the average intake of carbohydrate consumed from human milk and complementary foods is provided.
The daily dietary reference intakes (DRI) value for carbohydrate is calculated based on the following Acceptable Macronutrient Distribution Ranges (Percent of Energy) AMDR table. The selection point of the range in the age group is used to calculate daily DRI.
| Children 1-3 y | Children 4-18 y | Adults | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Macronutrient | Range | Selection | Range | Selection | Range | Selection |
| Fat | 30%-40% | 35% | 25%-35% | 30% | 20%-35% | 27.5% |
| Carbohydrate | 45%-65% | 52.5% | 45%-65% | 50% | 45%-65% | 50% |
| Protein | 5%-20% | 12.5% | 10%-30% | 20% | 10%-35% | 22.5% |
| Macronutrient | Recommendation |
|---|---|
| Dietary cholesterol | As low as possible while consuming a nutritionally adequate diet |
| Trans fatty acids | As low as possible while consuming a nutritionally adequate diet |
| Saturated fatty acids | As low as possible while consuming a nutritionally adequate diet |
| Added sugars | Limit to no more than 25% of total energy |
To help you figure out how to reach your RDA of carbohydrates from the calculator, here is a list of the amount of carbohydrates contained in common foods:
| Food Source | Amount of Carbs(g) | Calories |
|---|---|---|
| 1 cup whole milk | 12 | 150 |
| 1 small serving size fruit | 15 | 60 |
| 1 cup vegetable | 10 | 50 |
| 2 medium baked sweet potatoes | 46 | 200 |
| \(1\frac{1}{2}\) medium baked potato | 54.9 | 241 |
| \(1\frac{3}{4}\) cup oat meal | 49.1 | 291 |
| 2 slices whole-wheat bread | 44 | 200 |
| \(1\frac{1}{4}\) cup cooked quinoa | 49.3 | 278 |
| 1 cup cooked brown rice | 44.8 | 216 |
The glycemic index (GI) is a classification proposed to quantify the relative blood glucose response to foods containing carbohydrate. It is defined as the area under the curve for the increase in blood glucose after the ingestion of a set amount of carbohydrate in an individual food (e.g., 50 g) in the 2-hour postingestion period as compared with ingestion of the same amount of carbohydrate from a reference food (white bread or glucose) tested in the same individual, under the same conditions, using the initial blood glucose concentration as a baseline.
There is a significant body of data suggesting that more slowly absorbed starchy foods that are less processed, or have been processed in traditional ways, may have health advantages over those that are rapidly digested and absorbed. These foods have been classified as having a low GI and reduce the glycemic load of the diet. Not all studies of low GI or low glycemic load diets have resulted in beneficial effects. However, none have shown negative effects. At a time when populations are increasingly obese, inactive, and prone to insulin resistance, there are theoretical reasons that dietary interventions that reduce insulin demand may have advantages. In this section of the population, it is likely that more slowly absorbed carbohydrate foods and low glycemic load diets will have the greatest advantage.
A UL based on GI is not made at the present time because, although several lines of evidence suggest adverse effects of high GI carbohydrates, it is difficult to eliminate other contributing factors, and the critical mass of evidence necessary for recommending substantial dietary change is not available. Furthermore, it should be noted that sugars have a lower GI than starch yet are rapidly absorbed. However, the principle of slowing carbohydrate absorption, which may underpin the positive findings made in relation to GI, is a potentially important principal with respect to the beneficial health effects of carbohydrate. Further research in this area is needed.
Based on the data available on dental caries, behavior, cancer, risk of obesity, and risk of hyperlipidemia, there is insufficient evidence to set a UL for total or added sugars. Although a UL is not set for sugars, a maximal intake level of 25 percent or less of energy from added sugars is suggested based on the decreased intake of some micronutrients of American subpopulations exceeding this level . Because not all micronutrients and other nutrients such as fiber were not examined, the association between added sugars and these nutrients it is not known. While it is recognized that hypertriglyceridemia can occur with increasing intakes of total (intrinsic plus added) sugars, total sugars intake can be limited by minimizing the intake of added sugars and consuming naturally occurring sugars present in nutrient-rich milk, dairy products, and fruits.