The Carbohydrates in Fresh Broccoli

Broccoli is a very nutritious vegetable.

Broccoli is a very nutritious vegetable.

Eating broccoli may lower your risk for cancer, according to the American Cancer Society, although research is still in the preliminary stages. This effect may be due to the beneficial components it contains, which include phytochemicals, carotenoids, fiber and antioxidants like vitamin C. Broccoli also provides essential nutrients like protein, calcium and folate. Most of the calories in broccoli come from carbohydrates.

Total Carbohydrates

Carbohydrates provide your body with energy and are the type of fuel your brain prefers. Each 1-cup serving of chopped raw broccoli provides 6 grams of carbohydrates, which provide 24 of the 31 calories contained in this serving. Broccoli contains all three types of carbohydrates: fiber, starch and sugar.


Your body isn't able to digest fiber, so it passes through your digestive tract intact. Because of this, the amount of fiber is often subtracted from the total carbohydrates when counting carbohydrates. However, fiber does provide a number of benefits, including slowing down digestion so you stay full for longer and lowering your risk for heart disease, high cholesterol, diabetes and constipation. Each cup of broccoli contains 2.4 grams of fiber evenly split between the two types of fiber -- soluble and insoluble. This is about 10 percent of the daily value for fiber.


Starches are complex carbohydrates formed by combining three or more sugar molecules. They take longer to digest than simple sugars because the bonds between the sugar molecules need to be broken down by an enzyme during digestion. Each serving of broccoli contains 2 grams of starches.


Sugars are also called simple carbohydrates. They are quickly digested to provide energy. A serving of chopped fresh broccoli contains 1.6 grams of sugar. Unlike added sugars, you don't need to limit the sugars that occur naturally in fruits and vegetables, as these sugars come along with fiber and essential vitamins and minerals.

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