The Carbs in Cream of Mushroom Soup

Cream of mushroom soup features a creamy base flavored with pieces of button mushrooms, although it can be made with any type of mushroom. You may find it condensed or ready to serve in your grocery store, or you can make it at home. This soup is not particularly high in carbohydrates, but does contain some -- the carbs in this soup make it a good choice for energy, but it may not be suitable for reduced carbohydrate meal plans.

Carbohydrate Count

A 1-cup serving of cream of mushroom soup contains 14.44 g of carbohydrates, although the number of carbohydrates may vary brand by brand. Fat makes up the majority of the calories in this soup, but the carbohydrates provide the remainder. Sugar is counted as a carbohydrate, and this creamy soup also contains some sugars -- 1 cup of cream of mushroom soup introduces 8.4 g of this nutrient.

Glycemic Index

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Cream of mushroom soup is generally considered low on the glycemic index, but consult with your health care provider about whether it is right for your diet if you are a diabetic. The glycemic index measures the way a food influences your blood glucose and insulin levels based on the number of carbohydrates that food contains. A low glycemix index rating means that a food will not trigger a rapid spike in blood sugar or insulin.

Type of Carbohydrate

Cream of mushroom soup is considered a simple carbohydrate because its carbs derive from the sugars galactose and lactose; complex carbohydrates, or starchy foods, have three sugar sources. Physicians may recommend that you stay away from simple carbohydrates, but this mainly applies to those in candy, granulated sugar and syrups. Simplex carbohydrates in dairy and vegetables are good for you.

Carbohydrate Needs

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The 14.44 g of carbohydrates in cream of mushroom soup do not meet a significant portion of the daily recommended intake -- 4.4 to 6.4 percent. Adults need 225 to 325 g of carbohydrates each day for best health if you follow a 2,000 calorie diet. This amount equates to 45 to 65 percent of your total caloric intake, or 900 to 1,300 calories each day.

Role of Carbohydrates

Your body uses carbohydrates as its primary source of energy, so eating cream of mushroom soup influences the amount of fuel you have to go about your day. You also get protein, your body's secondary source of energy in this soup. In addition to the energy supplied by the carbs in cream of mushroom soup, the carbohydrates in this dish keeps your central nervous system and muscles functioning correctly.