Life Is Science Is Life: Carbohydrates: In a Nutshell

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Carbohydrates

Carbohydrates (also known as Saccharides, or sugars) are macro molecules consisting of Carbon, Hydrogen, and Oxygen. They are one of the most abundant types of food energy readily available to Humans, and one of the three main types of Food Energy (Fats, Carbohydrates, Proteins). They are also one of the main types of nutrients in our everyday diets. They can be either Simple or Complex. There are three basic types of Carbohydrates; Monosaccharides, Disaccharides, and Polysaccharides. Monosaccharides and Disaccharides are often referred to as sugars, and most end in the suffix -ose. Blood Sugar, for example, is Glucose (monosaccharide), and Table Sugar is Sucrose.

Monosaccharides are the simplest of the saccharides, and cannot be broken down any further. They are Aldehydes or ketones containing two or more Hydroxyl groups. Monosaccharides are Simple Sugars, and the body's major source of fuel for the metabolism, used as a short term energy source. Monosaccharides include Glucose, Ribose, and Fructose. These are simple sugars that contain short-term energy for the body. Disaccharides are two conjoined Monosaccharides. The bond formed is called a Glycosidic bond formed by a Dehydration Synthesis Reaction, taking H20 out of the two Monosaccharides. Dissacharides include Sucrose and Lactose. Disaccharides are also a primary source of short-term food energy for the body. Polysaccharides are primarily used for the storage of energy (for example, Starch), and help with structure in plant cells, such as cellulose in the plant cell wall.

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Simple Carbohydrates, or Simple Sugars, are often classified as Sugar. Sugar in the form of most sugary items such as candy or desserts. These are examples of Mono and Disaccharides. Complex Carbohydrates are often classified as foods rich in Starch, like wheat, bread, pasta, and cereals, etc...). High intakes of carbohydrates have often been correlated with increased risk of Type II Diabetes (Type I is often genetic and forms at a young age), as your body intakes so much blood glucose, and eventually, your insulin receptors grow weak, and unresponsive. If not treated correctly, your blood glucose levels stay elevated, posing possible

http://www.umm.edu/graphics/images/en/19529.jpg problems in eyesight, fatigue, constant or excessive urination, dehydration, and problems with your kidney. In the case of carbohydrate consumption and risk of type II diabetes, Correlation=Causation.

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