Carbohydrate by Daniel Max King

Function

jbro2180 — 2021-08-18 01:20:56 UTC

Carbohydrates as an energy source and their storage

Carbohydrates are a storage form of glucose in the body:

carbohydrates provide a rapid release of energy when needed (in the form of glycogen, starch, fibre).
A breakdown of fatty acids into glucose occurs, which is the preferred energy source for our body. Our brain cells, muscles, other tissues directly use glucose monosaccharides for energy needs.
This is released by the glucagon hormone produced by pancreas when the body senses low blood sugar levels in the body

Carbohydrates for gut function and dietary fibre

Fibre helps to ensure good gut functions by increasing the physical bulk in the bowel and stimulating intestinal transit
These indigestible carbohydrates enters the large intestine, and are broken down by gut microbes. This increases the overall mass in the bowel and has a beneficial effect on the make-up of our gut microbiome.
Leads to the formation of bacterial waste products which are released in the colon with beneficial effects on our health

Also used as Flavour and Sweeteners in our food.

Carbohydrates for building of macromolecules

Some glucose is converted to ribose and deoxyribose, which are essential building blocks of macromolecules like RNA, DNA, ATP etc.

Starch

ahuy2603 — 2021-08-18 01:23:11 UTC

Also known as amylum, is a digestible carbohydrate made up of many glucose molecules joined by glyosidic bonds.
It provides 50-70% of the daily energy in the human diet.
Starch consists of two main polysaccharide sub-units:
- Amylose
- Amylopectin

Amylose is slowly digestible due to it's long linear chain of glucose molecules as it takes longer to break down where as amylopectin is more easily digestible because of its branched chain structure.

Starch can be found in a variety of foods such as cereals, nuts, root vegetables, fruits, legumes and cereal products.

Salivary amylase initiates the break down of starch into smaller saccharides.

Carbohydrates daily intake

rsri2506 — 2021-08-18 01:24:20 UTC

Should be around 45 to 65 percent of your total daily intake and therefore if you have about 2000 calories a day then you should be eating 225 to 325 grams of carbohydrates each day.

Simple and Complex Carbs

2021-08-18 01:24:31 UTC

Carbohydrates are an essential organic compound. They have the structure of C_n(H₂O)_{n, where n is the number of carbons present, and has 3 forms.}
1. monosaccharides
2. disacharides
- 2 monosaccharides joined together
3. polysaccharides
- multiple chains of monosaccharides

FUN FACTS

jbro2180 — 2021-08-18 01:26:21 UTC

- Some animal products contain carbs.
- The name “carbohydrate” tells you what it contains. “Carbo” means carbon and “hydrate” means water–H20 (hydrogen and oxygen)
_{^{- http://alovelettertofood.com/2013/09/7-surprising-facts-about-carbs/}}

Carbs - Energy Facts

2021-08-18 01:28:47 UTC

Carbohydrates contain 17 kilojules per gram

The Glycaemic Index

ktao2588 — 2021-08-18 01:29:34 UTC

The Glycaemic Index determines how easily the components of food is digested:
Low GI: <55
Medium GI: 56-69
High GI: >70
Low GI foods are usually more preferable.

Types of Carbohydrates

2021-08-18 01:30:53 UTC

monosaccharides - 1 unit simple sugars:

- glucose

- fructose

- galactose

disaccharides - pairs of monosaccharides (one of which is glucose)

- maltose (2 glucose)

- sucrose (glucose +fructose)

- lactose (glucose +galactose)

polysaccharides:

- few (oligosaccharides) or many (polysaccharides) glucose units bound/linked together in straight or branched chains

Carb Digestion Enzymes

2021-08-18 01:31:09 UTC

Source of Carbs

jbro2180 — 2021-08-18 01:34:05 UTC

- Gains and cereals
- Starchy vegetables
- Legumes including dried and canned varieties
- Fruit - frozen, dried and juiced
- Diary foods from cow, sheep, goats

Carb Misconceptions

2021-08-18 01:34:28 UTC

"Reducing carbs are the best way to lose weight". This is not supported by any evidence. Restricting carbs from diet can lead to ketosis which can cause dehydration and chemical imbalance in blood.

Carbon + water -> carbohydrate + oxygen

ahuy2603 — 2021-08-18 01:36:40 UTC

Contains 3 elements: carbon, hydrogen and oxygen

Effects of not having enough carbohydrates

rsri2506 — 2021-08-18 01:37:30 UTC

When you don't have enough carbohydrates you end up having low blood sugar levels which can lead to hypoglacemia which may lead you to experience:
- Hunger
- Shakiness
- Dizziness
- Confusion
- Difficulty speaking
- Feeling anxious or weak

Use in Cellular Respiration

dkin3345 — 2021-08-18 01:37:53 UTC

Glucose is used as the primary source of energy in the body.

when the body needs energy and is not utilising oxygen, it uses glucose in aerobic respiration. A process called glycolysis, breaks down glucose in the cytoplasm for energy - releasing 2 ATP (energy) as well as foreign pyruvate acid. With the presence of oxygen, the body can gain additional ATP through aerobic respiration. The pyruvate can enter the mitochondria, and move through the Kreb cycle and electron transport chain to produce an extra 32 ATP

Anaerobic = 2 ATP
aerobic = 34 ATP

Effects of having too many carbohydrates

rsri2506 — 2021-08-18 01:39:48 UTC

Having too much carbohydrates means that you are at risk of developing diabetes and may also lead to unhealthy weight gain

jbro2180 — 2021-08-18 01:40:32 UTC

jbro2180 — 2021-08-18 01:40:51 UTC

Simple and Complex Carbs

2021-08-18 01:41:43 UTC

Student contributions

dkin3345 — 2021-08-18 01:42:52 UTC

Jess Brooke - 500472800
Daniel King - 500469039
Hanlin Zhang - 500444531
Rahul Sriram - 510291574
Indiana Brenac - 500491317
Anna Huynh - 440397937
Anna Jin - 510459130
Kevin Tao - 450114124