All About Carbohydrates

All About Carbohydrates

By: Ajani Bennett, Courtney-Ann Cameron, Gabrina Anderson, Steven Chung, Kavia Williams

​What are Carbohydrates?

​Carbohydrates are sugar molecules. Along with protein and fat, they are one of the three main nutrients found in food. They are found in an array of foods that are both healthy and unhealthy. Carbohydrates are broken down by the the body into glucose, which is the main source of energy for the body's cells, tissues and organs, 1 gram of carbohydrates provides 375 kcal of energy. These nutrients come in a variety of forms, with the most common and abundant being sugars, fibers and starches. Carbohydrates are the most essential and readily available source of energy for the body and as such are an imperative part of a healthy diet for both children and adults. https://youtu.be/wxzc_2c6GMg

​Functions of Carbohydrates

Carbohydrates main function is to supply the body with energy so that it can work efficiently. It also acts as a 'protein ​sparer' so that protein can be used for its primary functions rather than as a source of energy. It also prevents ketosis, which is when the body breaks down fats and disturbs its normal acid-base balance, by allowing fatty acids to be used efficiently. A function that is less impotant is that it provides sweetness to foods and it is stored in the liver as glycogen and releases glucose when the body needs it.

Multiple Choice

What is the main function of carbohydrates

• To build the bones of the body.

• To allow other nutrients to be used efficiently

• To supply the body with energy

• To sweeten foods.

Multiple Select

What forms do carbohydrates come in

• Sugars

• Waters

• Fibers

• Starches

Multiple Choice

Carbohydrates provide the body with energy so that other nutrients such as proteins and fats can be used for their main functions.

• True

• False

Digestion and Absorption of Carbohydrates

In digestion, sugars and starches are both mechanically and chemically broken down through chewing and by enzymes respectively. Carbohydrates digestion begins in the mouth with chewing as the mechanical action, and enzymes, specifically, salivary amylase, as the chemical action. This breakdown stops in the stomach and then restarts in the intestines where it is then turned into single units like glucose, fructose and galactose. These simple sugars are then absorbed in the small intestine and into the bloodstream where it is then transported all throughout the body.

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Food Sources of Carbohydrates

• ​Granulated sugar

• Icing

• Honey

• Molasses

• Syrup

• Jam/Jelly

• ​Fruits

• Fruit Juices​

• Peanut brittle​

​SOME GOOD SUGAR SOURCES INCLUDE:

​g

• ​Yam

• ​Sweet Potatoes

• Cassava

• Breadfruit

• Green Bananas

• Wheat Products

• Legumes

• Flour​

• Cereals (Rice, Oats, etc)​

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Food Sources Cont'd​

SOME GOOD STARCH AND FIBER SOURCES INCLUDE:​

Multiple Choice

Where does digestion of carbohydrates begin?

• Small Intestine

• Stomach

• Mouth

• Pancreas

Multiple Choice

What enzyme breaks down carbohydrates in the mouth?

• Salivary amylase

• Maltase

• Carbase

• Pancreatic amylase

Multiple Choice

What are glucose, fructose and galactose called?

• Saturated sugars

• Complex sugars

• Simple Sugars

• Unsaturated Sugars

Multiple Select

What are some GOOD sources of carbohydrates

• Jams, Honey, Fruits

• Sausages, Bread, Pudding

• Wheat, Yams, Green Bananas

• Legumes, Pork, Eggs

​Classification of Carbohydrates

​​Though there are several types of carbohydrates, they all contain the three elements: Carbon, Hydrogen and Oxygen. Oxygen and hydrogen are present in the same portions as water (H₂O), hence the name 'hydrate.' Carbohydrates are mainly produced by plants during photosynthesis through the following reaction.

​

Carbohydrates are divided into 4 parts​, they

are: monosa​ccharides (one sugar), disacchar-

ides (two sugars), ​oligosaccharides (few sugars)

and polysaccharides (many sugars).​

​

​Classification Cont'd

Monosaccharides - These are simple sugars as they are common base units from which other carbohydrates are built. They are water soluble and of varying sweetness. There are three types​: Fructose, which is reffered to as fruit sugar because it is mostly found in fruits, plant juices and honey. Glucose, which is the form the body uses for energy and galactose, which is found in the milk of mammals where it helps to form lactose.

​

Disaccharides - ​These are called double sugars as they are formed by two monosaccharide units that are joined together. They are also water soluble. The three main ones are: Sucrose, which is formed by glucose and frucrose, Lactose, which is glucose and galactose and Maltose, which is two glucose

units that are combined.​

​Classification Cont'd

Polysaccharides - These are called complex sugars as they are formed from a ​varying number of monosaccharide units. They are usually insoluble in cold water and are tasteless. There are five main ones, they are: Starch, which is formed from many glucose units joined together like links in a chain. Dextrin, which is formed when foods containing starch are baked or roasted. Cellulose, which is formed when plants from glucose units join together in such a way that a strong structural material is produced. Pectin, which is formed by some plants in their fruits and roots and Glycogen, which is formed after digestion in humans and other animals

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Non-starch polysaccharides - These include cellulose, pectin and gums, they make up dietary fibre and are not digested by micro-organisms in the the large intestines. They are also very important in removing waste from the digestive system.

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Multiple Choice

Monosaccharides are complex sugars while Polysaccharides are simple sugars

• True

• False

Multiple Choice

Glucose and Galactose make 1)_______, while Fructose and Glucose make 2)_______

• 1)Maltose

  2)Starch

• 1)Lactose

  2) Pepsin

• 1)Sucrose

  2)Lactose

• 1)Lactose

  2)Sucrose

​Bonus Question

​Explain how disaccharides and polysaccharides are absorbed into the bloodstream?

​THIS IS THE END OF OUR PRESENTATION. HOPE YOU ENJOYED AND LEARNT SOMETHING NEW!!🤩​