Chapter 3 - Carbohydrates

3.1 Functions

·      Main energy provider, spare protein:

o   Sufficient CHO will not prevent protein from being build, maintain and repair tissue body

·      Help body to use fat efficiently:

o   Fat burned into energy without CHO present is an incomplete process

o   Insufficient amount of glucose will result in ketone bodies. Accumulation of ketone bodies resulting in acidic blood that may cause ketosis in which leads to dehydration and fatal coma.

o   When the blood too acidic, protein will neutralize the blood.

3.2 Classifications

      i.         Simple CHO

·      Single sugar (monosaccharide C6H12o6) – glucose, galactose, fructose

·      Double sugar (double sugar/ disaccharides) – maltose, sucrose, lactose

o   Glucose + glucose = maltose

o   Glucose + galactose = lactose

o   Glucose + fructose = sucrose

·      3-4 sugar (oligosaccharides) – starchyose, raffinose

     ii.         Complex CHO or polysaccharides

·      Long chain sugar – 40-100 glucose (starch and fiber)

o   Starches – glucose is stored in plants

ü  Amylose – long chain (unbranched)

ü  Amylopectin – combination of glucose, larger than amylose (branched)

o   Glycogen – stored in animal in liver and muscle

3.3 Health Implication of CHO

·      Dental carries/ cavities – accumulation of sugars, bacteria ferment CHO results in acid. Deposit of bacteria, protein and polysaccharides resuting in plague that leads to tooth decay.

·      Diabetes – overconsumption of CHO, insufficient/ ineffective insulin contribute to this. Failed glucose to body cell will remain in blood will move to kidney and spills into urine. 2 types of diabetes:

o   Type I – no insulin produces since born (insulin dependent)

o   Type II – insufficient insulin produced

·      Obesity – extra glucose will convert into fat and carries to fat cells (obesity). Extra glucose transfer to blood and then arterial wall (heart disease).

·      Hypoglycemia – rapid rise of glucose in blood, insulin rush to glucose resulting in overproduction of insulin.

·      Lactose intolerance – lactose being rejected due lack of lactase.

·      Hyperactivity (ADHD)

3.4 Fiber and Health

·      Fiber is non-nutrients. Digestive enzymes cannot digest fiber.

·      Promote normal functioning of digestive system. Two types of fiber:

o   Soluble fiber – maximum water being absorb as sponge. Inside the cells and around plant cells include gums, pectin, mucilage and hemicellulose.

o   Insoluble fiber – absorb water but limited. Form structural part of plants includes cellulose, lignin and hemicellulose.

·      Fiber implication in health:

o   Heart disease – help remove cholesterol while digestion

o   Diabetes – controlling the blood glucose swing

o   Constipation – the food remaining in large intestine will be bind by fiber that acts as glue. Fiber will try to reabsorb the nutrients remain in food before the foods being excrete.

o   Hemorrhoids – the food remains in rectum and stored there.