Carbohydrates

Question 1

What is the main function of carbohydrates?

Answer 1

The body’s most abundant source of energy

Question 2

What percentage of your daily calories should come from total carbohydrates?

Answer 2

Over half of daily calories45 - 65% of your daily calories

Question 3

Name the two categories of carbohydrates

Answer 3

simple and complex

Question 4

Describe simple carbohydrates

Answer 4

They have a sweet tasteProvide short term energyAre made up of monosaccharides and disaccharides

Question 5

Why do simple carbohydrates provide only short term energy

Answer 5

Because they are made up of 1 or 2 sugar molecules bonded together and therefore are easily broken down into glucose in the body. Once they are broken down they are quickly used up for energy

Question 6

What are some food sources of simple carbohydrates

Answer 6

Natural food sources like milk, fruit & vegetables and foods with added refined sugars like pop, candy, desserts, etc.

Question 7

Describe complex carbohydrates

Answer 7

Have a bland tasteProvide long term energyAre made up of polysaccharides

Question 8

Why do complex carbohydrates provide long term energy

Answer 8

Because they are made up of multiple sugar molecules bonded together in chains and therefore take much longer to break down into glucose in the body. Making the energy from glucose last much longer.

Question 9

What are two types of complex carbohydrates

Answer 9

Starch and fiber (cellulose)

Question 10

What are some food sources of carbohydrates

Answer 10

Fruits, vegetables, breads, grains, cereals, pasta, rice

Question 11

Name the monosaccharides

Answer 11

Fructose, Glucose, Galactose

Question 12

Name the disaccharides and how they are produces

Answer 12

Glucose + Fructose = SucroseGlucose + Galactose = LactoseGlucose + Glucose = Maltose

Question 13

Name the polysaccharides

Answer 13

Starch and Fiber

Question 14

What form of carbohydrate is the only form our body can use as energy, therefore all carbohydrates must be broken down into this before it can be used for energy?

Answer 14

glucose

Question 15

What are whole grains?

Answer 15

Products made from whole grains include the bran and the germ. Products made from refined grains leave out the bran and the germ.

Question 16

What make whole grains healthy

Answer 16

They provide health benefits such as reduced risk of colon problems, high cholesterol, type II diabetes, all of which can lead to further health problems and some cancers.

Question 17

How many calories per gram of carbohydrates

Answer 17

4 calories per gram

Question 18

What is dietary fiber?

Answer 18

Plant material that can’t be digested by the human bodyIt helps with the body’s digestive health - the elimination of waste products

Question 19

What category of carbohydrate is the healthier of the two?

Answer 19

complex - starch & fiber (whole-grains)

Question 20

What happens to the extra carbohydrate calories taken into the body (exceeds 45-65% of daily calories) that is not used for energy?

Answer 20

Stored as fat in cells

Question 21

How can you choose healthy types of complex and simple carbohydrates to substitute for unhealthy types of carbohydrates?

Answer 21

Limit sugary foods, choose natural sugars like fruit.It provides both fiber and sweetness.Choose whole-grain products, like whole-grain cereals, pasta, breads, flour to eat and cook with.Avoid sucrose - table sugar, high fructose corn syrup, and other refined sugars.Avoid refined white flour products (breads, pasta) and sugary cereals, Avoid white rice.