Carbohydrates Flashcards
What is a Carbohydrate?
Plant foods that are made up of sugar molecules called Saccaharides. Saccaharides are found singularly, in pairs or complicated chains
How many calories do Carbohydrates provide of energy per gram?
4kcal or 16.8kilojoules
What are the 3 basic Carbohydrates categories?
Simple Carbohydrates (sugars)
Complex carbohydrates (starches)
Non-starch polysaccharides (NSP) (fibre)
What two forms can Simple Carbohydrates be found in?
Monosaccharides
Disaccharides
What are Monosaccharides?
Single Saccharide molecules
What are Disaccharides?
Pairs of molecules joined to together
What are Complex Carbohydrates?
Made from multiple chains of saccharide molecules called polysaccharides - poly meaning many
What are Refined Carbohydrates?
Been through more processing than unrefined carbs and often stripped of much of their nutritional value
What are Unrefined Carbohydrates?
Gone through very little processing
Contain larger amounts of vitamins, minerals and fibre than refined carbs
What is the fate of dietary carbohydrate?
Dietary carbohydrate converted to glucose
Glucose enters the blood
Insulin released from the pancreas
Glucose may now enter
Liver (stored as glycogen)
Muscles (stored as glycogen)
Body cells (used as fuel)
Adipose tissue (converted into fat)
What is the Glycaemic index?
A scoring system that rates carbohydrates according to the speed at which they are digested and converted into blood glucose
What is Fibre?
Part of the carbohydrate group, present in all grains, fruits, veg, pulses, legumes and nuts
What are the two types of fibre?
Soluble
Insoluble
What is Soluble fibre?
Forms a gel like substance as it passes through digestive system
Soaks up liquid as it passes through intestines
Absorbs small but significant amounts of bile acid, cholesterol and fat
What is insoluble fibre?
Sometimes called roughage
Passes through digestive system and gives it a good internal scrubbing
