Carbohydrates Audio I-IV Flashcards
What is a carbohydrate?
A plant which is converted into glucose when eaten and digested.
True or False. Glucose is not the most abundant carbohydrate, but is the preferred source of energy for the blood, brain and nervous system.
False. It is the most abundant carbohydrate.
It is the preferred source of energy.
Neurologically, ketones can be broken down by fats under stress when ______ is being spared.
glucose
How do we maintain blood glucose?
Carbohydrate intake
When does glycogenolysis occur?
4 hours after a meal
What might we do to spare protein?
When we provide carbohydrates as an energy source, we say that we are sparing protein or preventing the utilization of gluconeogenesis.
Name the two simple carbohydrates.
Monosaccharides and disaccharides.
Name the two complex carbohydrates.
Oligosacchardies (3-10 sugar units) and polysaccharides (>10 sugar units)
What is the most abundant monosaccharide in the body?
Glucose
What monosaccharide is part of every disaccharide?
Glucose
Which monosaccharide is the sweetest of natural sugars?
Fructose
What monosaccharide is found abundantly in fruits?
Fructose
Which monosaccharide commonly occurs as part of disaccharide lactose?
Galatcose
What are the three disaccharides?
Sucrose, lactose, maltose
What is the most common disaccharide?
Sucrose
What can be said about one of the two sugars that make up disaccharides?
Glucose is one of those two sugars for all three types of disaccharides
What is a polysaccharide?
Starch
How do plants store starch?
In glucose chains
Describe amylose.
It’s a straight chain that is more resistant to digestion.
How may a resistant starch be beneficial to our health?
It may improve health of digestive tract, improve glucose tolerance, and stimulate growth of beneficial intestinal bacteria.
Fiber can be insoluble and soluble. Name some soluble foods.
Pectins, beta-glucan, some gums, mucilage
How is soluble fiber beneficial to the body?
It is easily fermented by intestinal bacteria and its effects will mainly be cardiovascular.
Fiber can be insoluble and soluble. Name some insoluble foods.
Cellulose, lignin, some hemicelluloses
How is insoluble fiber beneficial to the body?
It’s not easily fermented and its benefits will mostly be for our gut.
Soluble fibers are considered prebiotic. How does fiber impact our health?
Slows gastric emptying and may delay absorption of some ingredients.
Helps reduce serum cholesterol, improve appetite control, normalize blood glucose levels, and protect against color cancer.
Insoluble fibers are also considered to be prebiotic. How do insoluble fibers impact our health?
Relieves constipation; scours lining of colon (by “scouring” Dr. Sayer meant getting rid of residual fecal matter and keeping the colon clean). Colon cancer is significantly reduced.
True or False. Most plant foods do not contain both soluble and insoluble fibers.
False. Most plans do contain both types of fiber.
Where is glycogen stored?
In the liver and muscle.
Describe oligosaccharides.
They are similar in length to simple carbohydrates and they are similar in makeup to polysaccharides.
Why might the consumption of oligosaccharides cause bloating, discomfort and flatulence?
Humans lack the enzymes necessary to digest them, and intestinal microflora digest and ferment them (ahem, causing gas)
What types of foods can oligosaccharides be found?
Legumes, beans, cabbage, brussel sprouts, broccoli
Metabolic needs determine the fate of monosaccharides. What happens to galactose and fructose once digested?
They are used by the liver for energy and/or converted to glucose.
How is glucose converted to glycogen?
Through glycogenesis
Where does most carbohydrate digestion take place?
In the small intestine
Where does carbohydrate digestion begin?
The mouth
Carbohydrates are broken down to _______ for absorption
monosaccharides
Monosaccharides are converted to glucose in the liver and?
- Used as energy
- Stored as glycogen in the liver and muscle cells
- Stored as glycerol and fatty acids in the adipocytes
True or False. Fiber travels to the colon undigested and most is eliminated from the body.
True