Lecture 2 - Jan 10 (Part 1 - carbs, lipids, proteins) Flashcards
what are carbohydrates made of
carbon
hydrogen
oxygen
what is the ratio of carbon to water
1:1
Thus, carbohydrates literally means “carbon with water”
what is considered the major source of fuel for the body
carbohydrates
provide examples of carbohydrates
starches
sugars
main source is:
grains
vegetables
legumes
fruits
do dairy and meat products have carbs?
dairy products have some carbs
meats have very little carbs
dietary fibre:
a carbohydrate, but it does not provide energy for cells. because there are no enzymes to actually break fibre down which is why they don’t provide energy for the cells;
there are bacteria that live in our large intestine/colon, and these bacteria live off of fibre so they can grow)
it is actually very important for normal function of the GI tract
Our body converts most of the dietary carbohydrate into what?
glucose which circulates in our blood (final molecule of sugars)
Glucose is taken in by cells and is used for what two purposes?
energy production
stored as glycogen
How do skeletal muscle and liver utilize glucose
Skeletal muscle and liver metabolize glucose to generate energy.
what happens to excess glucose?
Excess glucose not needed by the cell is stored in skeletal muscle and liver
What is the primary energy source for the brain, and how does its supply affect brain function?
The brain primarily relies on glucose for its energy needs and requires a steady supply of glucose to function properly.
what is a lipid
Compounds that are soluble in organic solvents (ex: acetone, ether, and chloroform)
(water is an inorganic solvent which is why they don’t mix)
examples of lipids
Fats, oils, and other fat like substances such as cholesterol and phospholipids that
are found in food
What makes up the largest proportion of lipids
consumed by humans
Triacylglycerols/triglycerides (TG)
(most abundant in the foods that we eat)
Why do lipids undergo specialized processing in the human body?
Because lipids cannot mix with water (non-water miscibility) and the human body is mostly water, they require specialized processing during digestion, absorption, transport, storage, and utilization to be effectively used by the body.
