Module 2.3: Macronutrients: Carbs

Question 1

What are carbs composed of?

Answer 1

CHO - carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen molecules.
It also provides 4kcal/gram.

Question 2

What is the role of glycogen?

Answer 2

It is a form of blood glucose that is stored in the muscle or liver to help maintain blood glucose levels.

Question 3

What are the two classifications of CHO?

Answer 3

Simple Carbs and Complex Carbs

Question 4

What are two forms of simple carbs?

Answer 4

Monosaccharides (mono means one) - are simple sugars like glucose (blood sugar), fructose (fruit sugar), and galactose (milk sugar).

Disaccharides (di means two) are two simple sugars joined together like sucrose (glucose + fructose), lactose (glucose + galactose), and maltose (glucose + glucose)

Question 5

What are some example foods of disaccharides?

Answer 5

Sucrose = sugar, honey, maple syrup
Lactose = milk sugar
Maltose = liquor

Question 6

What are complex carbs? Give examples.

Answer 6

Polysaccharides - made up of many glucose units joined together.
Examples are:
1. Starch- vegetables, beans, peas, whole grains like breads, pasta and rice
2. Glycogen- stored in liver/muscle
3. Fiber - cannot be digested (insoluble, soluble, functional)

Question 7

Define the three types of fiber.

Answer 7

1. Insoluble (non-fermentable)
   Does not dissolve in water
   Not broken down by intestinal bacteria
   increases stool mass
   speeds passage through the large intestine
2. Soluble (viscous)
   Dissolves in water
   Broken down by intestinal bacteria
   Slows glucose absorption and can lower cholesterol
   Provides satiety to a meal
3. Functional
   Fiber that is added to a product
   Promotes intestinal health

Question 8

T/F: Foods that are often high in starch are good sources of fiber.

Answer 8

True

Question 9

What are the enzymes that digest disaccharides?

Answer 9

Maltase digests maltose and the results are two glucose units.

Sucrase digests sucrose and yields glucose and fructose.

Lactase digests lactose to produce glucose and galactose.

Question 10

T/F: Some individuals either lack the ability to produce lactase or make limited amounts, either of which results in an inability to effectively break down lactose.

Answer 10

True

Question 11

What is the condition of not being able to produce lactase to break down lactose?

Answer 11

Lactose intolerance

Question 12

T/F: After absorption, the monosaccharides are transported to the liver and either released as glucose into the blood stream, stored as glycogen for later use, or used for fat production.

Answer 12

True

Question 13

What is CHO main and secondary function?

Answer 13

Main - to provide calories to the body as a source of fuel.
Secondary - to preserve protein, a process called protein sparing, and to prevent ketosis (using fat for energy).

Question 14

In the event that glucose is unavailable, the brain and CNS can use _____________.

Answer 14

Ketones - a product of fat breakdown - as its source of fuel.

Question 15

What is the process of gluconeogenesis?

Answer 15

Inadequate amounts of carbohydrates are consumed, the body will instead begin to convert protein derived from muscle into glucose for fuel.

Question 16

How do you prevent gluconeogenesis from happening?

Answer 16

One must maintain an adequate intake of carbohydrates. It is recommended we consume 45-65% of our total calorie intake from carbohydrates.

Question 17

T/F: Nutritionists suggest the optimal blood glucose (or blood sugar) levels are between 70 and 100 mg/dl.

Answer 17

True

Question 18

What are the two main hormones the body uses to regulate blood sugar levels?

Answer 18

Insulin - produced by the pancreas and then released into the blood.
Glucagon - released from the pancreas

Question 19

What is hyperglycemia and hypoglycemia?

Answer 19

Hyper - blood sugar levels are high
Hypo - blood sugar levels are low

Question 20

T/F: If there is an imbalance of either hormone (insulin or glucagon), the regulation of blood sugars levels will not be lost.

Answer 20

False, it will be lost.

Question 21

T/F: Fat production only occurs if there is excess calorie and carbohydrate consumption.

Answer 21

True

Question 22

What is diabetes? What are the types?

Answer 22

A disease caused by hormone imbalance.
Type 1 and Type 2 and in both cases blood sugar levels are high and there is a lack of insulin.

Question 23

Explain Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes.

Answer 23

Type 1- the pancreas does not make any insulin. Genetic related.
Type 2 - more prevalent and is link with being overweight.

Question 24

What are a few treatments for Type 2 diabetes?

Answer 24

A diet high in soluble fiber, exercise, and oral medications

Question 25

What is metabolic syndrome/Syndrome X?

Answer 25

A diet high in refined carbohydrates.

A person diagnosed with this disease must exhibit at least three of the following conditions: (1) obesity, (2) poor glucose control, (3) hypertension, (4) increased blood triglycerides, and (4) low HDL cholesterol levels.