N: CARBS: sugars, starches and fibre Flashcards
examples of monosaccharides:
glucose, fructose
major types of carb:
glycogen
starches
cellulose
examples of disaccharides:
maltose, sucrose, lactose
how is glucose used in the body?
stored glucose as glycogen in liver and muscle cells
body uses glycogen stores if available to produce glucose for energy
what is glycogen?
storage form of glucose in the body
what is starch?
storage form of glucose in plants
what is cellulose?
main structural component of plants
when is muscle glycogen used?
muscle glycogen is main energy reserve during exercise
- some athletes “glycogen load” to improve their performance
what helps maintain blood glucose during fasting?
liver glycogen
liver glycogen is a short term glucose reserve
what happens when the body has no stored glycogen to make glucose from?
the body can make glucose from protein - Gluconeogenesis
what would prevent gluconeogenesis?
having inadequate carbohydrate in the diet
define hypoglycaemia?
abnormally low blood glucose concentration (below 4mM)
define hyperglycemia?
abnormally high blood glucose concentration (above 11mM)
how does the body maintain blood glucose?
removing glucose from blood & storing after meal
replacing blood glucose from body stores in periods of fasting
what are the regulating hormones of blood glucose?
insulin, glucagon, epinephrine(adrenaline)
role of insulin in regulating blood glucose:
insulin moves glucose into the cells, and helps to lower blood sugar levels
role of glucagon in regulating blood glucose?
brings glucose out of storage to raise blood sugar levels
role of epinephrine(adrenaline) in regulating blood glucose:
acts quickly to bring glucose out of storage
describe type 2 diabetes:
occurs later in life
insufficient insulin
cells unresponsive to insulin
define glycemic index:
food classification according to their potential for raising blood glucose
examples of of high GI
watermelon
breads
mashed potatoes
honey
examples of low GI
apples
wholegrain breads
sweet potato
what is diverticula? and how can you avoid it?
outpocketing of (large)intestinal linings that balloon through the weakened intestinal wall muscles
avoidable: adequate fibre intake
effects of excessive fibre:
dehydration
abdominal discomfort and distension
health effects of fibre:
fuller for longer as it slows gastric emptying
binds with cholesterol rich bile salts
eat more fibre and less fat
slows absorbtion of glucose (low GI)
major storage form of carbohydrate?
glycogen
2 major tissues or organs that store carbohydrate?
liver
muscle tissue
2 major types of complex carbs found in plants:
starch
cellulose - cellular framework of plants
what is the name of the simple sugar that is the basic unit of these dietary complex carb?
glucose
what happens to starch and cellulose when ingested as food?
starches are digested to glucose and absorbed
cellulose passes undigested through the GIT and is excreted in faeces
define glycemic response:
how quickly blood glucose rises and elicits an insulin response
