Carbohydrates
Carbohydrates are compounds that are naturally occurring in sugar, starch, and cellulose. They are either stored as fat or broken down to release energy into the body. Carbohydrates are made up of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen and the ratio of hydrogen to oxygen is 2:1. There are multiple types of carbohydrates: monosaccharides, disaccharides, and polysaccharides. Monosaccharides are the simplest sugars that cannot be broken down further. They are single molecule sugars that make up the basic units of all carbohydrates. Disaccharides, or double sugars, are carbohydrates that are created by joining two monosaccharides. Polysaccharides are long chains of sugars joined together chemically. Some examples of polysaccharides are starch, glycogen, and cellulose.
Humans obtain carbohydrates from grains, fruits, and vegetables. The body absorbs glucose from the foods that contain carbohydrates. Glucose is then broken down and either used as immediate energy or stored in the liver. Complex carbohydrates, or multiple sugars linked together, take longer for the body to break down and release as energy than simple carbohydrates (sugars that are already broken down). Complex carbohydrates help regulate the body's blood sugar by releasing small amounts of glucose into the bloodstream at a time, whereas simple carbohydrates give the body a burst of sugar that can affect the blood sugar levels drastically.
Humans obtain carbohydrates from grains, fruits, and vegetables. The body absorbs glucose from the foods that contain carbohydrates. Glucose is then broken down and either used as immediate energy or stored in the liver. Complex carbohydrates, or multiple sugars linked together, take longer for the body to break down and release as energy than simple carbohydrates (sugars that are already broken down). Complex carbohydrates help regulate the body's blood sugar by releasing small amounts of glucose into the bloodstream at a time, whereas simple carbohydrates give the body a burst of sugar that can affect the blood sugar levels drastically.