Carbohydrates

Organic Compounds

All contain carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen—CHO

Macromolecules = BIG 4 types of organic compounds:

Carbohydrates & sugars Proteins Lipids (fat) Nucleic acids (DNA & RNA)

Carbohydrates

Contain ONLY C, H, and O H and O are always in a 2:1 ratio

“Hydrate” = water = H20

3 major groups: sugars, starches, and cellulose Suffix “-ose” means sugar Cellulose—walls of plant cells—you can’t

digest it—”fiber”

Building blocks of carbs are monosaccharides

simple sugars (mono = one)

ex. Glucose, fructose have 6 carbon atoms

Your body’s cells use glucose for energy ALL PARTS of your body need a constant

supply of glucose in order to function Video: Gluten

Glucose

How many CarbonsHow many HydrogenHow many Oxygen

How many CarbonsHow many HydrogenHow many Oxygen

Check Your Understanding

What 3 chemical elements are carbohydrates made of?

What carbohydrate is the fuel for your body’s cells?

Why is it important for you to eat breakfast in the morning?

What are the building blocks of carbs called?

Disaccharides are built of 2 simple sugars

Example: sucrose “table sugar” Combination of glucose and fructose

glucose fructose

Polysaccharides are many, many simple sugars linked together

Ex. STARCHES These are HUGE molecules Could be in a straight chain, or could be

branched Could be any number of glucose and/or

fructose and/or any other simple sugar linked together

This makes for an endless variety of carbohydrates

What kinds of foods contain Carbs?

Anything made from plants! Pasta Bread Cereal Fruits & vegetables

Functions of Carbs

Main food source for all animals 4 calories per gram

Form the body structure of plants

What happens when you eat carbs?

Carbs are broken apart into simple sugars by enzymes in the mouth and gut

Body converts them all to glucose Some glucose goes straight to your

cells which use it for energy Diabetes: glucose can’t get into cells

Extra glucose is stored in animals as glycogen – a polysaccharide

Up to 1 pound stored in liver Also stored between muscle cells

Excess carbs – stored as FAT

Check your understanding…

What is the name for “table sugar”? What do you call “animal starch”? What disease do you have if glucose

can’t get into your cells? Give one of the functions of carbs How many calories are in each gram

of carbohydrates?