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 = H 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: GlutenGluten

Glucose How many Carbons How many Hydrogen How many Oxygen How many Carbons How many Hydrogen How 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?