Carbohydrates
They are organic compounds. They are found in all
organisms. They are commonly known as sugars. They contain three elements
carbon, hydrogen and oxygen in which hydrogen and oxygen exists in 2:1 ratio
that is why they are called hydrates of carbon or carbohydrates. One gram of
carbohydrates provides 3800 calories of energy.
Forms of Carbohydrates
Carbohydrates occur in three forms.
1. Monosaccharide
2. Disaccharides
3. Polysaccharides
1.
Monosaccharide
Monosaccharide are simple sugars. Their common example is glucose. Glucose is
main source of energy in our body cells.
2.
Disaccharides
Disaccharides are formed by condensation of two monosaccharide units e.g.
sucrose is formed by the combination of glucose and fructose. Maltose is
another disaccharide.
3. Polysaccharides
Why many monosaccharide link together, they form polysaccharides. A single polysaccharide
may have many hundred units of monosaccharide. The common examples of
polysaccharides are glycogen and starch. Glycogen occurs in animals and starch
in plants. Another polysaccharide is cellulose, present in the cell walls of
plants. It is the most abundantly occurring carbohydrate.
Sources of Carbohydrates
Carbohydrates containing starch are obtained from
cereals and their products like wheat, rice, maize, oats and barley. They are
also obtained from carrots, radish, turnip, beet, beet root and potatoes.
Simple sugar called glucose is obtained from grapes. The sugar derived from
fruit is called fructose. Then from beet and sugar cane is called sucrose and
that from milk is lactose.
Importance of Carbohydrates in Human Body
One gram carbohydrate food provides 3800 calories
to our body. The Carbohydrates are the cheapest and easy source of energy.
Surplus carbohydrates are stored as glycogen in the liver and muscles, or
converted to fats and stored in the fat cells beneath the skin and causes
obesity.
Children, laborers and people, involved in physical labor need more
carbohydrates in their daily diet whereas other should avoid them because their
excess in the body can cause blood pressure, diabetes, obesity and heart
diseases, therefore, carbohydrate products should be taken with care.
Nutrients
of Food and Their Importance
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