The Importance of Carbohydrates Coursework

Introduction

• Carbohydrates are macronutrients, which include naturally occurring sugars, starches, and fibers. They are made up of sugar molecules, which form fibers and starches when linked together.
• In the digestive system, starches and sugars get broken down to glucose, which is also known as blood sugar. Glucose is the primary source of energy for the body, providing it with fuel and powering all of its functions.
• Fibers are complex carbohydrates, which means that the human gut does not have the necessary enzymes to break apart connections between sugar units. While traveling through the gut undigested, fiber leads to a number of health benefits, including the growth of healthy bacteria and satiation.

Simple vs. complex carbohydrates

1. Contain single monosaccharide units
2. Easy to digest
3. Contain sweetness
4. Raise blood glucose levels quickly

Complex carbohydrates

1. Polysaccharides made up of hundreds/thousands of monosaccharide units
2. Harder to digest
3. Less sweetness
4. Raise blood glucose levels slowly

Healthy sources of carbohydrates

Simple carbs cause bursts of energy faster than complex carbohydrates. Simple carbs can lead to spikes in blood sugar levels and sugar highs. Complex carbs provide the human body with more sustained energy.

Healthy sources of carbs

• Slowly digested
• Unprocessed
• Help reduce the risk of diabetes and heart disease
• Examples include fruits and vegetables, beans, whole grain breads, cereals, etc.

Break-down of sugars

• Enzymes from the saliva begin to break down the carbohydrates before the person swallows their food.
• As the carbohydrates travel to the stomach, the digestive system helps to break them down into sugar molecules.
• These molecules pass through the lining of the stomach and get into the bloodstream.
• Sugar molecules are delivered to cells, which use them foe energy needed to function properly.

Soluble vs. insoluble fibers

Soluble fibers (dissolve in water):

• Help to control the blood glucose levels after the meal and bind cholesterol in the gut
• Sources include dried peas and beans, oats, and fleshy parts of fruits and vegetables

Insoluble fibers (do not dissolve):

• Benefits include regularity (constipation relief) and lower risk of diverticulosis
• Sources include bran from grains and cereals, skins from fruits and vegetables, beans and peas, as well as brown rice

What it means: It is important to include various fiber sources in order to ensure healthy nutrition. To get more benefits from fruits and vegetables, it is important to eat them whole (with skin, and not in a juice form).

Lactose intolerance

Diabetes is “a chronic (long-lasting) health condition that affects how your body turns food into energy” (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2020). Diabetes implies that the body does not have enough insulin or cannot use it as well as it should. As a result, too much blood sugar stays in the bloodstream.

CDC (2020) reports that diabetes can cause serious health problems, including heart disease, vision problems, and even kidney failure.

Losing weight, eating healthy, and exercising help to manage the symptoms of diabetes. Taking medicine significantly reduces the impact of the illness on the body.

Reference

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2020). What is diabetes? Web.