Functions of carbs
- prevents protein catabolism
Which body parts use carbs for energy?
Classification of carbs
- complex carbs: oligosaccharides (3-9 monos) and polysaccharides (10-1000s)
examples of monosaccharides
examples of disaccharides
examples of polysaccharides
good sources of complex carbs
grains, legumes, root veggies
whole grain-what is it?
includes endosperm (inside) but also outer layers of germ and bran
high fructose corn syrup
- 55% fructose, 45% glucose
what’s wrong with fructose?
health benefits of fiber
where are dietary carbs found? where are they not found?
found: fruits, starches, veggies, added sugars, legumes, milk
not found: animal source foods and fats
-most abundant macronutrient in plant foods
hypoglycemia
low blood sugar
describe the digestion of starch, from mouth to absorption. include fiber
-small intestine: pancreas releases pancreatic amylase into the small intestine. this continues to turn starch into disaccharides and small polysaccharides. these are still not absorbable. Brush border disaccharidase enzymes on villi turn these into monosaccharides
—maltase turns maltose into glucose x2
—lactase turns lactose into glucose and galactose
—sucrase turns sucrose into glucose and fructose
Intestinal epithelial cells called enterocytes absorb these monosaccharides.
Fiber is still not ingested, and it slows absorption of other nutrients (this is why it slows sugar spikes).
-Large intestine/colon: Gut bacteria finally digest fiber into SCFAs and gas. Fiber regulates bowel activity, and it binds to bile and cholesterol and some minerals, carrying out of the body (this is why it lowers LDL cholesterol).
enterocytes
absorptive cells in the intestinal wall (intestinal cells) that absorb monosaccharides–only monosaccharides absorbed by enterocytes.
what happens to monosaccharides once they are absorbed into the bloodstream?
they are sent to the liver via the portal vein. in the liver, fructose and galactose are converted to glucose/glycogen. The exception to this is excessive fructose consumption, when it is turned into TGs.
3 possible fates of glucose once they are sent to the liver
Lipogenesis
“fat-making.” When glucose is made into fatty acids or triglycerides. this happens when you eat too much fructose or sugar, because the liver and skeletal muscle only have so much glycogen storage capacity. once this fills up, lipogenesis occurs. fatty acids are combined with glycerol to make TGs and are stored in adipose tissue/the liver.
euglycemia
normal blood glucose levels
hypoglycemia
low blood glucose levels
hyperglycemia
high blood glucose levels
glycemic index
the increase in blood glucose 2 hours after consuming 50 g of carb-containing food
4 hormones involved in blood glucose regulation
insulin