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Carbohydrates

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What are carbohydrates?
Carbohydrates are organic molecules composed of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen that serve as energy sources and structural materials for cells of all organisms. Most organic matter on earth is made up of carbohydrates because they are involved in so many aspects of life, including:
• Energy stores, fuels, and metabolic intermediaries.
• Ribose and deoxyribose sugars are part of the structural framework of RNA and DNA.
• The cell walls of bacteria are mainly made up of polysaccharides (types of carbohydrate).
• Cellulose (a type of carbohydrate) makes up most of plant cell walls.
• Carbohydrates are linked to many proteins and lipids (fats), where they are vitally involved in cell interactions. (Medical News Today)
Where do carbohydrates come from?
Carbohydrates can be found in fruits, vegetables, breads, cereals, and other grains, milk and milk products and foods containing added sugars (e.g., cakes, cookies, and sugar-sweetened beverages). Healthier foods higher in carbohydrates include ones that provide dietary fiber and whole grains as well as those without added sugars. Foods higher in carbohydrates such as sodas and candies that also contain added sugars are the ones that add extra calories but not many nutrients to your diet. (CDC)
How do carbohydrates work in the body? The goal of digestion is to break down carbohydrates into small molecules the body can absorb. The human body contains the digestive enzymes to break down starch into disaccharides and disaccharides into monosaccharides. The final products of carbohydrate digestion are the monosac¬charides. The monosaccharides are absorbed by the small intestine and released into the blood stream. Then they are carried by the blood to the liver, where fructose and ga¬lactose are converted into glucose. Glucose is the primary monosaccharide used by the body for energy.

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