CARBOHYDRATES

(MACROMOLECULES)
Been giving the
stink eye to
carbohydrates
lately?
QUESTIONS:

• SHOULD YOU BE CUTTING CARBS OR

GOING ON A LOW-CARB DIET?
• ARE YOU EATING THE RIGHT CARBS?
• CAN EATING CARBS INCREASE YOUR
RISK FOR CHRONIC DISEASE?
 What are
carbohydrates?
 General structure
Carbohydrates are sugar molecules that belong to a
larger category of dietary macromolecules.
Macromolecules are molecules with a relatively large
number of atoms. The word carbohydrate is derived
from the French words charbonne and hydrate, which
means "carbon" and "water," respectively.
Carbohydrates are carbon-based organic compounds
with hydrogen and oxygen present in the same
proportion as water. This means that, as a general rule,
there will be twice as many hydrogen atoms as oxygen
atoms within a carbohydrate molecule. Essentially, the
general structure of carbohydrates includes a long
chain or ring of carbon atoms with multiple hydrogen
atoms or hydroxyl groups (-OH) attached.
Structures of Carbohydrates

Carbohydrates are molecular compounds made from

carbon,hydrogen and oxygen and are used by living
organisms as an important source of energy. Examples
of carbohydrates include glucose, fructose, sucrose,
galactose, ribose, deoxyribose, cellulose and chitin.
CARBOHYDRATES ARE CLASSIFIED
BASED ON THE NUMBER OF
SACCHARIDES IT CONTAINS.
01 SACCHARIDE
A saccharide is the basic unit structure or building
block of a carbohydrate.

02 MONOSACCHARI
DE
A monosaccharide is a carbohydrate with one
saccharide

03 DISACCHARIDES
A disaccharide is a carbohydrate with two
saccharides
01
FUNCTIONS
OF
CARBOHYDRATES
 Carbohydrates provide energy for our
bodies to run on. When you eat a food that
contains carbs, the carbs are broken down Do you remember the Main
Function of Carbohydrates?
by the body into glucose. “Glucose is the
primary fuel that circulates in our blood at
all times. It’s also the principle fuel for the
brain,” says Dr. Katz.
 Four Primary Functions

Energy Production Energy Storage

The primary role of carbohydrates is to supply energy to all cells in the
body; each gram of carbohydrate supplies 4 kilocalories. The brain is also
highly sensitive to low blood-glucose levels because it uses only glucose
to produce energy and function (unless under extreme starvation
conditions).
If the body already has enough energy to support its
functions, the excess glucose is stored as glycogen
(the majority of which is stored in the muscle and
liver).

Sparing Protein Preventing Ketosis

In a situation where there is not enough glucose to meet the body’s needs, glucose is
synthesized from amino acids (through gluconeogenesis). Because there is no storage molecule As blood-glucose levels rise, the use of lipids as an energy source is inhibited.
of amino acids, this process requires the destruction of proteins, primarily from muscle Thus, glucose additionally has a “fat-sparing” effect. This is because an increase
tissue. Therefore, the body cannot use proteins to make new cells, repair tissue damage, support in blood glucose stimulates release of the hormone insulin, which tells cells to
our immune system, and perform many other functions. The presence of adequate glucose
use glucose (instead of lipids) to make energy.
basically spares the breakdown of proteins from being used to make glucose needed by the
body.
02
SOURCES
OF
CARBOHYDRATES
 Carbohydrates are found in a wide array of both
healthy and unhealthy foods — bread, beans, milk,
popcorn, potatoes, cookies, spaghetti, soft drinks,
corn, and cherry pie. They also come in a variety of
forms. The most common and abundant forms are
sugars, fibers, and starches.
03
IMPORTANCE
OF
CARBOHYDRATES
Foods high in carbohydrates are an important part of a healthy diet.
Carbohydrates provide the body with glucose, which is converted to
energy used to support bodily functions and physical activity.
How Do We Tell the Difference
Between Good and Bad
Carbohydrates?
COOKIES CANDIES POTATO CHIPS
WE DON’T EAT “CARBS” ALONE. WE EAT FOOD.
“ONE OF THE PLACES PEOPLE GO WRONG IS
THINKING THAT CARBOHYDRATES ARE
INDICATIVE OF SOME PARTICULAR KIND OF
FOOD. HOWEVER, ALL PLANTS ARE MADE UP
OF CARBOHYDRATES,” SAYS KATZ. THESE
FOODS — WHOLE GRAINS, LEGUMES, SEEDS,
NUTS, FRUITS, DAIRY, AND VEGETABLES —
ALSO CONTAIN ESSENTIAL NUTRIENTS, LIKE
FIBER, VITAMINS, ANTIOXIDANTS, AND
MINERALS.
 “SINCE PLANT FOODS ARE
ALWAYS A CARB SOURCE, YOU
CANNOT GET ANY OF THOSE
ESSENTIAL NUTRIENTS [FROM
FOODS] WITHOUT EATING CARBS.
IT’S VALID TO SAY THEN THAT
CARB FOODS ARE SUPPORTING
ALMOST EVERY ASPECT OF
HUMAN PHYSIOLOGY,” HE ADDS.
THANK
YOU!