What are carbohydrates?

Society & You - Health

Sunday, 15 January 2012 18:08

We present carbohydrates, and its different types: monosaccharides, disaccharides and polysaccharides. I also count on what foods we can find each of them.

In our previous article we have reviewed are the nutrients and in turn seen the different types of them that exist. Now we focus on one of the most important types of macronutrients: carbohydrates or carbohydrates . A term widely used today in reference to diet plans or diet , but which, for sure, very little is known.

What are carbohydrates?

The carbohydrates are nutrients that provide energy to the body much faster than the other nutrients. Also called carbohydrates, carbohydrates or sugars.

In everyday language the term carbohydrates and sugar is associated with sweetness. However, most foods containing carbohydrates, like potatoes or rice, they have this flavor. So in this article uses the terms carbohydrates or carbohydrates to name this type of macronutrients.

Carbohydrates are substances whose molecules are made up of carbon atoms (C), hydrogen (H) and oxygen (O). The simplest structure are soluble in water. In contrast, most complex carbohydrates are not composition aqueous solutions.

The plant foods have more of carbohydrates than those of animal origin.

According to the complexity of its structure, carbohydrates are classified as monosaccharides, disaccharides and polysaccharides.

Types of Carbohydrates: monosaccharides

Monosaccharides are the simplest carbohydrate structure, the molecules can be between 3 and 7 carbon atoms. All respond to the general molecular formula:

The monosaccharides formed by molecules with 6 carbon atoms, called hexoses, are most abundant in nature. Glucose, fructose and galactose are hexoses.

Types of Carbohydrates: The Disaccharides

The disaccharides are structurally more complex than the monosaccharides. Its molecules are formed by joining two monosaccharides. For example, maltose is formed by the joining of two molecules of glucose, sucrose or common sugar glucose and fructose one, and the lactose or milk sugar by glucose and galactose.

Types of Carbohydrates: Polysaccharides

Polysaccharides are macromolecules formed by the union of hundreds or thousands of molecules of monosaccharides. Starch, glycogen and cellulose are polysaccharides complex molecular structure.

Carbohydrates in Foods

Carbohydrates are the most important source of energy and comes to us through a wide variety of foods. Here are some of the most important.

Glucose (monosaccharide) found in fruits and honey.
Fructose (monosaccharide) is also found in fruit and honey.
Galactose (monosaccharide) is not found free in nature, is derived from the hydrolysis of lactose.
Sucrose (disaccharide: glucose + fructose), sugar is commonly found in beets and sugar cane.
Maltose (disaccharide: glucose + glucose): It usually occurs free in nature.
Lactose (disaccharide: glucose + galactose): The sugar in milk.
Starch (polysaccharide) is present in cereals and legumes.