Carbohydrates

Carbohydrates
Carbohydrates are the class of nutrients that includes
sugars, starches, and fibers.
Carbohydrates are the major source of fuel for ones
metabolism and energy for ones body.

Carbohydrates
The sugars in carbohydrates are: glucose, maltose,
fructose, and sucrose; there is also lactose found in
milk.

Carbohydrates
Starch is produced by green plants, extracted for over
50 types of plants, and is used by humans as a source
energy (Wikipedia, 2009).
Starch is a large number of glucose units joined
together.
Fibers are classified into two groups: soluble fibers
and insoluble fibers.
Fiber is present in all plant foods with varying
proportions of insoluble fiber and soluble fiber; they
are classified by this proportion.

Carbohydrates
Carbohydrates are broken down into two classes;
simple carbohydrates and complex carbohydrates.
Though all sugars, starches, and fibers are all
carbohydrates they have very different affects within
ones body during the digestive process thus
depicting which class they belong to.

Carbohydrates
Simple carbohydrates
are found in foods such
as fruits, milk &
vegetables.
Simple carbohydrates
are a quick energy
source and do not
provide vitamins,
minerals, and fiber.

Carbohydrates
Foods such as breads,
rice, pasta, legumes, and
vegetables.
Complex carbohydrates
provide vitamins,
minerals and fiber.

Carbohydrates
Sucrose is most commonly known as table sugar, but
is also called beet sugar, or cane sugar. Sucrose
occurs naturally in many fruits and some vegetables.
Fructose is found in most plants, especially fruits and
saps and is most often referred to as fruit sugar.
Glucose is the most common type of sugar the body
breaks food down into. Glucose is sometimes known
as blood sugar.
Maltose is the sugar found in grains and is known as
malt sugar.
Lactose is the principal carbohydrate found in milk
and sometimes referred to as milk sugar.

Carbohydrates
Carbohydrates benefits are:
Energy obtained from glucose is either:
Distributed to cells and muscles with the help of
insulin for immediate use.
Stored in liver and muscles in the form of
glycogen.
Converted into body fat.

Carbohydrates
Muscle Tissue:
Is helped by sending glucose directly to them for
immediate use.
Is protected by glycogen previously stored as body
fat.

Carbohydrates
Dietary Fiber:
Fibers benefit weight control by reducing the risk
of overeating and is a healthy addition to diet due
to indigestibility.
Insoluble fiber stimulates the peristalsis, reducing
risk of digestive disorders.
Soluble fiber reduces cholesterol levels and
atherosclerotic heart disease risk.

Carbohydrates
Lactose Intolerance is a medical disorder in which a
person does not have the ability to digest lactose, a
component of milk and most other dairy products.
Most people are born with the ability to make
adequate amounts of lactase, but lactase production
normally decreases with age, more so in some
persons and/or ethnic groups than others.
The basis for this condition is lack of an enzyme
called lactase in the small intestine. Without enough
lactase, there is lactose intolerance (Medical
Dictionary, 1998).

Carbohydrates
The most common symptoms of lactase deficiency
are diarrhea, bloating, and gas.
The diagnosis may be made by a trial of a lactose-free
diet or by special testing. In some cases, other
diseases of the intestine may need to be excluded by
further medical evaluation (Medical Dictionary,
1998).
The special tests consist of: the lactose tolerance test,
the hydrogen breath, test and the stool acidity test.

Carbohydrates
Lactose intolerance symptoms can be controlled
through your diet or with over the counter
medications:
Watch and manage your diet effectively to avoid
symptoms and read labels carefully to ensure there
are no lactose ingredients (Medical Dictionary, 1998).
There are additives available from drugstores; tablets
can be taken before a meal or snack for solid foods
that contain lactose and liquid additives for your milk
that will reduce the lactose 70 percent.

References
Anonymous. (2003, December). Benefits of carbohydrates: how carbs benefit health. Retrieved from
http://74.125.155.132/search?q=cache:VdlN9W_DMbsJ:www.carbs-information.com/carbohydrates-

benefits.htm+carbohydrate+benefits&cd=1&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=us
Medical Dictionary. (1998, October 23). Lactose intolerance. Retrieved from
http://74.125.155.132/search?q=cache:HTLmB7ujwrYJ:www.medterms.com/script/main/art.asp%3Farticl
ekey%3D6205+definition+lactose+intolerance&cd=1&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=us
Utah Lesson Plans. (1997, July 09). Carbohydrates-simple and complex. Retrieved from
http://74.125.155.132/search?q=cache:JNEts5bSVmoJ:www.uen.org/Lessonplan/preview%3FLPid%3D126
4+simple+carbohydrates&cd=3&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=us
Wikipedia. (2009, November 6). Lactose. Retrieved from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lactose
Wikipedia. (2009, November 7). Starches. Retrieved from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Starches