HPRO 3250 Chapter Notes - Chapter 4: Hemorrhoid, Maltose, Glycemic Load
16 Jan 2013
School
Department
Course
Professor
Document Summary
Carbohydrates are one of the three macronutrients classes that provide energy to our bodies. Plants make one type of carbohydrate, glucose, through the process of photosynthesis. Glucose, fructose, and galactose are monosaccharides; lactose, maltose and sucrose are disaccharides. Starch is the storage form of glucose in plants, while glycogen is the storage form of glucose in animals. Fibre forms the support structures of plants; our bodies cannot digest fibre. Different types of fibres have different physical properties. Soluble fibres absorb water and swell to form gels, which slow down movement of material through the intestinal tract. Insoluble fibres attract water and speed up the movement of material through the large intestine. Carbohydrate digestion starts in the mouth and continues in the small intestine. Glucose and other monosaccharides are absorbed into the bloodstream and travel to the liver, where non- glucose sugars are converted to glucose.
