You carbohydrates, also known by the names carbohydrates, carbohydrates, carbohydrates or sugars are carbon molecules with water (hydrogen and oxygen), essential for the biochemical reactions of our body.
Its main function is to provide energy, but it is worth remembering that carbohydrates also have a structural function as they help in the formation of cell structures and nucleic acids.
Carbohydrate Functions
Carbohydrates or carbohydrates are the most abundant biomolecules in nature. They are found mainly in vegetables, being considered the main product of photosynthesis.
THE cellulose, the most abundant carbohydrate in nature, is a component of the cell wall and has as its main auxiliary function in plant cell structure.
O starch it is considered the main energy reserve of vegetables and is found mainly in tubers (potatoes, cassava, yam), roots, stems and leaves.
THE glucose appears in free form in many fruits and is the usual metabolite of conversion in animal organisms, ie all carbohydrates ingested and absorbed by the intestine need to be converted into glucose to participate in metabolic processes cell phones.
O glycogen, stored in the liver and muscles of animals, is the main energy reserve of animals and fungi. In humans, when the body needs energy, glycogen is transformed into glucose molecules.
Finally, the chitin it is present in the cell wall of fungi and is also the exoskeleton of arthropods.
Learn more about biomolecules.
Classification and Structure
The carbohydrate group is divided into three categories, they are: Monosaccharides, Disaccharides, Polysaccharides.
Thus, monosaccharides and disaccharides are called simple carbohydrates (simple chains) and compound carbon polysaccharides (compound chains).
However, this classification will depend on the amount of carbon atoms present in its molecules.
monosaccharides
You monosaccharides receive the suffix - ose, they are basically sugars that have 3 to 7 carbons in their structure and their general formula is represented by (CH2O)n, where “n” means the number of carbon atoms.
According to the number of carbons present, they can be called Triose (3), Tetrose (4), Pentose (5), Hexose (6) and Heptose (7).
The monosaccharides that deserve to be highlighted are: the Pentoses (C5H10O5): Ribose and Deoxyribose, and the Hexoses (C6H12O6): Glucose, Fructose and Galactose.
Get more knowledge by reading about the glucose.
Disaccharides
You disaccharides, water-soluble molecules, are formed by the union of two monosaccharides through a bond called glycosidic.
In this process, called “Dehydration Synthesis”, a water molecule is lost.
The best known disaccharides are: sucrose (glucose + fructose), lactose (glucose + galactose) and maltose (glucose + glucose).
In this way, sucrose and maltose are found in plants or vegetables while lactose is found in milk.
Learn more about the functions and classification of carbohydrates.
Polysaccharides
You polysaccharides, insoluble in water, are polymers of monosaccharides, that is, they are large molecules (macromolecules) formed by the union of several monosaccharides.
In this group, the best known carbohydrates are: a cellulose, O starch, O glycogen and the chitin.
Importance of Food
The carbohydrates or carbohydrates are energy sources essential for the body, glucose is essential for several tissues, being the human brain the most demanding, as it requires a high amount of glucose (about 120g/day for a adult).
As they are obtained through food, it is essential to maintain a balanced diet. Starchy foods, especially cereals and dried vegetables, are slowly absorbed and provide in addition to glucose, proteins, fiber, minerals and vitamins.
The carbohydrates from fruits have protective micronutrients, such as vitamin C and carotenoids, dietary fibers and various minerals that facilitate absorption and assimilation by cells.
However, currently very refined foods, such as wheat flour, lose more than 50% of vitamins and minerals.
In addition, the excessive consumption of these nutrients can cause an increase in the number of cavities, development of obesity and heart disease.
Test your knowledge of the topic in Carbohydrate Questions.