Carbohydrates+hw-kat

1. What is the function of carbohydrates in the human body? Carbohydrates function is to give us sperts of energy and to store energy.

2. What is the structure of a simple sugar? The structure of a simple sugar is called a **monosaccharide**. It means that if the number of carbon atoms in a carbohydrate are low (3-7) its a simple sugar. The structure of a simple sugar could be C6H12O6, which **glucose**.

3. What is the structure of a complex carboydrate? The structure of complex carbohydrates contains many glucose units. Macromolecules such as starch, glycogen, and cellulose are called **polysaccharides**.

4. What is starch? Starch is a form of glucose in plants and animals. There can be up to 4,000 chains of glucose in starch.

5. What is glycogen Glycogen is a form of glucose stored in plants and animals. When we eat starches such as bread, pasta, and potatoes, glucose enters the bloodstream and the liver stores glucose as glycogen.

6. What is cellulose? Cellulose is found in plant's walls. Glucose units are stored differently in cellulose than in starch and glycogen.

7. What are the advantages and disadvantages of a low carbohydate diet? The advantage of a low carb diet is that you can lose weight quickly. But the disadvantage of a low carb diet is that once you stop the diet all your weight comes back immediately and a high fiber diet is more healthy for you and prevents heart problems.

8. Look at the "sweet poison box" on the right side of p. 29. Why are carbs like "poison"? Carbs are like poison because the added sugar in our cereals, breads, yogurts, juices, trail mix, and canned fruits are leading to weight gain and decrease in health issues more than we think.

9. What causes lactose intolerance? What are the symptoms of lactose intolerance? Can you eat dairy products if you are lactose intolerant? Lactose is the primary sugar in milk and people who are lactose intolerant lack the "brush border" enzyme lactase cannot digest lactose. Signs of being lactose intolerant are diarrhea, gas, bloating, and abdominal cramps. If you are lactose intolerant, you can still eat dairy products but only certain kinds, like cheese and yogurts because the lactose has already been broken down.