Chapter 5 - Nutrition (Fiber)

Considered as a class of nutrients + major source of ENERGY in the body:

Carbohydrates

It holds cells together like “glue“ + cell-cell recognition + lubrication + considered simple or complex:

Carbohydrates

Simple Carbohydrates:

1. Monosaccharides

2. Disaccharides

Monosaccharides:

Single simple sugar units (Formula: C₆H₁₂O₆)

Food Sources of Glucose:

Fruit/Vegetables: berries, grapes, potatoes, and carrots

Types of Monosaccharides

1. Glucose

2. Fructose

3. Galactose

Glucose:

Most abundant monosaccharide + primary source of brain, nervous system, and RBCs

Fructose:

Known as the fruit sugar/levulose + sweetest natural sugar

Food Sources of Fructose:

Fruit, honey, green beans/asparagus, and high fructose corn syrup

Galactose:

Doesn’t (rarely) appear alone in food + structural component in lactose

Food Sources: Galactose

Cow’s milk → part of lactose

Disaccharides:

Composed of 2 monosaccharides + joins through condensation reaction + releasing water-molecules

Types of Disaccharides:

1. Sucrose

2. Lactose

3. Maltose

Sucrose:

(Glucose + Fructose): Table sugar

Food Sources: Sucrose

Sugar cane/beats, brown/turbinado sugar, honey, maple syrup, carrots, and pineapples

Lactose

(Glucose + Galactose): Milk Sugar

Food Sources: Lactose

Cow’s milk + dairy products

Maltose

(Glucose + Glucose): breakdown product of larger Carbohydrate molecules

Food Sources: Maltose

Uncommon in raw foods

Recommended Dietary Intake: Carbohydrate

130 grams per day (adults)

Benefits of 130 grams per day (adults):

Sufficient glucose for the brain, prevents ketosis

Dietary Intake Pattern: Carbohydrate

Covers 47% total kcal in diet

Dietary Fiber:

Consists of nondigestible plant material that human digested enzymes can’t break

Functional Fiber:

Isolated/manufactured nondigestible carbohydrates with beneficial health effects

The body regulates fasting blood glucose levels within a normal range:

70 → 99 mg/dl

Gestational Diabetes

Develops during pregnancy due to hormone changes in the body; can affect mother + baby

Type 1 Diabetes:

High blood levels; autoimmune disease + destroys beta pancreatic cells (needs injections of insulin)

Type 1 Diabetes Symptoms:

Frequent urination/thirst, fatigue, weight loss, confusion, and fruity breath

Type 2 Diabetes:

Most common; target cells fail to respond to insulin (insulin resistance) → prevented by Therapeutic Lifestyle Changes (TLC) and with a managed diet, exercise. oral medication, and insulin

Symptoms: Type 2 Diabetes

Hereditary (family history), obesity, lack of exercise, and inactivity

Management of Diabetes

Emphasize whole grains, vegetables, fruits, legumes, poultry, fish, and low-fat dairy + practice counting carbohydrates using Glycemic Index/Load

Glycemic Index

Tool used to measure insulin’s response to the body from a carbohydrate containing food

Glycemic Load

Tool used to measure insulin’s response to the body from a carbohydrate containing food + the overall content of carbohydrates in the serving size