TOPIC 2: CHO - polysaccharides

what are polysaccharides?

long chains of monosaccharides

straight and branched chains

what are the 3 types of polysaccharides?

starches

glycogen

fibre

what are some sources of starch in our diet?

grains (rich source)

legumes (moderate)

tubers (rich source)

what are some examples of grains?

rice wheat corn bread

what are examples of legumes?

beans peas lentils soybeans

what are examples of tubers?

potatoes yam cassava

what is resistant starch?

a small portion of the starch in plants may remain enclosed in cell structures and escape digestion in the small intestine

what is the characteristic of starch - usable energy?

our digestive enzymes act on starch and split them into glucose molecules absorbed and converted to usable energy

what is glycogen?

the storage form of carbohydrate in animals and humans

how does glycogen gets broken down quickly?

the highly branched structure allows glycogen to be broken down quickly when glucose is needed

what are the 2 major sites of glycogen storage in our body?

liver

muscle

what is liver glycogen?

broken down to provide glucose when blood glucose level drops

what is muscle glycogen?

provides glucose for muscle during activity