Carbohydrates & Basic Chemistry Concepts

What are the three disaccharides?

Maltose, sucrose, and lactose

What is the simplest sugar that circulates in the bloodstream?

Glucose

What is glucose often called in the body?

Blood sugar

What is the storage form of carbohydrate in the liver?

Glycogen

What are the two major types of dietary fiber?

Soluble and insoluble

Give two food sources of soluble (cholesterol-lowering) fiber

Oats and apples

What is insoluble fiber mainly responsible for?

Adding bulk to stool and preventing constipation

What is an example of a complex carbohydrate?

Potatoes, whole grain bread, rice, vegetables

What is an example of a simple carbohydrate?

Fruit or sugar-rich foods (cookies/candy)

Name three ingredients on food labels that mean sugar

High fructose corn syrup, sucrose, dextrose

Which hormone lowers blood sugar?

Insulin

Which hormone raises blood sugar?

Glucagon

What condition is caused by high blood sugar due to insulin problems?

Diabetes

What does hypoglycemia mean?

Abnormally low blood sugar

What does “glycemic effect” mean?

How fast and how much a food raises blood sugar after eating

What is glycemic response?

The actual rise in blood glucose after eating a food

What is the glycemic index?

A system that ranks foods based on how much they raise blood sugar

What enzyme breaks down starch?

Amylase

What is glycolysis?

Splitting glucose to make energy

What is protein-sparing action?

Carbs and fats provide energy so protein can be used for other jobs

What is the smallest unit of an element?

Atom

What particles are found in the nucleus of an atom?

Protons

What charge do protons have?

Positive

What charge do electrons have?

Negative

What determines an element’s atomic number?

The number of protons

What elements make up carbs?

Carbon, hydrogen, oxygen (CHO)

What elements make up protein?

Carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen

What elements make up fat?

Carbon, hydrogen, oxygen

What is the chemical formula for glucose?

C6 H12 O6

How many carbon atoms are in one glucose molecule?

6

How many bonds does carbon form?

4

How many bonds does oxygen form?

2

How many bonds does hydrogen form?

1

How many bonds does nitrogen form?

3

What is condensation?

A reaction where two molecules join and release water

What is hydrolysis?

A reaction where water is used to split a molecule apart

What is a triglyceride made of?

1 glycerol + 3 fatty acids

How many carbons can fatty acids have?

4-24

Where are long-chain fatty acids found?

Meat and fish

Where are short-chain fatty acids found?

Dairy products