Carbohydrates

Monosaccharide

Carbohydrates made up of only one sugar unit

Glucose

A monosaccharide that is the primary form of carbohydrate used to provide energy in the body

Fructose

A monosaccharide found in fruit

Galactose

A monosaccharide found in milk

Disaccharide

A carbohydrate made up of two sugar units

Lactose

a disaccharide that consists of the sugars glucose and galactose

Maltose

A disaccharide composed of two glucose molecules.

Sucrose

a disaccharide made from glucose and fructose (table sugar)

Polysaccharide

A carbohydrate made up of many sugar units linked together

Amylose

Simplest starch that is a long unbranching chain of glucose molecules

Amylopectin

a branched-chain (more complex) type of starch composed of glucose units

Oligosaccharide

A carbohydrate made up of 3 to 10 sugar units, some of which cannot be digested

Resistant starch

starch packed too tightly to be digested in GI tract

Soluble fiber

Fiber that dissolves in water

Insoluble fiber

Fiber that will not dissolve in water

Amylase

Enzyme found in the salivary glands and pancreas, that break down starches into smaller polysaccharides

Lactase

Enzyme that breaks down lactose

Sucrase

Enzyme that breaks down sucrose

Maltase

Enzyme that breaks down maltose

Glycemic response

The rate, magnitude, and duration of the rise in blood glucose that occurs after food is consumed.

Insulin

protein hormone that helps to decrease blood sugar by allowing glucose to enter the cells

Glucagon

raises blood glucose levels by stimulating the break down of glycogen

Glycolysis

breakdown of glucose

Anaerobic metabolism

Metabolism in the absence of oxygen

Aerobic metabolism

Metabolism in the presence of oxygen

Gluconeogenesis

production of glucose from non-carbohydrates

Ketones

An acid molecule formed when there is not sufficient carbohydrate to break down acetyl-CoA

Ketosis

High levels of ketones in the blood

1,4 Alpha Bond

Chemical bond between the first carbon on one glucose to the fourth carbon on the second glucose molecule.

1,6 Alpha Bond

Chemical bond between the first carbon molecule on one glucose to the sixth carbon on the second glucose molecule.

Lignin

Insoluble fiber made of a multi-ringed alcohol (non-carbohydrate) structure.

Ribose

Five carbon sugar found in genetic material-specifically RNA

Functional Fiber

Fiber added to foods that has shown to provide health benefits.

Mannitol

Alcohol derivative of fructose

Sorbitol

Alcohol derivative of glucose.

Stachyose

Indigestible oligosaccharides made of four monosaccharides (galactose-galactose-glucose-fructose).

Beta bond

Type of chemical bond that cannot be broken by human intestinal enzymes during digestion when it is part of a long chain of glucose molecules.

Mucilage

Soluble fiber consisting of chains of galactose and other monosaccharides.

Starch

Carbohydrate made of multiple units of glucose attaches together in a form the body can digest; also known as complex carbohydrate.

Glycogen

Carbohydrate made of multiple units of glucose with a highly branched structure; sometimes known as animal starch.

Cellulose

Straight chain polysaccharise of glucose molecules that is indigestible because of beta bonds; part of soluble fiber.

Gum

Soluble fiber consisting of chains of galactose and other monosaccharides, found in plant stems.

Pectin

Soluble fiber containing chains of various monosaccharides; found between plant cell walls.

Sugar Alcohol

Xylitols, Mannitols, and Sorbitols.

Condensation

Chemical reaction in which a bond is formed between 2 molecules by the elimination of a small molecule (like water).

Hemicellulose

Mostly insoluble fiber containing galactose, glucose, and other monosaccharides bonded together.

Pentose

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Xylitol

Alcohol derivative of the 5-carbon monosaccharide xylose

Deoxyribose

Another sugar alcohol

Raffinose

Indigestible oligosaccharide made of 3 monosaccharides (galactose-glucose-fructose).

Dietary Fiber

Fiber in food.