health effect of sugar or carbohydrates?

Carbohydrates

vProduced by plants during photosynthesis

vAfter eating plant foods, humans convert the carbohydrates into glucose

vpolyhydroxyaldehydes or polyhydroxy-ketones of formula (CH2O)n, or compounds that can be hydrolyzed to them.  (aka sugars or saccharides)

Carbohydrates –

Simple:

Monosaccharides – carbohydrates that cannot be hydrolyzed to simpler carbohydrates; eg. Glucose or fructose.

Disaccharides – carbohydrates that can be hydrolyzed into two monosaccharide units; eg. Sucrose, which is hydrolyzed into glucose and fructose.

üPerceived as sweeter than complex carbohydrates

üMixes with saliva and reacts with taste buds

Oligosaccharides – carbohydrates that can be hydrolyzed into a few monosaccharide units.

Polysaccharides – carbohydrates that are are polymeric sugars; eg Starch or cellulose.

Aldose – polyhydroxyaldehyde, eg glucose

Ketose – polyhydroxyketone, eg fructose

Triose, tetrose, pentose, hexose, etc. – carbohydrates that contain three, four, five, six, etc. carbons per molecule (usually five or six); eg. Aldohexose, ketopentose, etc.

Glucose (a monosaccharide)

Plants:

  photosynthesis

                                            chlorophyll

  6 CO2   +   6 H2O         C6H12O6   +   6 O2  

                                              sunlight      (+)-glucose

  (+)-glucose                starch or cellulose

  respiration

  C6H12O6   +   6 O2          6 CO2   +   6 H2O   +

   energy 

Natural versus Added 

Sugar

•Naturally occurring sugar

–Sugars such as fructose and lactose found naturally in foods

–Tend to be nutrient dense

•Added sugar

–Sugars added to processed foods and sweets

–Empty calories

Health Effects of Sugar

•Sugar can contribute to

–Dental carries

–Elevated level of fat in the blood

–Lowing of HDL cholesterol

•Sugar does not cause

–Increased risk of diabetes

–Hyperactivity in children

•Sugar is not considered an addictive substance

Putting It All Together

•Carbohydrates are an important part of a healthy diet

•Whole grains, fruits, vegetables, and lean dairy products

–Provide carbohydrates and vitamins and minerals

–Should be the predominant source of carbohydrates

•Whole grains, fruits, and vegetables are a good source of fiber and phytochemicals