Fitness and nutrition: the role of carbs( 1st part))
1st part
Carbs/carbohydrates are one of the three food macronutrients(the other two being fats and proteins)
Carbs are the most efficient energy suppliers for our bodily functions.They are made up from carbon,hydrogen and oxygen. The proportion of the last two elements,being similar with their proportion in water molecules,is behind their etymology.
Carbs are made only by plants via the phenomenon of photosynthesis.
Remember from the lyceum?
Clorophyll+sunlight+water+CO2 catalyzed by specific plant enzymes=carbs.
Carbs are classified in the following categories:
1.Monosaccharides (etymology-easy for Greeks- :one sugar molecule)
Monosoccharides are the only carbs directly absorbable by the human body.The others with their more complex chemical structures must first be broken down(hydrolyzed).
The most important monosaccharides for human nutrition are:
-glucose/grape sugar:
this is the kind of sugar found in our blood and the primary form of sugar stored in the liver and muscles as glycogen .Glucose can directly satisfy our energy needs and is thus considered as the most important carb for humans.
-fructose/fruit sugar: the sweetest natural sugar which abounds in fruits
2. Disaccharides(consist of two monosaccharide molecules)
Their main representative is sucrose which abounds in sugar canes and sugar beets. From them we get the deadly table sugar via a procedure under the euphemistic term "refinement"
3. Polysaccharides(consist of three or more monosaccharide/sugar molecules)
Polysaccharides are -in contrast with the previous mentioned carbs- insoluble in the water.Three of them are of special importance for the nutrition of humans:
-starch
Starch is the main digestible form of polysaccharides(or complex carbs).Starch is stored as an energy reserve in the the appropriate plant organs.
-glycogen
Glycogen plays for humans the same role starch plays for plants. It is the polysaccharide used as stored energy mainly in our muscle tissues (about 70% of the total) and liver.
-cellulose
Cellulose(which has to do with dietary fibers) is the most plentiful organic substance and is indigestible by humans because they lack the appropriate enzyme-producing bacteria.
Thus,cellulose passes through our digestive track practically unaltered.
For the best carb choices take a look here:
MUSCLE BUILDING/DEVELOPMENT:ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW
End of 1st part
Chris Strogilis
About the Author:
Civil engineer with postgraduate studies in MBA and Marketing. christos@macon.gr http://maconwaterproofing.blogspot.com/ http://totalfitness-christos.blogspot.com