Carbohydrates

 

What Are Carbohydrates?

Carbohydrates are the major components of plant tissue, making up to 60% to 90% of the dry matter. Carbohydrates contain carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen in the proportion found in water (CH2O) and are hence hydrates of carbon. Carbohydrates are the basic energy source in animal cells. Dietary carbohydrates obtained from plant-based products serve as a major source of energy for the animal. The chlorophyll in plant cells traps solar energy and produces carbohydrates using carbon dioxide and water and gives off oxygen. 

The monomer of carbohydrates is monosaccharides. Carbohydrates have a ring like structure, and they are hydrophilic and soluble in water, and they are usually found in starch and sugars.

There is two types of carbohydrates; simple and complex. The simple part of carbohydrates is Disaccharides and Monosaccharides, and the complex part is Polysaccharides.

The function of carbohydrates:

Carbohydrates has many functions but the 2 most important functions are: 

1- they are used as short-term energy source.

(Glucose breaks down and turns into ATP energy)

2- they provide structural support to cells

Lab report 1:

We did an experiment in the lab about what are the foods that contains the most amount of starch by poring the iodine solution on it. We had 4 different kinds of foods which was bread, apple, potato, and oranges. After pouring the iodine solution on all of them we noticed that bread potato and the apple contain the most amount of starch.

Lab report 2:

For our second experiment we were told to see what substance has a large amount of glucose. The test tubes were filled with milk, soda, water, and oil. To see which one had the most amount of glucose, we added the benedicts solution to each test tube and noticed that milk and soda were the ones that has the most amount of glucose since they turned orange.

Why do we need to eat foods that contain carbohydrates?

Because foods rich in carbohydrates are important for a healthy diet, and carbohydrates provide your body with glucose, which then is converted into energy used to support the body’s function.

How many carbohydrates should we eat everyday?

As Carbohydrates are organic compounds of carbon, hydrogen, oxygen as the  following we should eat Carbohydrates per day 45%to 65% of total daily calories. When you reach 2000 calories a day, 900-1300 calories should be from carbohydrates.

What are foods that contain carbohydrates?

- fruits

-milk

-nuts

-potatoes

-rice