What are Simple Carbohydrates?
What are Simple Sugars?
What
Are Carbohydrates? - Carbohydrate
Science - Synthesis of Carbohydrates
- Monosaccharides - Disaccharides
- Oligosaccharides
Polysaccharides - Complex
Carbs - Benefits of Carbohydrates
- Starch - Sugars -
Dietary Fiber
All carbohydrates are made up of units
of sugar ("saccharride"). Carbohydrates containing only one
unit of sugar (called "monosaccharides") or two sugar units
of sugar (called "disaccharides") are known as simple sugars
or simple carbohydrates.
Simple sugars are typically sweet-tasting
(glucose derives from the Greek word for "sweet") and are rapidly
metabolized by the body and converted into energy. In fact, simple sugars
need almost no digesting - they can enter the bloodstream immediately.
The most common examples of monosaccharide
simple sugars are glucose (also called dextrose) and fructose. A less
common simple sugar is galactose. Glucose is the primary form of sugar
stored in the human body for energy. Some glucose is stored in our blood,
while a liquid energy "reserve" (the "fight-or-flight"
fuel) is stored as glycogen in the muscles and liver.
Fructose is the main sugar found in most
fruits. Both glucose and fructose have the same chemical formula, however,
the body has to first convert fructose into glucose as cells only run
on glucose.
Simple carbs or simple sugars (except fructose)
are typically high on the glycemic index, so they tend to cause a rapid
rise in blood sugar. Ideal for energy, but not so good for appetite and
blood glucose control.
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