Carbohydrates

-Carbohydrate-

Function - 'Protein Sparer', source of energy

Chemistry - Carbon, oxygen, hydrogen

Classification:

Monosaccharides (simple sugars)

Fructose - Fruit sugar (e.g. fruits, plant sugars, honey)

Glucose - Fast source of energy (e.g. ripe fruits, some vegetables)

Galactose - Milk of mammals (forms part of lactose)

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Disaccharides (Double sugars)

Sucrose - Made up of glucose and fructose (refined sugar cane/beet)

Lactose - Made up of glucose and galactose - supply infant with source of energy (Milk of mammals)

Maltose - Made up of two units of galactose (malt sugar and barley)

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Intrinsic sugars – Natural, form part of cell structure of plant (fruit etc)

Extrinsic sugars – Made, includes non-milk extrinsic sugars (NMES) (eg. refined sugar, extracted sugars etc) and milk sugars (lactose, found naturally in milk products)

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Polysaccharides (Starch)

· Many monosaccharide units

Starch

· Many glucose units joined together (chain)

· Glucose formed by photosynthesis in plants

· Digestion – broken down into single glucose units – absorbed into blood

Non-starch polysaccharides (Starch)

· Celloluse, pectin, gums (carrageenan, gum arabic etc)

· Dietary fibre (not digested in large digestion)

· Important in removing waste from digestive system

Effect of Heat on Carbohydrate

Sugar

· Dry heat (melt, caramelizes, burns)

· Wet heat (dissolves, caramelizes – syrup, burns)

Starch

· Dry heat – Starch à Dextrin

· Wet heat – starch grains soften, absorb water and swell (form paste

-Dietary Fibre (NSP)-

Non-starch polysaccharides

· Dietary fibre

· Non digestible part of food

Functions

· Needed for digestive system to function

· Prevent bowel disorders (constipation etc)

· High fibre foods are filling (control body weight)

Types of Dietary fibre (NSP)

Insoluble Fibre

· Absorbs water, increases bulk

· Keeps gut in good working order

· Wholemeal bread/flour, brown rice etc

Soluble Fibre

· Slow down digestion and absorption of carbohydrates

· Control blood sugar levels – help us stop feeling hungry

· Reduce blood cholesterol levels

· Oats, peas, beans lentils etc

Recommendations for dietary fibre

· 18g for adults

· Children eat less (smaller body size)

Advantages of eating foods rich in NSP

· Low in fat

· Good source of vitamins/minerals

Good sources of dietary fibre (NSP)

· Wholemeal flour, Wholemeal and high fibre varieties of bread, cereals, porridge oats, beans, lentils, peas, fruit, vegetable, potatoes etc