Carbohydrates: Classification and Examples

Carbohydrates are macronutrients and one of the three primary sources of nutrition for our bodies. Carbohydrates are named for the chemical elements carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen that they contain. Carbohydrates, which include carbohydrates, fibres, and starches, are important nutrients. They can be found in grains, vegetables, fruits, and dairy products such as milk and cheese.

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What are Carbohydrates?

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The cells, muscles, and tissues in our body use this sugar as a source of energy. The excess energy or sugar is retained in our muscles and liver in case we need it again. The word "carbohydrate" comes from the French term "hydrate de Carbone," which means "carbon hydrate." C_n(H₂O)n is the general formula for this class of organic compounds. They are the basic food groups that are important for living a healthy lifestyle. Carbohydrate-rich foods are converted to glucose or blood sugar by the digestive system during the digestion phase.

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Classification of Carbohydrates

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Carbohydrates are divided into two categories: simple and complex, based on their chemical structure and degree of polymerization.

Simple Carbohydrates

One or two sugar molecules make up simple carbohydrates. Simple carbohydrates cause blood sugar levels to rise because molecules are easily digested and converted. Milk products, alcohol, vegetables, processed sugars, candies, and other foods contain a lot of them. These carbohydrates are referred to as "empty calories" because they lack fibre, vitamins, and minerals.

In the presence of sunlight, plants synthesise glucose (C₆H₁₂O₆) from raw materials such as carbon dioxide and water. Photosynthesis is a mechanism that transforms solar energy into chemical energy. Consumers eat plants and collect the energy contained in the bonds of the compounds that plants create. 

1. Monosaccharides

A carbohydrate monomer, also known as a monosaccharide, is glucose. Mannose, galactose, fructose, and other monosaccharides are examples.

Monosaccharides are further divided into groups based on the number of carbon atoms:

1. Trioses (C₃H₆O₃): These molecules have three carbon atoms each. For Eg: Glyceraldehyde
2. Tetroses (C₄H₆O₄) are monosaccharides with four carbon atoms per molecule. For Eg: Erythrose

In the same manner, we have :

3. Pentoses,
4. Hexoses, and
5. Heptoses, as well.

2. Disaccharides

A disaccharide is formed when two monosaccharides combine. Sucrose, Lactose, Maltose, and other carbohydrates with two monomers are examples.

3. Oligosaccharides

Oligosaccharides are carbohydrate molecules produced by the condensation of 2-9 monomers. Trioses, pentoses, and hexoses are all oligosaccharides by this convention.

Complex Carbohydrates 

Starchy foods contain two or more sugar molecules and are thus referred to as complex carbohydrates. In comparison to simple carbohydrates, molecules in Complex Carbohydrates are digested and converted slowly. They are found in large quantities in potatoes, corn, cereals, lentils, peanuts, beans, whole-grain bread, peas, etc.

Polysaccharides are complex carbohydrates made up of several monomers polymerized together. Polysaccharides contain starch, glycogen, cellulose, and other carbohydrates that have a lot of branching and are homopolymers (made up of just glucose units).

• Amylose and amylopectin are the two elements of starch. Amylopectin is a branched-chain that starts with amylose and ends with amylopectin.
• Animal starch is a type of glycogen. It has a similar structure to starch, but with more branching.
• The key structural part of the plant cell wall is cellulose, which is a structural carbohydrate. It's a tensile-strengthening fibrous polysaccharide. Unlike starch and glycogen, cellulose polymerizes into a linear polymer. 

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Primary functions of Carbohydrates

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Following are some of the functions of carbohydrates: 

• Carbohydrates' primary role is to provide energy and food to the body and nervous system.
• Carbohydrates including sugars, starch, and fibre, are abundant in grains, fruits, and dairy products.
• They are considered as one of the essential components of food.
• They are known by other names such as starch, simple sugars, and complex carbohydrates.
• It so plays a role in fat metabolism and helps to keep you out of ketosis.
• Proteins being the main source of energy, carbohydrates helps in breaking them down.
• Amylase is an enzyme that aids in the breakdown of starch into glucose, which is then converted into energy for metabolism. 

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Different Sources of Carbohydrates

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• Many fruits contain simple sugars in the form of fructose.
• All dairy products contain galactose.
• Lactose can be present in large quantities in milk and other dairy products.
• Maltose can be found in a variety of foods, including cereal, beer, potatoes, processed cheese, and pasta.
• Sucrose is derived from sugar and honey, both of which contain small quantities of Vitamins and minerals.

Milk, fruits, and vegetables all contain basic sugars that contain minerals and vitamins. Many refined and other processed foods, such as white flour, white rice, and sugar, are labelled "enriched" because they lack essential nutrients. Using vitamins, carbohydrates, and all other organic nutrients in their natural forms is very beneficial.

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Carbohydrate Foods

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Sugar consumption leads to an abnormal rise in calories, which eventually leads to obesity, and low calories, in turn, leads to malnutrition. As a result, in order to live a healthier life, a well-balanced diet must be preserved. That is why dietitians emphasise the importance of a well-balanced diet.

Let's examine the distinctions between good and bad carbohydrates.

Examples of Carbohydrates

Examples of Carbohydrates

Carbohydrates can be found in the following examples:

• Glucose
• Galactose
• Maltose
• Fructose
• Sucrose
• Lactose
• Starch
• Cellulose
• Chitin