Chemistry: Carbohydrates

Chemistry is vitally important in our understanding physiology. The molecule of my choice for this final exam is Carbohydrates. Carbohydrates are originated as the outcome of photosynthesis, the condensation of carbon dioxide that requires light energy and chlorophyll pigment. Carbohydrates are a huge source of something called metabolic energy, which can be found in plants which help feed our animals. Carbohydrates are found in sugars and starches but they have another purpose which is called cellulose which helps transport the compound ATP. Carbs are called saccharides and if they are considered sugars. The complexity of carbohydrates which are monosaccharides and complex carbs which consist of polysaccharides disaccharides and oligosaccharides. Carbohydrates represent the main source of energy for the human body. All carbs can be broken down into sugars and absorbed into our intestines and blood stream. Your body uses the glucose formed as fuel for energy. Different carbs digest and break down at different rates. When our blood sugar levels increase our pancreas pumps insulin into our blood stream. Simple carbs turn into glucose faster where complex carbs slowly turn into glucose. The foods we eat that contain carbohydrates cause our blood sugar levels to increase, transporter proteins push the glucose into our muscles, liver cells and fat where our bodies store or end up using the glucose. The cells in our bodies can’t directly use the glucose, so it has to be converted into molecules that cells then use as an energy source. One of the most important molecule for energy storing is the adenosine triphosphate known as ATP. When our cells contain oxygen it can then turn glucose into the ATP molecules using some chemical rea...

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...gy from. Without carbs your body cant store fat, that is why people end up going on no carb diets. Throughout the process of glycolysis glucose is converted into carbon dioxide and water, making a big quantity of ATP which is what makes energy. Glycogen is found in animals liver as an emergency energy supply. The sugars that basis the structures of DNA and RNA are ribose and deoxyribose which are other important carbohydrates. When we drink milk the carbohydrate is lactose formed from glucose and galactose. Some ways our bodies can get carbohydrates can be found in whole grains, vegetables and dry beans, sugars from fruits and natural foods are a healthy carbohydrate that our body processes fast. The bad carbohydrates we consume such as processed foods and empty calorie foods cause glucose to process slowly in our bodies.