October 16, 2008

Carbohydrates: Sugars

Carbohydrates: Sugars
Sugars, important in nutrition, consist of monosaccharides, having the general formula C6H12O6, and disaccharides, having the general formula C12H22O11.

Although the monosaccharides consists of 3-carbon sugars (trioses), 4 carbon sugars (tetroses), 5-carbon sugars (pentoses), and 6-carbon sugars (hexoses), only the latter are important in human nutrition as sources of energy.

Glucose, a 6-carbon sugar, is one of the simplest carbohydrates found in foods. While many foods contain traces of glucose, it is found in significant amounts only in fruits, such as grapes. Fructose, also a 6-carbon sugar, is found in fruits and honey. Both of these sugars can be utilized by the body as a source of energy.

Sucrose (the ordinary table sugar derived from sugar and beets) is a 12-carbon sugar that is broken down in the intestine to glucose and fructose, hence utilized as a source of energy.

Lactose, the 12-carbon sugar present in milk, is broken down in the intestine to glucose and galactose (6-carbon sugars), both of which can be used as sources of energy.
Carbohydrates: Sugars
at 8:58 PM
Labels: , , , ,

The Most Popular Posts

  • Crude Fiber
    Crude fiber is a measure of the quantity of indigestible cellulose, pentosans, lignin, and other components of this type in present foods. ...
  • Crude Fat
    Crude fat is the term used to refer to the crude mixture of fat-soluble material present in a sample. Crude fat also known as the ether ext...
  • Free and Bound Water
    Free and Bound Water Water is abundant in all living things and consequently, in almost all foods, unless steps have been take to remove it....
  • Food Texture
    Food Texture Texture refers to those qualities of a food that can be felt with the fingers, tongue, palate, or teeth. Foods have different ...
  • Ash content in food
    Ash or mineral content is the portion of the food or any organic material that remains after it is burned at very high temperatures. The a...
  • Healthy Diet
    *Centella asiatica* L. (Gotu Kola) is a nutritionally important plant and a valued traditional medicine in South East Asia. It is a brown and green leafy p...
  • Instant Noodles
    In Japan, the main types classified according to width include every thin noodles (somen), thin noodles(hiya-mugi), standard noodles (udon) and flat noodle...
  • Soft drinks
    Color additives reinforce the colors already present in the food and ensure uniformity of the food from season to season and batch to batch. They also add ...