Carbohydrates

Carbohydrates:

Monomer of a Carbohydrate

The monomer of a carbohydrate is called a monosaccharide. For example, gluclose is a monosaccharide found in plants. If you combine multiple monomers you would form something called a polymer, which for carbs would be a polysaccharide. 

• 'Mono' means one and 'saccharide' means sugar. Therefore, monosaccharide means 'one sugar'.
• 'Poly' is multiple, making polysaccharide mean 'multiple sugars'. 

An example of a polysaccharide would be a starch, such as corn or a potato.

Polymer Structure of a Carbohydrate

     The function of these macromolecules is to provide immediate and short term energy.Without any carbohydrates, your body would begin to burn up the lipids (fat) that is in your body for you to be able to survive. 

     The amount of carbohydrates you consume should be about 45-65% of your food. Carbohydrates are a big part of the food pyramid, the most of what you should be eating to stay healthy. Carbs relate to the food pyramid by being the main source of energy you have so it is the most of what you should be eating to get by day in day out for every single day of your life. 

These three foods all provide carbohydrates:

Bread

Potatoes

Noodles