Nutrients

LITTLE BIT ABOUT NUTRIENTS FLASHBACK TO NINTH GRADE BIO

Three Types of Nutrients

•Carbohydrates •Proteins •Fats

Carbohydrates • Made of monosaccharides (simple sugars) • Three types of monosaccharides include glucose, galactose and fructose • These can pair up to form disaccharides like sucrose (table sugar) or lactose (milk sugar) • Many monosaccharides together form starch and cellulose.

Examples of Carbs • Glucose and glucose form maltose • Glucose and galactose form lactose • Glucose and fructose form sucrose • Long chains of sugars are called starches. • Glycogen is “animal starch” formed by the liver • Cellulose cannot be digested by humans

Proteins • Proteins are made up of long chains of Amino Acids • Small groups of amino acids are called polypeptides • Groups of two or three are called dipeptides or tripeptides

Lipids (fats) • Made up of fatty acids and a glycerol molecule • Most lipids are triglycerides that have 3 fatty acids • Lipids are broken down to monoglycerides for absorption

Path to absorption • Carbs-starches are broken down to disaccharides which are broken down to monosaccharides which are absorbed. • Proteins-are broken down into polypeptides then di and tripeptides and finally amino acids that are absorbed • Lipids-Start as triglycerides and are broken into monoglycerides for absorption.

The End