Carbohydrates, which are also technically known as carbohydrates, carbohydrates, or saccharides, are molecules that are made up of three elements: carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen. The main task of this type of biomolecules is to provide living beings with energy through glucose and glycogen. It should be clarified that the term carbohydrates or carbohydrates is considered wrong since it gives the impression that the carbon is hydrated when, in fact, it is not. Of course, carbohydrates are chemical compounds that, as such, can undergo different transformations and acquire certain kinds of unique characteristics.
Carbohydrates are mainly found in food, which is the easiest way for man to get them. They are an important part of the human diet, although their excessive consumption is not recommended at all. Carbohydrates are very good for increasing body or muscle mass, especially when performing activities that require great effort such as sports. The classification of this type of biomolecules is given mainly according to their characteristics and chemical structure.
Types of carbohydrates:
Types of carbohydrates, bread
Monosaccharides: they are the simplest type of carbohydrates that are known. As their name indicates, they are composed of a single molecule so they cannot be hydrolyzed, becoming smaller. These types of carbohydrates are generally presented as glucose or sugars. Therefore, they are mainly found in honey and sweet fruits, as well as foods that are rich in galactose such as cheeses, milk, yogurt and other dairy products.
Disaccharides: this type of carbohydrate is formed with two monosaccharide molecules, so when hydrolyzed they produce two free monosaccharides. Among the best known types of disaccharides we have lactose, sucrose, maltose and cellobiose. Given its characteristics, this type of carbohydrate is found in milk, in cereals such as malt and products derived from it such as beer and in some sweet fruits.
Oligosaccharides: this type of carbohydrate is composed of between three to nine monosaccharide molecules that when hydrolyzed are not released like the others. Generally, these types of carbohydrates are found together with proteins. The most well-known carbohydrates of this type are the same as disaccharides such as dairy products (milk, yogurt), regular sugar, cane or beets.
Polysaccharides: as the name implies, this type of carbohydrate is made up of several chains of monosaccharides; specifically ten or more. They can be found in starch, cellulose, or chitin. This type of carbohydrate can be found in corn or wheat flour, in potatoes, sweet potatoes, cassava, sweet potatoes and other tubers, in fiber of vegetable origin and cotton.
