Download Composition of carbohydrates • Like fats, carbohydrates are made

Composition of carbohydrates
 Like fats, carbohydrates are made up
of the elements carbon, hydrogen
and oxygen (CHO).
 Fats produce more energy than carbohydrates as they have more
carbon.
 Carbohydrates are made up of chains of simple sugars.
Classification of carbohydrates
Ms Cooney
Functions—what does carbohydrate do in the body?
1.
Provides heat and energy.
2.
Fibre-rich carbohydrates fill you up.
3.
Fibre helps stop constipation and other bowel problems.
Fibre
 Fibre is very important in the diet because it helps waste pass easily
through the intestines.
 If we do not eat enough fibre, we risk constipation and other diseases
such as cancer of the bowel.
 It is recommended that we eat 25–30g of fibre per day, yet on average
Irish people eat only 15–20g.
Refined Carbohydrates
o Refined or processed foods rarely contain much
fibre.
o These foods are often high-calorie foods but do not
supply any of the other nutrients needed by the body. This is why they
are called ‘empty-calorie’ foods.
o Sometimes foods have hidden sugar: watch out for the words sucrose,
glucose, maltose, fructose and dextrose—these are all types of sugar.
To increase fibre:
I.
II.
III.
Eat more brown bread and rice instead of white.
Eat more fresh fruit and vegetables.
Eat high-fibre breakfast cereals such as bran flakes.
Ms Cooney