Different types of carbohydrate and their functions in their daily life (Task 8)

           Hello, I would like to share my reflection on different types of carbohydrate and their functions in their daily life. Carbohydrates are essential components in our body. Carbohydrates consist of hydrogen, carbon and oxygen atoms. There are several key functions in carbohydrates. The key functions are carbohydrates act as energy storage (glycogen, starch), structural components (cellulose, chitin), cellular recognition (glycoproteins glycolipids) and carbohydrates derivatives (DNA, RNA, cofactors). Carbohydrates can be classified into monosaccharides, disaccharides, oligosaccharides and polysaccharides. Basic carbohydrates are called monosaccharides while polymer of carbohydrates is called polysaccharides. Monosaccharides are used to produce and store energy. Monosaccharides glucose is broken down into carbon dioxide and water and energy are released as a byproduct from the bonds. Food rich in monosaccharides is honey and cane sugar. Next, disaccharides provide a quick energy source to the body. The disaccharides made up of 2 sugar molecules and easily be broken by a specific enzyme and then absorbed into our bloodstream. Moreover, oligosaccharides are formed when two or more monosaccharides are joined together by O-glycosidic bond. Examples of foods rich in oligosaccharides are legumes, wheat and plant foods. The function of oligosaccharides is involved in cell binding and cell recognition. Nevertheless, the polysaccharides are long chains of monosaccharides linked by glycosidic bonds. The polysaccharides include 3 types which are storage (starch, glycogen), structural (cellulose, hemicellulose, chitin, glucosaminoglycans) and information (glycoproteins). The main function of polysaccharides is act as energy storage and structural support. Starch is the fundamental food reserve in plants which made up of a-D-glucose units. Starch-rich in foods like potatoes, corn and yams which is an important source of energy for our bodies. The starch is broken down into glucose which is essential to our brain and muscles. Hence, glycogen is important in regulating blood sugar levels and homeostasis in the liver. Glycogen in muscles helps in the contraction of skeletal muscle in physical activities. Cellulose is the primary component of plant cell walls and green algae. It connecting cells to form tissues in the plants and make the plants remain stiff and strong. Hemicellulose is strengthening the cell wall via their interactions with cellulose. Chitin is used in the medical, food production field which produces flexible and strong surgical thread, soup and act as a stabilizer. Chitin is also used to form a cell wall (fungi) which helps the cells to retain their shape. Glycosaminoglycans are useful to the body as a lubricant and as a shock absorber. An example is heparin. Glycoproteins functions as in our immune system, protection of our body, communication between vells and reproduction system. In short, carbohydrates are vital in our body in order to gain energy all day. We can gain carbohydrates by including dietary carbohydrates like rice, bananas, peanuts and wheat.