Question

What is the role of carbohydrates in a living cell?

Answer 1

Biologically speaking, carbohydrates are molecules that contain carbon, hydrogen and oxygen atoms in specific ratios.

But in the nutrition world, they’re one of the most controversial topics.

Some believe eating fewer carbohydratesis the way to optimal health, while others prefer higher-carb diets. Still, others insist moderation is the way to go.

No matter where you fall in this debate, it’s hard to deny that carbohydrates play an important role in the human body. This article highlights their key functions.

Carbs Provide Your Body With Energy



One of the primary functions of carbohydrates is to provide your body with energy.

Most of the carbohydrates in the foods you eat are digested and broken down into glucose before entering the bloodstream.

Glucose in the blood is taken up into your body’s cells and used to produce a fuel molecule called adenosine triphosphate (ATP) through a series of complex processes known as cellular respiration. Cells can then use ATP to power a variety of metabolic tasks.

Most cells in the body can produce ATP from several sources, including dietary carbohydrates and fats. But if you are consuming a diet with a mix of these nutrients, most of your body’s cells will prefer to use carbs as their primary energy source (1).

SUMMARY:One of the primary functions of carbohydrates is to provide your body with energy. Your cells convert carbohydrates into the fuel molecule ATP through a process called cellular respiration.

They Also Provide Stored Energy

If your body has enough glucose to fulfill its current needs, excess glucose can be stored for later use.

This stored form of glucose is called glycogen and is primarily found in the liver and muscle.

The liver contains approximately 100 grams of glycogen. These stored glucose molecules can be released into the blood to provide energy throughout the body and help maintain normal blood sugar levels between meals.

Unlike liver glycogen, the glycogen in your muscles can only be used by muscle cells. It is vital for use during long periods of high-intensity exercise. Muscle glycogen content varies from person to person, but it’s approximately 500 grams (2).

In circumstances in which you have all of the glucose your body needs and your glycogen stores are full, your body can convert excess carbohydrates into triglyceride molecules and store them as fat.

SUMMARY:Your body can transform extra carbohydrates into stored energy in the form of glycogen. Several hundred grams can be stored in your liver and muscles.

Carbohydrates Help Preserve Muscle

Glycogen storage is just one of several ways your body makes sure it has enough glucose for all of its functions.

When glucose from carbohydrates is lacking, muscle can also be broken down into amino acids and converted into glucose or other compounds to generate energy.

Obviously, this isn’t an ideal scenario, since muscle cells are crucial for body movement. Severe losses of muscle mass have been associated with poor health and a higher risk of death (3).

However, this is one way the body provides adequate energy to the brain, which requires some glucose for energy even during periods of prolonged starvation.

Consuming at least some carbohydrates in the diet is one way to prevent this starvation-related loss of muscle mass. These carbs will reduce muscle breakdown and provide glucose as energy for the brain (4).

Other ways the body can preserve muscle mass without carbohydrates will be discussed later in this article.

SUMMARY:During periods of starvation when carbohydrates aren’t available, the body can convert amino acids from muscle into glucose to provide the brain with energy. Consuming at least some carbs can prevent muscle breakdown in this scenario.

They Promote Digestive Health

Unlike sugars and starches, dietary fiber is not broken down into glucose.

Instead, this type of carbohydrate passes through the body undigested. It can be categorized into two main types of fiber: soluble and insoluble.

Soluble fiber is found in oats, legumes and the inner part of fruits and some vegetables. While passing through the body, it draws in water and forms a gel-like substance. This increases the bulk of your stool and softens it to help make bowel movements easier.

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Answer 2

Explanation:

Carbohydrates are formed in green plants by photosynthesis, which is the chemical combination, or "fixation", of carbon dioxide and water by utilization of energy from the absorption of visible light. The overall result is the reductionof carbon dioxide to carbohydrate and the formation of oxygen: