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Welcome to the collection of knowledge about carbohydrates — one of the most important organic compounds that play a key role in the life processes of all living organisms! If you are interested in the biochemistry of nutrition, metabolic processes, or the functions of macronutrients, this material will help you better understand what carbohydrates are and how they affect the body.

Carbohydrates are a broad class of organic substances composed of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen. They include a variety of compounds, from simple sugars like glucose and fructose to complex polysaccharides, such as starch and fiber. In nature, carbohydrates are found in plants, where they serve as storage and structural materials, as well as in the organisms of animals and microorganisms.

Chemically, carbohydrates are characterized by molecular structures that can be linear or cyclic, simple or complex. They are generally divided into monosaccharides — the simplest sugars, disaccharides — compounds made of two simple sugars, and polysaccharides — long chains of molecules formed from many links, playing roles as energy storage and structural components of cells.

In the food sphere, carbohydrates are the main source of energy for the human body and many animals. They are found in a variety of products: from grains and legumes to fruits, vegetables, and dairy products. During digestion, carbohydrates are broken down into simple sugars, which are then used by cells to produce energy in the form of ATP.

Besides their energy function, carbohydrates are involved in important biological processes, such as the formation of cell walls in plants, cell recognition, and immune support. In various environments and conditions, carbohydrates exhibit diverse properties, providing stability and adaptation of living beings to changes in their surroundings.

The study of carbohydrates cannot be imagined without considering their morphological forms and physicochemical characteristics, which change depending on the source and synthesis conditions. Their presence affects the texture, storage, and digestibility of food products, as well as the functioning of metabolic pathways in organisms.

Dive into the world of carbohydrates to learn in detail about their diversity, significance, and applications in nature and science, as well as to see how these essential molecules sustain life on the planet.

carbohydrates

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