Complex Carbohydrates

Complex carbohydrates, also known as polysaccharides, are composed of long chains of sugar molecules, which may include hundreds or even thousands of individual sugar units linked together.

They are typically found in whole, unprocessed foods and provide a slower and more sustained release of energy compared to simple carbohydrates. Complex carbohydrates can further be classified as:

• Oligosaccharides
• Polysaccharides

Oligosaccharides

These sugar molecules are short chains that typically comprise three to ten distinct monosaccharide units. Beans, onions, and several fruits are among the foods that contain them. As prebiotics, oligosaccharides can encourage the growth of good bacteria in the digestive system. Some of the most common examples of oligosaccharides are:

• Raffinose: Raffinose is composed of three monosaccharide units i.e., galactose, glucose, and fructose and commonly found in foods such as beans, cabbage, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, and whole grains.
• Stachyose: Stachyose, another oligosaccharide, consists of four monosaccharide units, including two galactose molecules, one glucose molecule, and one fructose molecule. Like raffinose, stachyose is abundantly present in foods such as beans, legumes, and certain vegetables.

Polysaccharides

Polysaccharides are lengthy chains of sugar molecules made up of more than ten monosaccharide units. They are huge, complex carbohydrates and have a variety of uses in living things. Some of common examples include:

• Starch: Starch is a polysaccharide composed of long chains of glucose molecules bonded together. It is commonly found in foods such as grains (wheat, rice, oats), tubers (potatoes, yams), and legumes (beans, lentils).
• Cellulose: Cellulose is a polysaccharide consisting of long chains of glucose molecules linked together in a linear fashion. It is a major structural component of plant cell walls, providing rigidity and strength to plant cells.
• Glycogen: Glycogen is a polysaccharide that serves as a short-term energy storage molecule in animals, particularly in the liver and muscles. Similar in structure to starch but more highly branched, glycogen consists of long chains of glucose molecules with numerous branching points.

Read More,

• Monosaccharide
• Polysaccharides
• Disaccharides

Carbohydrates are organic compounds composed of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen atoms. They are classified based on their structure and complexity such as Simple and Complex Carbohydrates. Carbohydrates play crucial roles in various biological processes, including energy storage, structural support, cell-cell recognition, and cell signaling.

In this article, we will discuss all the various classifications of carbohydrates such as Monosaccharides, Disaccharides, Oligosaccharides, and Polysaccharides.