What Is the Difference Between Starch & Sugars?
Starches and sugars are both carbohydrates that play a crucial role in providing energy to plants and energy and nutrition to many animals.
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Carbohydrates
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Carbohydrates, organic compounds consisting of carbon, hydrogen and oxygen atoms, are a product of photosynthesis. Carbohydrates are also known as saccharides.
Sugars
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A simple carbohydrate, either a monosaccharide or disaccharide, is also known as a sugar. Monosaccharides such as glucose and fructose consist of a single chain of molecules and are simple sugars. Disaccharides such as lactose and sucrose consist of two monosaccharides.
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Starches
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Starches are complex carbohydrates, or polysaccharides, and are made of multiple monosaccharides, where all the sugar molecules line up in the same direction.
Importance of Sugars
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Sugars, specifically glucose, play an important role in metabolism. Most carbohydrates are broken down into glucose for metabolizing. Fruits, honey, maple syrup and milk contain sugars.
Importance of Starches
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Starches allow plants to store energy and are an important source of fiber for many animals. Vegetables and grains contain starches.
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References
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