Final answer:
The majority of Tony's carbohydrate sources were complex carbohydrates called polysaccharides, notably starch and glycogen, which serve as primary energy storages in plants and animals and are essential in the human diet.
Step-by-step explanation:
The majority of Tony's carbohydrate sources were polysaccharides, which are complex carbohydrates consisting of long chains of monosaccharide units. These polysaccharides include starch, glycogen, cellulose, and chitin. In particular, starch is a significant component of the human diet, providing more than 50% of our carbohydrate intake. It is found in abundance in seeds and tubers, such as potatoes, wheat, corn, and rice. Polysaccharides are essential for energy storage and structural composition within living organisms.
Among these, starch and glycogen serve as the primary energy stores in plants and animals respectively. During digestion, these complex carbohydrates are broken down into simple sugars, such as glucose, which is a pivotal fuel for ATP production in cells. The regulation of glucose is vital for maintaining energy balance and is controlled by various endocrine mechanisms.