Final answer:
Carbohydrates are digested to monosaccharides such as glucose, fructose, and galactose, which are then absorbed into the bloodstream through the small intestine to be used as energy or stored in the body.
Step-by-step explanation:
Carbohydrate Digestion and Absorption
Carbohydrates must be digested down to the level of monosaccharides, like glucose, fructose and galactose, to be absorbed into the blood. The digestion of carbohydrates begins in the mouth with salivary amylase acting on starches and is completed in the small intestine where enzymes break down complex carbohydrates into monosaccharides. These sugars, including glucose, are then absorbed through the intestinal wall, enter the bloodstream, and can be utilized as energy or stored in the body.
The process involves various steps where complex polysaccharides and disaccharides are converted into simpler monosaccharides. These monosaccharides are the smallest units that can be absorbed by the intestinal epithelium. Once in the bloodstream, they can be transported throughout the body to be used for cellular respiration, producing ATP, which is necessary for cellular activities.
Absorbed monosaccharides like glucose and galactose are transported into the epithelial cells of the small intestine through protein carriers and secondary active transport. Fructose, on the other hand, is absorbed via facilitated diffusion. All normally digested dietary carbohydrates are absorbed this way, with the exception of indigestible fibers which are eliminated in the feces.