Digestion of carbohydrates begins in the moth where the enzyme salivary amylase begins to break down polysaccharides into maltose. The digestion of carbohydrates ceased in the stomach due to the acidic nature of the environment and then begins again in the small intestine where
pancreatic amylase and other enzymes breakdown remaining polysaccharides and disaccharides into monosaccharides ( primarily glucose) for absorption. The molecules are then sent to the liver where fructose and galactose are converted to glucose for use by the body cells. If glucose is immediately needed, the liver sends the glucose to the cells. If more glucose enters the bloodstream than is immediately needed, it is converted to glycogen and stored in the liver (70g 280 calories) and muscle (120 g 480 cal)
The amount of glucose needed is regulated carefully by two hormones secreted by the pancreas. Insulin and Glucagon. When we eat, glucose is absorbed through the small intestine into the blood stream which triggers the release of Insulin that then helps lower the amount of glucose in the bloodstream by helping the glucose into cells. Insulin also notifies the liver when to store glucose as glycogen
Glucagon is released to tell the liver to release its stores of glycogen when the body’s cells require glucose between meals.
If more glucose keeps coming into the body through the digestive system, and the maximum storage of glycogen has been reached, the body shifts to burning glucose for energy instead of fat…this leads to more fat being left in the blood stream which is believed to increase the risk of CVS
If more glucose continues to arise, the liver breaks down the glucose into small compounds which become fats…where they are then stored in fat tissue..
Circulating fat also picks up circulating glucose and stores it in fat tissue…the storage capacity of fat tissue is almost unlimited.