How do polysaccharides differ from simple carbohydrates?

Study for the ManageFirst Nutrition Test. Utilize flashcards and multiple-choice questions with hints and explanations. Prepare effectively and boost your confidence for exam day!

Polysaccharides differ from simple carbohydrates primarily in their structure and complexity. The correct choice highlights that polysaccharides consist of many sugar units, which means they are made up of long chains of monosaccharide units linked together. This structural complexity is what distinguishes them from simple carbohydrates, which are composed of one or two sugar units, such as glucose and sucrose.

Polysaccharides can be further categorized into digestible forms, like starch, and non-digestible forms, like cellulose, which means they are not always digestible, countering that option. Similarly, while polysaccharides can have varying levels of sweetness based on their specific composition and structure, they are generally less sweet than simple carbohydrates. The final choice regarding the type of sugar is also incorrect as polysaccharides can be composed of different types of sugar units, not just one. This complexity in structure leads to diverse functions and properties in biological systems.

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