Fruit Loops are Macromolecules

Last week in biology class, we messed around with some fruit loops, and not just to eat them, but to learn about macromolecules. We got a piece of string and got some fruit loops and made a long strand of fruit loops. Each yarn represented one macromolecule. Each person had to find someone else and either make a blob, which was macromolecule bunched up with others. Or, you can get two other strands and make a rope like fruit loops, braided into one. I liked how we got to do that because it helped me understand it a lot more than before. I hope we can do some more stuff like that in the future.

Artificial Sweeteners

Artificial sweeteners are synthetic sugars. Synthetic sugars is a substitute for the real sugar our body craves.  Artificial sweeteners are also known as intense sweeteners because they are many times sweeter than regular sugar really is. Some people think these sugars help them with their weight loss, but not really. They add no calories to your diet, but you still need sugar for your body. Artificial sweeteners are used widely in processed products like candy, pudding, anything sweet. It can be used in your household foods also when your mom is cooking dinner. Certain recipes may need modification because artificial had no bulk or volume like regular sugar. Some sweeteners leave an aftertaste. People who should use these are people who have diabetes. Unlike sugar, artificial sweeteners generally don't raise blood sugar levels because they are not carbohydrates, but always check with your doctor to make sure. That is what artificial sweeteners.

tums and such

Food Testing

So the lab that we did was quit interesting. We got simple products; sugar, honey etc. and tested if they were mono, di, or polysaccharieds. How we did this was using iodine and benedict. This helped us see which one it was; a mono, di or poly. After we got some products and put some drops of iodine or benedict, we put it in hot water for about five minutes. Pretty soon, the product started to turn colors. Some of them didn't change at all. This determined that the products where di. Some products turned dramastically. Some just stayed the same like I said before.