Carbs- Good and Bad

MsLindaC2015
MsLindaC2015 Posts: 51 Member
in Health and Weight Loss
Why do we only track the total carbs in any diet program. Seems to me carbs should be broken down similar to the way we break down fats. If I eat a lot of veggies and healthy carbs in a day I could still be over my goal even if those are healthy carbs? Is there a diet plan in existence that treats these carbs differently? I'm confused...does it not matter?

Replies

  • ninerbuff
    ninerbuff Posts: 48,989 Member
    All carbs are broken down to just one thing in the body............glucose. The body doesn't distinguish between "good/bad" carbs. Some are accompanied by a lot of nutrients and fiber and some aren't. Overall, it's still going to come down to calorie deficit for weight loss.

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  • yarwell
    yarwell Posts: 10,477 Member
    edited December 2015
    Carbohydrate is a macronutrient group, of which part are sugars and in America part is fiber. So there is a subdivision into simple carbohydrates (sugars) and the rest. "Good" and "bad" is a little too subjective for labelling purposes.

    A "Low GI diet" or similar would have regard to the speed of digestion of the carbs into blood sugar.
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  • Annie_01
    Annie_01 Posts: 3,096 Member
    Not sure what you are calling "bad" carbs but...

    No matter what you eat to lose weight you must eat fewer calories than what your body needs to support your activity level.

    What do you consider "healthy" carbs?

    Best thing IMO is to select foods that will give you the most nutritional value plus allow you to stay withing your calorie goal. I also think that it is important to include some foods that you eat because...well just because they taste good and you really like them.
  • earlnabby
    earlnabby Posts: 8,171 Member
    No it does not matter. A carb is a carb, no matter the source. The only difference is simple carbs (sugars that come from fruit, sugar, honey, etc) and complex carbs (starches that come from grains, starchy veggies, etc). Eating simple or complex carbs does not matter except that complex carbs get broken down to simple carbs during digestion so they hit your bloodstream slower.

    The only complex carb you should pay attention to as a separate entity is fiber. Many people do not get enough fiber and it is really helpful for all kinds of bodily processes. A good mix of both soluble and insoluble fiber is best.
  • MsLindaC2015
    MsLindaC2015 Posts: 51 Member
    Ok so to be more clear I can change "good and bad" to fast and slow. Vegetables are carbs but they are a good thing to eat and a healthy food. On the other hand, if I eat a piece of high carb cake, it has a more detrimental effect on my diet and over all health.There must be something I don't understand. Just not sure what it is yet.
  • Sued0nim
    Sued0nim Posts: 17,456 Member
    MsLindaC2015 wrote: »
    Ok so to be more clear I can change "good and bad" to fast and slow. Vegetables are carbs but they are a good thing to eat and a healthy food. On the other hand, if I eat a piece of high carb cake, it has a more detrimental effect on my diet and over all health.There must be something I don't understand. Just not sure what it is yet.

    Cake is a highly palatable combination of fats and carbs ...it is not bad for you because it is some mythical "bad carb" ...it is just calorifically dense so should be eaten in moderation within your calorie defecit

  • MsLindaC2015
    MsLindaC2015 Posts: 51 Member
    Ok then so why do we even track it? Why don't we just track calories?
  • earlnabby
    earlnabby Posts: 8,171 Member
    MsLindaC2015 wrote: »
    Ok so to be more clear I can change "good and bad" to fast and slow. Vegetables are carbs but they are a good thing to eat and a healthy food. On the other hand, if I eat a piece of high carb cake, it has a more detrimental effect on my diet and over all health.There must be something I don't understand. Just not sure what it is yet.

    There still is no difference. It is good to get carbs that hit your bloodstream quicker because they give you instant energy. It is also good to get carbs that hit your bloodstream on a slower basis because they give you sustained energy. The calorie count of the carb containing food is the only thing that should determine the amount that you eat. That high calorie cake has a place if you can fit it into your daily calorie count, but common sense says that it should not be the majority of your food.
  • MsLindaC2015
    MsLindaC2015 Posts: 51 Member
    Thank you all for your help. I am not trying to be argumentative, just trying to get it through my thick head.
  • yarwell
    yarwell Posts: 10,477 Member
    MsLindaC2015 wrote: »
    Ok then so why do we even track it? Why don't we just track calories?

    Many people do just that, others track sugar, some GI or GL, etc. Many options.
  • earlnabby
    earlnabby Posts: 8,171 Member
    edited December 2015
    MsLindaC2015 wrote: »
    Ok then so why do we even track it? Why don't we just track calories?

    Getting the right mix of macronutrients is helpful for satiety, maintaining lean body mass, allowing your bodily processes to function at their best. Exactly what that mix is depends on the individual. Tracking carbs, as well as fat and protein, is helpful as a guide to make sure you are getting a mix of nutrients. Dividing carbs into "good" or "bad" has no effect, it is all about the mixture.
  • earlnabby
    earlnabby Posts: 8,171 Member
    MsLindaC2015 wrote: »
    Thank you all for your help. I am not trying to be argumentative, just trying to get it through my thick head.

    We understand. Please feel free to ask anything that doesn't make sense. Better to ask rather than wonder.
  • MsLindaC2015
    MsLindaC2015 Posts: 51 Member
    Thank you
  • Sued0nim
    Sued0nim Posts: 17,456 Member
    yarwell wrote: »
    MsLindaC2015 wrote: »
    Ok then so why do we even track it? Why don't we just track calories?

    Many people do just that, others track sugar, some GI or GL, etc. Many options.
    earlnabby wrote: »
    MsLindaC2015 wrote: »
    Thank you all for your help. I am not trying to be argumentative, just trying to get it through my thick head.

    We understand. Please feel free to ask anything that doesn't make sense. Better to ask rather than wonder.

    Both of these :)
  • nvmomketo
    nvmomketo Posts: 12,019 Member
    Some people track total carbs and others look at net carbs which is minus the fibre. Tracking net carbs might work well for you.
  • MsLindaC2015
    MsLindaC2015 Posts: 51 Member
    nvmomketo wrote: »
    Some people track total carbs and others look at net carbs which is minus the fibre. Tracking net carbs might work well for you.

    Thanks...good to know

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