Carbs and diet
judyvalentine512
Posts: 927 Member
I've seen all kinds of things on here about low carb, high fat diets. That's out of the question for me because of the high fat component.
But, can you get enough carbs if you were to limit your diet to just veggies? Not the starchy ones, just the others.
Wouldn't you have to have a truckload of veggies every day? I'm just curious. I could never eat like that, and I honestly don't think anyone could.
What do you think?
But, can you get enough carbs if you were to limit your diet to just veggies? Not the starchy ones, just the others.
Wouldn't you have to have a truckload of veggies every day? I'm just curious. I could never eat like that, and I honestly don't think anyone could.
What do you think?
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Lots of individual variations at play...
For many of us T2Ds (like moi), there is no minimum carb requirement. Vegetables are the only place we look for them, and we choose our veggies carefully to keep net carbs low.
(My own goals are to keep my BG as close to non-diabetic levels and prevent coronary artery plaque from worsening for as long as I can; no major issues with auto-immunity, liver, pancreas, etc.)
Some people have difficulties getting enough protein in their diets to avoid muscle loss, some can't handle certain kinds of fats, and some can't handle much fiber from any source.
Some T2Ds can eat more starch/sugar carbs than others without unacceptable increases in their blood glucose, while others can't or don't want to give carbs up. There are also different personal tolerances and preferences for oral meds and insulin.
So obviously there's no one-size-fits-all answer, even looking only at T2Ds!
* 9 cups of low-carb veggies are recommended by Dr. Terry Wahls, who was able to tame her MS with a vegetable-rich, LC diet.
* 6 cups minimum are recommended by LC researchers Drs. Phinney and Volek, who have been on similar diets for 20+ years.
* Dr. Richard Bernstein, a 70+ year T1D, says he would be long dead by now if he hadn't reduced his carbs way below the ADA has recommended. He advocates a very low carb, high-protein diet, with however much fat comes with the protein and the only carbs coming from vegetables.1 -
Interesting. I do have to up my veggie goals. I eat meat, because I do have a low protein problem, but every blood test, it's getting better. I guess a lot of carbs come from bread products and starchy veggies. I eat mostly chicken and fish to keep the fat down.
I am going to do my best to lower my intake of 'bad' carbs. As everything in my life, it's a work in progress.
RalfLOtt, do you eat a lot of salads? I throw asparagus and broccoli into a frittata, lots of stir fries. Most days I have my shredded wheat with some fruit on top. I love my shredded wheat!
Thanks f answering.2 -
I keep carbs quite low too. I rarely eat anything made from a flour but if I do, it usually is a coconut flour with flax meal homemade item. As a general rule, my carbs only come from veggies, nuts and seeds... and whatever trace carbs is in animal products.
Because we don't need any carbs, I don't worry about keeping my carbs low. I do try to eat vitamin and fibre packed carbs (mainly veggies) when I do eat carbs though.
Yesterday was a "high" carb day for me - I ate some starches. We have high carb, vegetarian company staying with us and I am eating some of that food.
Breakfast was 3 coffee with whipped cream and stevia drops.
Lunch (~1:30) was 2 pepperoni sticks and a coconut muffin made with coconut flour, protein powder, unsweetened coconut, eggs and stevia. (plus spices and such)
Dinner was ham, beets, caesar salad and a small side of macaroni and cheese (about 1/4 cup)
Snacks were about a 1/4 mixed nuts.
@judyvalentine512 Do you have familial hypocholesterolemia that requires you to keep fats low?
Have you considered adding protein powder to your food or drinks? I tend to be lower in protein than I'd like so I add unflavoured protein powder to all of my baking and some of my cooking, and coffee.
Shredded wheat can be fairly high in carbs for some people with insulin resistance. For a 1 cup serving it is about 40g of carbs and 6 g of fibre. https://www.postconsumerbrands.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/ShreddedWheat_OriginalSpoonSized.pdf
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No, I have to keep fats low because of chronic pancreatitis and no gallbladder. The surgeon who removed a gallstone three years ago nicked my pancreas. It then contracted c-diff, developed necrotizing pancreatitis. After 41/2 months in hospital, I was plagued with pancreatic fistulas and frequent bouts of pancreatitis, that brought me to the hospital for anywhere from 1 to 4 weeks. They finally fixed the fistula by finding it first, then sewing it to my small bowel. My pancreas now drains from the head, as well as this repair right into my duedeum. Only 20% of my pancreas is functional, so I have to take digestive enzymes as well as being diabetic now. To much fat in my diet and I run the risk of pancreatitis flares. I never want to experience that kind of pain again. And, if I forget to take my enzymes for a day or two, the nutrients don't get properly absorbed. My doctor's and I are trying to improve my defifinces with diet first. Like I said, every blood test shows improved levels of everything.2
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Good God, what an ordeal!
I've had debilitating, knifing abdominal pain a few times in my life (hepatitis, 2x food poisoning, pharmacy switching generic metformin), and I don't blame you for not wanting to revisit those days.
Fortunately, my most recent spells were greatly reduced by ditching carbs, and they vanished completely after I switched to brand Glucophage.
Let's all knock on wood those days are behind us!
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Eek. Ouch.
That's great everything is improving.
Have you looked at Ornish's diet. It isn't for everyone, and not everyone does well on it, but it can help people. It's a low fat higher carb diet that focuses on veggies. You limit refined grains. He's fine with whole grains but most people don't realize that means the actual grain like rice or corn or steel cut oats. Most assume that "whole grain/wheat" bread is whole grain when it is not.
It is also low in sugar, so no dried fruits and and very limited processed foods. And it is on the higher end for protein.
I think the high fibre content of this diet is a large helper for T2Ds.
https://www.ornish.com/wp-content/uploads/Diabetes-and-the-Ornish-Program.pdf
You could always look into slightly higher fat content too. In the Low Carber Daily MFP group, there are a few who don't have gall bladders anymore and do well on the diet.... The pancreatic complications though... I know nothing about how to work with that. That's a tough one. I would be very nervous to experiment too! 1 -
I'll check out that suggestion Nvmomketo. I have never, no will ever eat dried fruit. Don't like the texture. I'm up to around 32/40 grams a day of fat. Higher than that, and I feel twinges where my gallbladder once was. I think it's my pancreas saying to smarten up. I do like to have some whole wheat stuff, like shredded wheat bisquits(only one ingredient), and toast or a bagel some days. But, I'm always open to trying something new. Today, I will go buy some beets to try. Like a little kid, I just assume I won't like something, so won't even try.
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judyvalentine512 wrote: »I'll check out that suggestion Nvmomketo. I have never, no will ever eat dried fruit. Don't like the texture. I'm up to around 32/40 grams a day of fat. Higher than that, and I feel twinges where my gallbladder once was. I think it's my pancreas saying to smarten up. I do like to have some whole wheat stuff, like shredded wheat bisquits(only one ingredient), and toast or a bagel some days. But, I'm always open to trying something new. Today, I will go buy some beets to try. Like a little kid, I just assume I won't like something, so won't even try.
We just had beets the other day and it scared my kids - they didn't know why their urine was red.
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The only essential nutrients are protein and fatty acids. Technically you can live a long healthy life with a zero carb diet...I was pretty amazed when I read this.
Personally I follow a Ketogenic diet and restrict to 20g carbs or less per day. Only veg for carbs, no root veg though, no fruit.
I've almost reversed my diabetes with this approach!1 -
The only essential nutrients are protein and fatty acids. Technically you can live a long healthy life with a zero carb diet...I was pretty amazed when I read this.
Personally I follow a Ketogenic diet and restrict to 20g carbs or less per day. Only veg for carbs, no root veg though, no fruit.
I've almost reversed my diabetes with this approach!
Woo hoo!
Are you also fasting now and then?0
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