Why Carbs "Make" Us Fat...
J72FIT
Posts: 6,002 Member
Replies
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It does put things in perspective however I never like advice that demonizes any food, especially one that demonizes an entire macro nutrient. At the end it does finish by saying that overeating is what they are trying to prevent but the title of the article makes it seem that carbs solely make you fat. I am sure there are a ton of people, including myself, on this site that have lost a lot of weight while eating carbs.
I think the take-away from this should be that everything in moderation, NOT that carbs are the enemy and will make you fat.8 -
I imagine the "woo" was from someone who did not bother to read the article... lol!4
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Good article. Lol, a keto person could inadvertently just use this as proof without reading it just because of the title and get burned.
A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
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Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition
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Yeah, good article. I saw the OP so figured the title was click bait!
I'd add -- as supported by the article -- that very low carb takes more work, even apart from food with carbs (and often other macros) being awesome. It effectively cuts out things that are easy to be tempted by or grab and eat mindlessly between meals (many of which have just as much fat as carbs).1 -
Honestly I find just counting calories means I eat fewer carbs. I don't see any reason for consciously "doing low carb".5
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Love it, but almost didn't read it because of the title. I think I actually rolled my eyes.0
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I edited and put the word make in quotes...2
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The article did not mention healthy carbs, like my favorite a plain ol' sweet potato and whole wheat pasta.2
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I experienced a moment of bafflement, looking back and forth between the poster and the title, but then I read the dang article and figured it out.
Great article! 4 -
TheWJordinWJordin wrote: »The article did not mention healthy carbs, like my favorite a plain ol' sweet potato and whole wheat pasta.
Did you miss the bit about mashed potato?2 -
I did bother to read the article. I could copy this article, do a find and replace for "carb" and "fat", and it would still be the same article but demonizing fat like we did for years instead of the new boogeyman carbs. Meh, I'd vote woo too. It still goes too far and blames our obesity on carbs. It's not so much the macro as it is foods which are tasty, convenient, and provide little satiety, and foods that meet that criteria (chips, cookies, etc.) typically include just as much if not more fat as they do carbs.0
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TheWJordinWJordin wrote: »The article did not mention healthy carbs, like my favorite a plain ol' sweet potato and whole wheat pasta.
Um, it said carbs are awesome. Those are both awesome (as are the similar when it comes to nutrients and calories potatoes and white pasta), so they were included.1 -
The_Enginerd wrote: »I did bother to read the article. I could copy this article, do a find and replace for "carb" and "fat", and it would still be the same article but demonizing fat like we did for years instead of the new boogeyman carbs. Meh, I'd vote woo too. It still goes too far and blames our obesity on carbs. It's not so much the macro as it is foods which are tasty, convenient, and provide little satiety, and foods that meet that criteria (chips, cookies, etc.) typically include just as much if not more fat as they do carbs.
Really? I did not find that at all. Interesting...2 -
Isn't carbs like our most important macro?0
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Copied: Carbs are awesome.......carbs ARE responsible for our obesity epidemic.
And a plain potato is much healthier than a mashed potato. I know my grandma will pile on things like sour cream, cream cheese, tons of butter, and god knows what else into a mashed potato. Turning them into a calorie dense food, that barely tastes like potato.0 -
French_Peasant wrote: »I experienced a moment of bafflement, looking back and forth between the poster and the title, but then I read the dang article and figured it out. Great article!
The fact that it was indeed the OP posting it was the only reason I clicked through in the first piece!
I liked the article quite a bit, as a person who also thinks carbs are awesome. I eat a very carb heavy diet (I have a pot of congee simmering away as I type this), but his point is spot on. I measure my portions and balance them with protein and fat. I get carby goodness and sound nutrition. Winning!2 -
The_Enginerd wrote: »I did bother to read the article. I could copy this article, do a find and replace for "carb" and "fat", and it would still be the same article but demonizing fat like we did for years instead of the new boogeyman carbs. Meh, I'd vote woo too. It still goes too far and blames our obesity on carbs. It's not so much the macro as it is foods which are tasty, convenient, and provide little satiety, and foods that meet that criteria (chips, cookies, etc.) typically include just as much if not more fat as they do carbs.
Hmm. You do make a point. The typical convenience-food rich diet that people eat is very high in fat.
Fair point, well made.1 -
TheWJordinWJordin wrote: »Copied: Carbs are awesome.......carbs ARE responsible for our obesity epidemic.
And a plain potato is much healthier than a mashed potato. I know my grandma will pile on things like sour cream, cream cheese, tons of butter, and god knows what else. Turning them into a calorie dense food, that barely tastes like potato.
Maybe a plain potato is healthier than your grandma's mash. Don't make generalised statements. Besides, a bit of fat in the mash will enable you to absorb nutrients, and slow digestion. Healthy is subjective, and overall diet is what really matters.5 -
The_Enginerd wrote: »I did bother to read the article. I could copy this article, do a find and replace for "carb" and "fat", and it would still be the same article but demonizing fat like we did for years instead of the new boogeyman carbs. Meh, I'd vote woo too. It still goes too far and blames our obesity on carbs. It's not so much the macro as it is foods which are tasty, convenient, and provide little satiety, and foods that meet that criteria (chips, cookies, etc.) typically include just as much if not more fat as they do carbs.
This is true...0 -
The_Enginerd wrote: »I did bother to read the article. I could copy this article, do a find and replace for "carb" and "fat", and it would still be the same article but demonizing fat like we did for years instead of the new boogeyman carbs. Meh, I'd vote woo too. It still goes too far and blames our obesity on carbs. It's not so much the macro as it is foods which are tasty, convenient, and provide little satiety, and foods that meet that criteria (chips, cookies, etc.) typically include just as much if not more fat as they do carbs.
I didn't read it as blaming obesity on carbs. I saw it using that language (carbs make us fat) tongue in cheek while explaining why cutting carbs will result in weight loss really (lower calories).
You absolutely could switch fat with carbs, and it's the same reason some super low fat diets work (i.e., some forms of veganism). But people aren't running around claiming fat makes us fat (mostly) these days. That's so '90s.0 -
The_Enginerd wrote: »I did bother to read the article. I could copy this article, do a find and replace for "carb" and "fat", and it would still be the same article but demonizing fat like we did for years instead of the new boogeyman carbs. Meh, I'd vote woo too. It still goes too far and blames our obesity on carbs. It's not so much the macro as it is foods which are tasty, convenient, and provide little satiety, and foods that meet that criteria (chips, cookies, etc.) typically include just as much if not more fat as they do carbs.
Really? I did not find that at all. Interesting...
It's right there on the top...
"It’s why paying attention to the amount of carbs you eat works and it’s why for the most part carbs ARE responsible for our obesity epidemic"
Nevermind that the average American Diet isn't particularly high in carbs compared to other diets worldwide despite our high obesity rate, but is quite high in fat. And it makes a comparison of a diet high in carbs to one not so by including a diet which is very high in protein, and high in an expensive protein at that. Feels like a false dichotomy.3 -
forward0backward wrote: »Isn't carbs like our most important macro?
No, but I don't think that has much to do with the article (or that there is a most important macro). In the US it's really hard not to get the minimum fat and protein you need without thinking about it.2 -
lemurcat12 wrote: »The_Enginerd wrote: »I did bother to read the article. I could copy this article, do a find and replace for "carb" and "fat", and it would still be the same article but demonizing fat like we did for years instead of the new boogeyman carbs. Meh, I'd vote woo too. It still goes too far and blames our obesity on carbs. It's not so much the macro as it is foods which are tasty, convenient, and provide little satiety, and foods that meet that criteria (chips, cookies, etc.) typically include just as much if not more fat as they do carbs.
I didn't read it as blaming obesity on carbs. I saw it using that language (carbs make us fat) tongue in cheek while explaining why cutting carbs will result in weight loss really (lower calories).
You absolutely could switch fat with carbs, and it's the same reason some super low fat diets work (i.e., some forms of veganism). But people aren't running around claiming fat makes us fat (mostly) these days. That's so '90s.
I read it as tongue in cheek as well at first, but as I got further along in the article it felt less like the case. It just feels like it swings the pendulum a bit too far in the other direction to make the point.0 -
Meh. He goes from a nearly all protein diet (Big-A steak, some eggs, and some veggies) to one that includes lots of everything.
I guess it's nice in that it's not "OMG - carbs are the devil and go straight to fat!" But I wouldn't really call it meaningful. As previously mentioned, you could change "carbs" to "fats" and write that exact same article, drawing the same exact conclusions.0 -
TheWJordinWJordin wrote: »Copied: Carbs are awesome.......
Sure.carbs ARE responsible for our obesity epidemic.
Not really, and I don't think that was the point being made.And a plain potato is much healthier than a mashed potato.
I prefer roasted potatoes (with some olive oil and salt), but you do know that mashing a potato doesn't add any ingredients, right? I sometimes make mashed potatoes and they usually are plain potatoes (no olive oil even, so plainer than the baked ones). At least until I mix them with my steak or lamb, which I love doing.I know my grandma will pile on things like sour cream, cream cheese, tons of butter, and god knows what else into a mashed potato. Turning them into a calorie dense food, that barely tastes like potato.
You can do this with anything. It's not because they are mashed (or because they are potatoes).
Not everyone does this, obviously.
You can choose what you add so it goes with your goals for the day. I sometimes like to dip roasted potatoes in 0% Fage, which to me is like sour cream. I also don't find it that hard to fit some butter in a normal day.
Hmm. Like carbs, butter is awesome, which leads to the important question:
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The_Enginerd wrote: »lemurcat12 wrote: »The_Enginerd wrote: »I did bother to read the article. I could copy this article, do a find and replace for "carb" and "fat", and it would still be the same article but demonizing fat like we did for years instead of the new boogeyman carbs. Meh, I'd vote woo too. It still goes too far and blames our obesity on carbs. It's not so much the macro as it is foods which are tasty, convenient, and provide little satiety, and foods that meet that criteria (chips, cookies, etc.) typically include just as much if not more fat as they do carbs.
I didn't read it as blaming obesity on carbs. I saw it using that language (carbs make us fat) tongue in cheek while explaining why cutting carbs will result in weight loss really (lower calories).
You absolutely could switch fat with carbs, and it's the same reason some super low fat diets work (i.e., some forms of veganism). But people aren't running around claiming fat makes us fat (mostly) these days. That's so '90s.
I read it as tongue in cheek as well at first, but as I got further along in the article it felt less like the case. It just feels like it swings the pendulum a bit too far in the other direction to make the point.
I guess I read between the lines because I am familiar with the author of the article.0 -
CARBS. ARE. AWESOME.
Seriously, this is the MAIN problem with carbohydrates. It’s why cutting carbs from you diet works. It’s why paying attention to the amount of carbs you eat works and it’s why for the most part carbs ARE responsible for our obesity epidemic.
Sounds about right to me. Now I am waiting for people to mention they got fat from eating all foods and not just carbs.
People who stick with LCHF do it for their health. Many people are starting to use it as a weight loss tool. It works for many so why not.
I find it is really hard to overeat on a fat and protein diet. I've eaten carnivore. I feel good on it but I find it hard to eat a lot of meat and eggs. Cheese is easier to overeat but I can moderate that. I tend to lose without trying when eating this way.
When I eat carnivore my macros are usually 75% F and 25% P with incidental carbs. Sometimes protein goes as high as 30% if I eat certain seafood or a lot of chicken (but I prefer red meat).
My protein is maybe 5% higher than when I eat carbs though. No carbs does not mean high protein.lemurcat12 wrote: »
You can choose what you add so it goes with your goals for the day. I sometimes like to dip roasted potatoes in 0% Fage, which to me is like sour cream. I also don't find it that hard to fit some butter in a normal day.
Hmm. Like carbs, butter is awesome, which leads to the important question:
I can overeat potatoes without fats on them. I have not overeaten butter without other foods... Not saying others won't just sit down to a butter snack though. 2
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