I'm confused....Are Carbs really bad?

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Replies

  • psychod787
    psychod787 Posts: 4,099 Member
    edited October 2019
    cwolfman13 wrote: »
    OK so I'm confused...I'm one of these people who reads/researches/watches numerous videos etc but is also a sponge and takes things in to much! I became interested in IF about 12 months ago, I read books (Dr Berg, Dr Fung, Dr Mosley etc), watched videos and learnt a whole lot along the way (or so I thought). Just before Summer I tried low carb high fat which I enjoyed, not just to lose weight but from what I was reading carbs cause all kinds of things to happen i.e. inflammation, insulin spikes, diabetes etc so I did it for both "health" and weight loss.

    However, I then read how we need carbs, carbs are not bad, don't see carbs as the enemy, just stick to your calorie goal, we don't need carbs from grains but we need the carbs from veggies and so on and it confuses me.

    People seem to have mixed reviews on this...Is it excessive carbs that cause these issues such as diabetes, weight gain, inflammation...

    I also watched that film on Netflix...The Magic Pill and people on there were so anti-carb!

    The number one cause of diabetes is being overly fat...the number one cause of being overly fat is consuming too many calories. Carbohydrates do not cause these things. There are all kinds of highly nutritious carbohydrates...look at the nutritional profile of a potato and sweet potato or beets or whole grains such as oats...lentils and legumes are really nutritious, etc...and obviously fruits and veggies have all kinds of good for you micro nutrition.

    Look at blue zones...these are some of the healthiest populations in the world and they eat diets high in carbohydrates. Vegans and vegetarians also eat diets high in carbohydrates given they are plant based diets...so by this logic that carbohydrates are the enemy, vegans and vegetarians should all be falling over sick.

    True... look into people who have "cured" themselves of diabetes using high sugar diets. No cure really, you can put it into remission, but there is no cure for type2. They are getting closer for type1 though. Some real interesting work coming out of Canada.
  • MichelleWithMoxie
    MichelleWithMoxie Posts: 1,817 Member
    in a word: NO
  • kristen8000
    kristen8000 Posts: 747 Member
    The only reason I'd say that carbs are bad because they make me hungry and want more carbs. Now, I still eat them. Close to 130g a day. But let's say I start the day with toast and peanut butter. By 10am I'm jonesing for more carbs. But if I have 2 eggs and 2 pieces of bacon I can easily make it through to noon without thinking about my growling stomach.

    But, no, carbs aren't bad and they won't make it so you can't lose weight and be healthy. All you have to do is eat food (any food) at a deficient and over time you'll lose weight. What that deficient ends up being is up to you.
  • snowflake954
    snowflake954 Posts: 8,399 Member
    First off OP, it's nice that you want to be informed. Trouble is people are making money off food theories and snappy headlines. The boring truth, as so many above me have mentioned, is that you have to eat fewer calories than you burn. HOWEVER you choose to do that will make you lose weight. If you have a medical condition, you may need to modify what you eat. The very best way to lose is to eat what you like, just less of it. You can also branch out and try new foods. You need to stick with this for a long time so it's easier if you like what you eat.
  • DancingMoosie
    DancingMoosie Posts: 8,619 Member
    I do think it's healthier to eat more veggies and fruit than more processed carbs, like bread, cookies, cracker, tortillas, soda, etc. Do I think we should avoid all added sugars and carby treats? No.
  • psychod787
    psychod787 Posts: 4,099 Member
    I do think it's healthier to eat more veggies and fruit than more processed carbs, like bread, cookies, cracker, tortillas, soda, etc. Do I think we should avoid all added sugars and carby treats? No.

    Agreed. If one looks at the S.I. of common foods. Fruits, veggies, and potatoes are at the top per unit energy. Nothing wrong with processed carbs, but I think we tend to eat too many of them, and they are far more calorie dense.
  • estherdragonbat
    estherdragonbat Posts: 5,283 Member
    I KNOW!!! :D
  • squirley13
    squirley13 Posts: 112 Member
    OK so I'm confused...I'm one of these people who reads/researches/watches numerous videos etc but is also a sponge and takes things in to much! I became interested in IF about 12 months ago, I read books (Dr Berg, Dr Fung, Dr Mosley etc), watched videos and learnt a whole lot along the way (or so I thought). Just before Summer I tried low carb high fat which I enjoyed, not just to lose weight but from what I was reading carbs cause all kinds of things to happen i.e. inflammation, insulin spikes, diabetes etc so I did it for both "health" and weight loss.

    However, I then read how we need carbs, carbs are not bad, don't see carbs as the enemy, just stick to your calorie goal, we don't need carbs from grains but we need the carbs from veggies and so on and it confuses me.

    People seem to have mixed reviews on this...Is it excessive carbs that cause these issues such as diabetes, weight gain, inflammation...

    I also watched that film on Netflix...The Magic Pill and people on there were so anti-carb!

    Carbs are the only macronutrient that isn’t essential. There are essential fats and essential proteins but no essential carbohydrates for sustaining life. Research more or the Low Carb and Keto doctors and biohackers on YouTube like Dr. Boz, Dr. Ken Berry, Dr. Shawn Baker, Dr Eric Berg, Dr Mindy Pelz, Dr Josh Axe, Dr Nick Zyrowski, Dr. Sten Ekberg, Dr Paul Saladin, Siim Land, HVMN, Thomas DeLauer, and Fledge Fitness. There are dozens more for you will understand more of science and not the government’s agenda to brainwash the masses through bad information and poor education. The Magic Pill is by far the BEST Documentary. Oh Yes, All the doctors and scientists in that movie are amazing. Dr. Timothy Noakes is The BRAVEST for being so smart!
  • squirley13
    squirley13 Posts: 112 Member
    Thanks everyone for your comments. Its really insightful. What are simple carbs?

    Yeah I think I do suffer from information overload :-( Time to nip it in the bud I think and just concentrate on my calorie deficit only as opposed to worrying about going over 100g of carbs daily!

    I read your other comment about Dr Jason Fung research. Please understand the system doesn’t make money on us being healthy! Do more research on those doctors who help people. I suffered from Crohn’s and SIBO from eating carbs, high fiber from fruits and vegetables. The inflammation caused other illnesses and almost 100lb weight gain over my adult life. I’m mostly carnivore and low carb with Keto and have lost 83lbs with curing my illnesses without medication. The biggest lesson you need to learn from the Magic Pill is that diets of mostly carbs can result in Type 3 Diabetes. Most Americans are clueless what that is but fear it the most. Ignorance isn’t bliss. I hope everyone who reads this gets woke. Look 👀 it up!
  • CardinalComb
    CardinalComb Posts: 66 Member
    Your body needs fat for your joints, hair, cells, brain, the list goes on.
    Your body needs protein for muscle growth.
    Your body can use carbs as an energy source... and that's it.

    So if you ask me if carbs are bad, I say yes.
  • missysippy930
    missysippy930 Posts: 2,577 Member
    edited October 2019
    Every cell in our bodies needs glucose (a sugar). Our brains use 1/2 of all the energy sugar in our bodies. Of course too much sugar isn’t good, but too much of anything isn’t good.
    squirley13 wrote: »
    Thanks everyone for your comments. Its really insightful. What are simple carbs?

    Yeah I think I do suffer from information overload :-( Time to nip it in the bud I think and just concentrate on my calorie deficit only as opposed to worrying about going over 100g of carbs daily!

    I read your other comment about Dr Jason Fung research. Please understand the system doesn’t make money on us being healthy! Do more research on those doctors who help people. I suffered from Crohn’s and SIBO from eating carbs, high fiber from fruits and vegetables. The inflammation caused other illnesses and almost 100lb weight gain over my adult life. I’m mostly carnivore and low carb with Keto and have lost 83lbs with curing my illnesses without medication. The biggest lesson you need to learn from the Magic Pill is that diets of mostly carbs can result in Type 3 Diabetes. Most Americans are clueless what that is but fear it the most. Ignorance isn’t bliss. I hope everyone who reads this gets woke. Look 👀 it up!

    According to the Mayo Clinic, and a close friend of a person that has Chron’s, there is no known cure. Only improvement of symptoms.
  • missysippy930
    missysippy930 Posts: 2,577 Member
    Just to be perfectly clear, in my post quoted above, I’m disagreeing with the post @squirley13 made about her Chron’s being cured by keto diet, caused by carbs and high fiber. I’m well aware that there is no known cure. One of my closest friends has had Chron’s for years.
  • singingflutelady
    singingflutelady Posts: 8,736 Member
    Just to be perfectly clear, in my post quoted above, I’m disagreeing with the post @squirley13 made about her Chron’s being cured by keto diet, caused by carbs and high fiber. I’m well aware that there is no known cure. One of my closest friends has had Chron’s for years.

    Yes I know. I was just agreeing with you :)