potatoes/potaaatoes..& rice!!

bcattoes

Can anyone tell me my white bread, white rice, and good old pototoes, are said to make you put on weight?


I do eat them, but hopefully in smaller quantities than before.



ps..They look so innocent!! unlike a pepperoni pizza!

These contain fast digesting carbs, which cause a spike in blood sugar, then a following 'crash' as blood glucose quickly drops to normal. This can trigger hunger. You don't have to eat more, but many people find it harder not to.

kingsrob

As most in this thread have said, weight gain is about eating more than you burn.

Carbohydrates are not as satiating as proteins and fats. So a calorie restricted, carb heavy diet will leave you hungrier than one with more fat/protein. People eat/cheat when they are hungry.

So its good strategy to eat less carbs.

asdowe13

Food is not the enemy! No such thing as "bad" food, just bad quantities.

While I largely agree with you here, I think there is one category of "bad" food that we had best avoid except on very rare occasions, and that is "fast" food. These are mostly empty calories, over-represented by fat and sugar. A Big Mac won't kill you, but it doesn't do you any good either. Fast food every day could very well kill you eventually. Fast food = bad food.

Big Mac® sandwich
Serving Size 209
(g)
Calories 540 (Kcal) {} (% DV)
Fat 29 (g) 45 (% DV)
Saturated Fat 10 (g) {} (% DV)
Trans Fat 0.5 (g) {} (% DV)
Saturated Fat + Trans Fat {} (ug) 53 (% DV)
Cholestrol 70 (mg) {} (% DV)
Sodium 1020 (mg) 43 (% DV)
Carbohydrate 44 (g) 15 (% DV)
Fibre 3 (g) 12 (% DV)
Sugar 9 (g)
Protein 24 (g)
Vitamin A 10 (% DV)
Vitamin C 4 (% DV)
Calcium 25 (% DV)
Iron 35 (% DV)

% DV = % Daily Value

Not sure how that is bad for you at all!

Care to elaborate why you think a big mac is bad food?

Damn amateur.

You've never heard of a killer Big Mac?

Yes but he only mentioned a Big Mac, not a Killer Big Mac!

Keepcalmanddontblink

Can anyone tell me my white bread, white rice, and good old pototoes, are said to make you put on weight?


I do eat them, but hopefully in smaller quantities than before.



ps..They look so innocent!! unlike a pepperoni pizza!

Its not the potatoes and rice that pile on the pounds. Its the stuff you add, like, butter, cheese, sour cream, and bacon bits! Lots of bacon bits! Than of course, it tastes so good, you have to go back for more!

I still eat what I want, but I have to weigh and measure it out. Also I can only make enough for one serving to keep me from going overboard.

BoxerBrawler

I am not advocating eating it or not eating it. Personally I don't, not because of the pro's and con's on if it's good or bad for you, but because there are healthier options e.g., foods with more nutrients and fiber available. If I am going to hit my calorie target I'd like to hit it with foods that actually benefit my system, not just fill me up and not just because they taste good. If you eat it or not it all comes down to how bad do you want the particular food vs. how bad do you want to be fit and lose weight? Anyway, I am no authority but thought the information below might be helpful. Also, in terms of wheat products, when you have a chance take a look at: http://www.wheatbellyblog.com/2012/01/the-gliadin-effect/ (This link has nothing to do with white products but is interesting). Again, I'm not a professional nor am I advocating one way or the other. Just information....

Refined Grains

A refined grain is created when a whole grain is finely ground and stripped of its bran and germ, the elements that contain fiber, vitamins and minerals. White bread is made from refined grains, which are low in magnesium, zinc, vitamin E, fiber and essential fatty acids. Even though some manufacturers add vitamins back in, natural whole grains are still a superior choice.
High Glycemic Index

The glycemic index is a measurement of how quickly and how much a food affects your blood sugar and insulin levels compared with pure glucose. White bread has a high glycemic index because it's made from refined grains that are rapidly absorbed during digestion, causing sharp spikes in blood sugar and insulin levels. A diet that includes a lot of white bread and other high-glycemic foods -- like sweets, candy, desserts and white potatoes -- increases your risk for weight gain, type 2 diabetes and heart disease, according to the Harvard School of Public Health.

White bread is low in fiber. Fiber is an essential part of a healthy diet that lowers your cholesterol level and keeps your gastrointestinal tract working properly. The recommended daily intake of fiber is 14 grams for every 1,000 calories you consume. If you eat the average 2,000 calorie-per-day diet, you need 28 grams of fiber a day. The average slice of white bread has 0.5 grams of fiber, whereas the average slice of whole wheat bread has 2 grams, according to the USDA Nutrient Database.

Unknown

This content has been removed.

angel7472

Ok Ive read all the posts and decided to add my two cents.

Ive been watching what I eat for 2 years. Obviously by my ticker Ive lost weight. Im a vegetarian that eats fish so technically Im a pescatarian. So a lot of what I eat is wheat and I laugh at the whole wheat belly thing. Im sorry but thats just another one of the cry wolf things going around right now. Also I eat the heck out of potatoes. I love them. Ive been eating at least one a day for my whole diet. Now Im on a sweet potato kick so I am eating one of those a day with omg butter! No I havent gained and I still weigh the same. What Im trying to say is if it makes you happy eat it. Why should you make yourself miserable because someone told you it was bad? We all eat bad stuff I love ice cream and eat that. Also I have a whole cabinet of candy that I eat also. Enjoy yourself life is too short to be miserable!

lemurcat12

According to Why We Get Fat, by the science editor of the NYTimes

Is he? Admittedly, I'm no expert on the NYT's editorial board.

foods that are high in refined carbs (high glycemic) cause a rapid rise in blood sugar.

I just want to be precise here, since sometimes words (like "refined") get used to mean "bad" or "unhealthy" or some such, rather than what they actually mean. I had potatoes last night. Left the skin on, chopped them up, and roasted them in some olive oil, with salt and pepper, and ate with chicken and vegetables. How are those potatoes refined? Also, as has already been pointed out, how relevant is the glycemic index of the potato when I'm eating it with extra fat, protein, and fiber (and potatoes already have fiber).

gaelicstorm26

According to Why We Get Fat, by the science editor of the NYTimes

Is he? Admittedly, I'm no expert on the NYT's editorial board.

foods that are high in refined carbs (high glycemic) cause a rapid rise in blood sugar.

I just want to be precise here, since sometimes words (like "refined") get used to mean "bad" or "unhealthy" or some such, rather than what they actually mean. I had potatoes last night. Left the skin on, chopped them up, and roasted them in some olive oil, with salt and pepper, and ate with chicken and vegetables. How are those potatoes refined? Also, as has already been pointed out, how relevant is the glycemic index of the potato when I'm eating it with extra fat, protein, and fiber (and potatoes already have fiber).

And I think you have a big point there! We can minimize blood sugar spikes (if you even have to worry about them at all) by ensuring that you make protein and fiber a part of your meal. Nothing should be off-limits. Sometimes the way you combine your meals can make all the difference. I personally can't have corn and potatoes during the same meal. That doesn't mean that I can't have them, just that I have to plan for when I'm going to eat them and what else will be on my plate during that meal.

richardheath

According to Why We Get Fat, by the science editor of the NYTimes

Is he? Admittedly, I'm no expert on the NYT's editorial board.

I wondered about that too. I think he may have had some articles published in the NY Times (he is a journalist, after all), but according to his own bio, he doesn't claim to be (or have been) an editor: http://garytaubes.com/biography/

Lizajayne23

Ok Ive read all the posts and decided to add my two cents.

Ive been watching what I eat for 2 years. Obviously by my ticker Ive lost weight. Im a vegetarian that eats fish so technically Im a pescatarian. So a lot of what I eat is wheat and I laugh at the whole wheat belly thing. Im sorry but thats just another one of the cry wolf things going around right now. Also I eat the heck out of potatoes. I love them. Ive been eating at least one a day for my whole diet. Now Im on a sweet potato kick so I am eating one of those a day with omg butter! No I havent gained and I still weigh the same. What Im trying to say is if it makes you happy eat it. Why should you make yourself miserable because someone told you it was bad? We all eat bad stuff I love ice cream and eat that. Also I have a whole cabinet of candy that I eat also. Enjoy yourself life is too short to be miserable!

I think we're now not supposed to be enjoying our food. Everything that brings you joy is off-limits on many of the blogs and sites that I've run across lately... bread, milk, cheese, most fruits, some vegetables, all sweeteners, white foods. :grumble: I wish I could remember the exact wording or the site, but basically the most recent said you should have no feelings about your food and you should eat things that you don't like anyway because it's fuel, not a source of pleasure. (I would have a STRONG feeling about my food then, and not in a good way! LOL)

nxd10

Ok Ive read all the posts and decided to add my two cents.

Ive been watching what I eat for 2 years. Obviously by my ticker Ive lost weight. Im a vegetarian that eats fish so technically Im a pescatarian. So a lot of what I eat is wheat and I laugh at the whole wheat belly thing. Im sorry but thats just another one of the cry wolf things going around right now. Also I eat the heck out of potatoes. I love them. Ive been eating at least one a day for my whole diet. Now Im on a sweet potato kick so I am eating one of those a day with omg butter! No I havent gained and I still weigh the same. What Im trying to say is if it makes you happy eat it. Why should you make yourself miserable because someone told you it was bad? We all eat bad stuff I love ice cream and eat that. Also I have a whole cabinet of candy that I eat also. Enjoy yourself life is too short to be miserable!

I think we're now not supposed to be enjoying our food. Everything that brings you joy is off-limits on many of the blogs and sites that I've run across lately... bread, milk, cheese, most fruits, some vegetables, all sweeteners, white foods. :grumble: I wish I could remember the exact wording or the site, but basically the most recent said you should have no feelings about your food and you should eat things that you don't like anyway because it's fuel, not a source of pleasure. (I would have a STRONG feeling about my food then, and not in a good way! LOL)

I guess we're all getting different things out of this thread and what we're reading.

I don't think we're not supposed to enjoy food. I've never read that here. I find really paying attention to food and eating food I love makes me eat less because it satisfies that deep desire for positive sensation which is part of why I eat. I am more satisfied with a little fantastic food and unhappy when I ate lousy or mediocre food.

Despite how people (mis)read what I said earlier. I don't think we should stop eating any type of food. I certainly haven't. I said (and believe) that your body reacts to different foods differently and you should be aware of that so that you can balance your choices. And I don't think the word 'refined' means 'bad'. I definitely don't say that as someone who bakes bread, cakes, cookies, and scones several days a week. I simply said - and believe - that those foods should be eaten with moderation. If you eat them with fiber (potato skins as well as flesh, fresh fruit, fresh vegetables) your body will react to them better. I don't think that's controversial.

If it were that hard to eat, we wouldn't have survived as a species. If there was something wrong with eating bread, potatoes, pasta, or rice there wouldn't be national cuisines based on those staples. I think that one of the reason wealthier nations have a problem with obesity is that these foods are really available and we eat relatively more of those types of foods and relatively less of other types of foods. And we don't have to exercise as much as a normal part of our daily lives so many of us don't. I didn't think that was a controversial statement either.

Binky_Muffin

Why not consult a professional such as a dietician if you have concerns about what you're eating?...

StaciMarie1974

Some food gets a bad reputation.

Potatoes? I imagine when many people eat them, they load on sour cream, butter, bacon, cheese and turn a potato into more calories than one needs in a single meal let alone a side.

Rice? Love it, though I'm not sure there is much nutritional value in it.

Bread? Same as rice.

All in moderation.

tennisdude2004

There is nothing bad with rice or potatoes (in fact cold boiled potatoes or cold post boiled rice - possibly have great probiotic qualities for the gut).

I think the reason they get such a bad press is that for the calorie content of them you get very little back nutritionally.

Potatoes and rice are basically just starch and a quick source of fuel for the body.

They will not really add to your micro nutrient targets, but if you have those bases covered they are a great accompaniment to lots of meals.

Make them fit into you calorie target and enjoy them.

IMO there is no bad food - just healthy food and food (and what is considered healthy will be different for everyone, as we each have our own tastes, fitness and weight loss goals/regimes, moral thought process about food sources)

MamaBearCPA

As I said - "Your body is chemistry - think of it as a giant chemistry experiment - you have to find the best chemistry for you. What works for one doesn't work for another."

This is from my own personal experience. It's a matter of reading and educating yourself. And trust me - I've read a lot more than the books posted - low carb - ketogenic - Alzheimer's - organic - GMO education - there's a lot of information out there. Those books were listed because they are easy to understand starting points. Not listening to a doctor (who has little to no nutritional training) - not listening to a trainer (unless they have nutritional training) - not listening to your family (unless perhaps they are a chiropractor - who have a lot of nutritional training - which I am lucky enough to have). But educating yourself. Determining what works for you and your body.

Low carb is working for me. I'm just starting - but it's working - and working quickly. Counting calories and working out didn't. The Formula or The Zone (40/30/30 plans) and working out didn't work. Low carb and working out - working - 5 pounds in week one. Yes - some of that is water weight. Time will tell. But beyond my experience - there is experience around me to make me see that low carb could be a very feasible solution.

Low carb has kept my husband off insulin (even when all 3 siblings, his Mom and two cousins are insulin dependent diabetics). He was diagnosed as pre-diabetic a number of years ago - and has totally reversed that with low carb eating. His historical bloodwork proves that low carb is working for him. Our doctor doesn't like his methods - but loves the results. Blood chemistry doesn't lie - does it?

My niece (the chiropractor) wrote a low carb - lean protein - good fat diet for use by my husband's siblings, Mom and cousins. His sister took it to her doctor for approval before she started using it. His response - if you can stick to it - this is great - you'll be off insulin in 6 months. OFF INSULIN. And she lost 5 pounds in the first two weeks.

Low carb worked for a co-worker - who lost 50 pounds in the past year - even though she's over 60 years old.

Low carb worked for a co-worker of my husband - whose doctor was very impressed with his blood work - until he found out he was eating low carb - the blood chemistry proved it was working - but the doctor still is of the low fat high carb mindset - and fat makes you fat.

My Mom ate low fat high carb for years - even though it never lowered her cholesterol - and is now in a memory care unit - her dementia to a point she no longer knows who I am. I believe her lack of fat contributed to that since no one else in her family has or has had Alzheimer's.

My anecdotal stories may not be scientific - but they're enough for me to try something outside the norms - rather than listening to a doctor who loves my husband's blood chemistry results - and weight loss - but isn't too fond of the methods. We are getting him to research a bit more though. We'll see what he concludes over time.

Everyone needs to educate themselves and see what works for them.

And please - don't judge others because what works for them doesn't work for you. Be happy for them that they're making progress to a healthier weight.

Bloodwork doesn't lie - and IN MY OPINION - that's the key.