Carbs are BAD!!!

sheepysaccount

Catchy title got ya, huh?

(I am not entirely sure this is the correct category, but yeah..HELP!)

I have this friend who wants to eat healthy, wants to do sports with me and so on. Cool, eh? However, she usually puts down what I eat. Yesterday I invited her for dinner, made a veggie puree with GASP potatoes and she said that the carbs are bad for you. I was here like "But I like potatoes". She wants to do low carb, fine. Do it, but do't put down my dinner. She also nagged about my portion. I was happy with a bowl of my puree and she said "Isn't that too little?"

Her usual food is something like crispy breads, lots of noodles and so on...Mostly stuff with carbs and lots of fat for sauces. So I have no idea where she gets the authority to tell me what stuff is bad. (Apparently she did a nutrition seminar for school once.)

I think what it comes down to is this:

1. Venting. I want to get this off my chest so I don't explode in her face.

2. Similar stories. What do you guys do in situations like this?

3. Links. Anyone have a link that shows that the body needs carbs?

cmazurek85

I did a quick search on pubmed to see if I could find a study that would prove that carbs are not bad. I found a few sources (most of which were not free). I did find a letter in reply to a study that was conducted a few months earlier:

http://ajcn.nutrition.org/content/75/5/951.2.long

What I took away from it was:
1) After the age of 3, the body needs 150g of carbs, every day, to function and not go into ketosis.
2) Carb restriction can be beneficial for losing weight. Carb + glycerol restriction results in harm to the body. so a low carb, low fat diet could harm you (in the long term.)
3) You need carbs to break down all the fat that is eaten.
4) The link between the need for carbs reagrding how the body functions is not fully understood, for individuals who consume a reduced amount of carbs for an extended period of time (less than 50/day.) Yes, the body could get the energy it needs from burning fat and protein, but doing this for a long time (it didn't say how long), can be harmful to the body. Carbohydrate deficiency syndrome is a real condition.

At the bottom of the above link, some of the citations are free.

I hardly think your friends diet of highly processed foods is better than your potato. From what your ticker says, you've lost some weight and have probably been enjoying potatoes...So.....enjoy your veggie puree!

I've had friends in the past who used to say similar things to me...I don't hang out with them anymore (due to other reasons) but it feels good to be with people who wont give me hell because I want to eat a potato. I'd probably tell me about the health benefits to eating whole foods and all vegetables and leave it at that.

GiveMeCoffee

My response would have been "good more for me" and went right on eating. If she continued, then I would have told her to get lost my house, my cooking, if you don't like it you can leave.

Snip8241

One nutrition seminar in school does not an expert make. You friend was rude and a bad guest.

I personally don't eliminate or restrict any particular food group.

Balance, to me, is the most important thing.

desidieter

Carbs are essential to one's diet. I know a lot of people do the low carb thing, and maybe that works temporarily, but I can't imagine a lifetime without complex and essential carbs. After all, carbs give energy and our bodies need that energy to fuel us properly. I personally have found that if I don't eat enough carbs before a workout, I have a hard time getting through my workout.

Here's a link with information and definitions as well as other sources that might be a good read for you. That way, when your friend tries to discourage you next time, you can give her informed answers. Knowledge is power, right? http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/carbohydrates.html

_Terrapin_

This is a lovely read: Enjoy!

"I was informed one of our patients was admitted to the Emergency Room a couple days ago, unresponsive (syncope).

Patient is female, borderline type 2* (followed up below) and was diagnosed with Diabetic Ketoacidosis (DKA). They declared this diagnosis when they ran her urinetest and it wasnt even dark purple, it was black. They immediately drew blood work, multiple panels, ran tests, etc. She was immediately admitted and they were required to start Insulin, Normal Saline and hourly monitoring.

Her husband brought in her food diary (she kept a notebook on her intake) and what they saw was extremely horrible. She was running so low on her carb intake, she was basically netting 10g of carbs - most days. Other days she was actually doing a ketogenic diet - a diet that was never recommended for this patient to begin with. Her caloric intake was well below 900 calories on a regular daily basis.

When she stabilized by hour-four, the Endo, her Primary Care Physician and now a Nephrologist came in to talk with her about the situation.

She damn near had kidney failure - the kidneys were significantly fatigued. Her body produced no insulin, and she did not have enough hydration to get rid of the excess ketones in her body, via urine output due to her choice of an extremely low carb/ketogenic intake, thus causing ketoacidosis.

She was counseled that the minimum requirements of healthy carbohydrates is to help the body encourage insulin to be excreted and utilized at more appropriate times, thus helping to restore insulin sensitivity. She was also advised that ketosis requires careful monitoring, in fact, the Endo advised they were getting her out of ketosis immediately because of the near-breakdown of her kidneys. She was also told, because her weakened kidneys now need to heal, she will need to have her carbs gradually upped every two days to get back into homeostasis (normalization of body function). With exercising, she was told that for at least a month, there would be no rigorous exercise - they arranged for her to work in the cardiac rehab unit so she could use the treadmill and be monitored to help maintain her heart rate/bp.

This woman almost died...... 8-(

*Folks - this patient represents 5% of the entire population as a Type 2 Diabetic situation. Ketoacidosis is more common with Type 1 Diabetics... if it occurs in a Type 2 patient, we are talking serious trouble.

If you follow a Keto diet - do not go this alone. Discuss this with an Endocrinologist who will work in conjunction with your Primary Care Physician. This is never a diet to be done without the medical advisement of your doctor(s).

If you follow Atkins (updated versions), and the first Phase isnt working, there are reasons why it is not working. Discuss with an Endocrinologist what might be more appropriate for you. Even if you are not a diabetic, discuss this topic with an Endo as they are familiar with at least determining the amount of healthy carbs a patient should consider based on BMR calculations, etc.

If you are a patient who has been diagnosed as 'Borderline Diabetic' - take this message seriously: do not go extreme with a low-carb intake. You do run the risk of serious health problems manifesting from making poor choices.

Do not ever go below the 1200 (net or full) calorie mark . If you are well below, you must be under a physician/specialist's care for that. Otherwise, you will definitely cause more problems. If you have been given a caloric restriction, whether 1400, 1600, 1800, TDEE-15%, there is a reason why the treating physician is using that guideline with your care.

If an RD ever tries to trump the advice of a medical physician, inform your physician right away.

Ketoacidosis is not just something that can happen to Type 1 or Type 2 Diabetics either.. this can happen with any patient.

Please make sure, for those that run ketostick-checks, do not ever let it go extremely dark....ever that is a serious medical issue that can develop, or is already happening..... "

How many professionals are in this thread comment?

_Zardoz_

Do we put carbs on the naughty step and get them to think about their actions?

malibu927

Mmmmmmm, carbs /Homer Simpson Voice

eric_sg61

Don't argue with zealots because you can't fight faith with facts.

_Terrapin_

Don't argue with zealots because you can't fight faith with facts.

Graci. Amen Brother(hehehehehe)

_Terrapin_

Ironically, the long quote I provided is from a low carb group moderator on MFP.

sheepysaccount

Thanks for the answers. I think as a friend I should be able to talk to her. It's her choice ultimately, but if she really wants to be healthy she might look at what she's eating.

Also thanks for the links and facts.

mercurysfire

atkins and it's brethren were originally intended for patients so obese they were on the brink of death. it's been around a while- i had a cousin back in the 90's who was doing it and this is after it had escaped into the hands of regular doctors that would hand it off to patients that needed to lose some weight. Still not the intended audience, but at least a pro was watching. it was written for a specific set of patients and was never intended to be unleashed into the world as a normal diet because of the very real dangers of a normal person taking on this diet unsupervised.

so yes your body requires carbs. they are the easiest energy source and the first thing to burn. it can vary pretty widely from person to person on how many you need. I've met type I diabetics to restrict carbs to between 60-90 per day- but they do it because they do not produce their own insulin (or not nearly enough). if i eat 100-130 carbs a day i feel pretty good. if i eat 200 i feel buzzy and i sweat buckets when i exercise and i have breakouts.

potatoes are good for you. regualr ol' pasta won't kill you, but it's not the healthiest choice out there. it's more just a vehicle for the sauce.

and next time your friend comes over for dinner, tell her to mind her own plate.

MityMax96

I like carbs and eat a lot of them

ew_david

She eats low carb but eats "crispy bread and noodles"?

#doingitwrong

MityMax96

She eats low carb but eats "crispy bread and noodles"?

#doingitwrong

It's all about what your definition of Low Carb is. :laugh: :laugh: :laugh:

Those carbs don't count.....
But carbs from rice or candy.....those carbs count.

tennisdude2004

Catchy title got ya, huh?

(I am not entirely sure this is the correct category, but yeah..HELP!)

I have this friend who wants to eat healthy, wants to do sports with me and so on. Cool, eh? However, she usually puts down what I eat. Yesterday I invited her for dinner, made a veggie puree with GASP potatoes and she said that the carbs are bad for you. I was here like "But I like potatoes". She wants to do low carb, fine. Do it, but do't put down my dinner. She also nagged about my portion. I was happy with a bowl of my puree and she said "Isn't that too little?"

Her usual food is something like crispy breads, lots of noodles and so on...Mostly stuff with carbs and lots of fat for sauces. So I have no idea where she gets the authority to tell me what stuff is bad. (Apparently she did a nutrition seminar for school once.)

I think what it comes down to is this:

1. Venting. I want to get this off my chest so I don't explode in her face.

2. Similar stories. What do you guys do in situations like this?

3. Links. Anyone have a link that shows that the body needs carbs?

Simple solution.

Drop your friend and never invite her to dinner again - I'll be honest she sounds a bit annoying!

sjpadron

I'm guilty! Lol I restrict myself from bad carbs all the time and I love them! I'm staying away from breadings, cakes, sweets, pastas, etc. I do once in a while have a slice of pizza or cake though lol

tennisdude2004

Carbs are essential to one's diet. I know a lot of people do the low carb thing, and maybe that works temporarily, but I can't imagine a lifetime without complex and essential carbs. After all, carbs give energy and our bodies need that energy to fuel us properly. I personally have found that if I don't eat enough carbs before a workout, I have a hard time getting through my workout.

Here's a link with information and definitions as well as other sources that might be a good read for you. That way, when your friend tries to discourage you next time, you can give her informed answers. Knowledge is power, right? http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/carbohydrates.html

Carbs are yummy and certainly good for an optimal healthy diet, but one thing dietary carbs are not is essential. The only macro nutrients that are essential is protein and fat!

Also I think some people find a lifetime on low carbs a lot easier than a lifetime of having to log food and restrict calories when they are still hungry!

Sasssy69

If anyone ever tells you that you eat too many carbs, stop talking to them. You don't need that kind of negativity in your life.

PRMinx

If pizza is wrong, I don't ever want to be right.

Carbs, for the win.