If you had to choose one: CARBS or FAT?

thisismynewmindset

Here is a hypothetical:

If I have two options of food to chose from, and they both have the EXACT same nutritional information EXCEPT for CARBS and FAT, which would you choose?

I.e.: If one was higher in CARBS, but the other was higher in FAT?

Which one would you stay away from? Which is the lesser of two evils: CARBS or FAT?

_Leslie_

I'd stay away from the carbs for sure!! Fat isn't making people fat....

LovingMe19

Doesn't really matter. Your diet should include both. Pointless to eliminate one or the other, cuz your body will just gain once you start eating them again.

sharidiane

I'd eat the fat. Every time.

anna_lisa

depending on the type or carbs or the type of fat????

I think I would choose the fat...... (Fat is not techinally bad) Carbs can manipulate insulin levels which can make it harder for the body to lose weight.

Meggie_pooh

CARBS ARE :devil: EVIL :devil:

dxing

carbs

therealangd

I'd stay away from the fat.

Carbs have 4 calories per gram, fat has 9.

100 calories of carbs is going to be more substantial than 100 calories of fat.

or in other words, I'll get 25 grams of carbs as opposed to 11 grams of fat to eat.

I'll take more to eat please.

HeidiMightyRawr

I would probably choose fat because I know how much I bloat if I eat too many carbs! However, if it was only going to be 10g or something I'd rather be 10g of carbs over than 10g of fat over because in comparison to how many I get in the day it's not as bad.

Mindful_Trent

Neither is evil, and it depends on what they were specifically. I'll take unprocessed over processed, regardless of the type of calories, and as far as fat vs. carbs, a healthy diet requires both, and it depends on what else I've eaten that day.

myofibril

carbs

anna_lisa

I'd stay away from the carbs for sure!! Fat isn't making people fat....

this is SOOOOOOOOOO true.... Look at inuit people in northern regions of North America.... They sustain themselves through winter on BLUBBER --> animal fat. (Very little carb) and these peoples have very little issues with heart disease, obesity, diabetes. All the diseases associated with a western diet.

I would recomment the book

"In defense of food" by Michael Pollan.

anna_lisa

I'd stay away from the fat.

Carbs have 4 calories per gram, fat has 9.

100 calories of carbs is going to be more substantial than 100 calories of fat.

or in other words, I'll get 25 grams of carbs as opposed to 11 grams of fat to eat.

I'll take more to eat please.

how your body will utilize they types of calories is VERY different. The carbs will manipulate insulin levels which not only and interfere with weighloss but also spur cravings.

iplayoutside19

You can't isolate questions like this. My answer is "depends"

But in most cases I'll take the fat. Fat will keep you full longer. The carbs you will burn through, and you'll either have to eat again requiring more calories. or if you don't have any food you'll just have to deal with the hunger. If you're hungry the likelyhood that you'll make a bad food choice goes up.

thisismynewmindset

Wow you guys all rock. This is why I love MFP - thanks for the advice!

marie_2454

Doesn't really matter. Your diet should include both. Pointless to eliminate one or the other, cuz your body will just gain once you start eating them again.

I agree! I'd probably eat the carbs though, just because (at least for me) carbs are way more filling than fat.

candistyx

Fat because it's more satisfying.

Katie3784

I have always seen fat as the devil, but now I know it's necessary to our bodies. I would, however, still choose high carbs because I LOVE breads, pastas, crackers, etc. and I do a lot of exercise so I know my body needs them. I actually have a really low fat diet now anyway, but it's pretty high in carbs.

Blackthorne99

All three are necessary for healthy body function, but on a day-to-day basis, if I have to choose to reduce one of them, it's always carbs with one exception - if I'm in the middle of a hypoglycemic episode, then carbs are the quickest way to get my blood sugars back into a healthy range. THEN I eat a protein/fat combination on top of it to keep them from crashing again.

Forensic

I'd avoid the high-carb food, many because carbs are what got me here in the first place (I tend to dislike very fatty foods like bacon and such).

wildon883r

If i require sustained energy of course our main fuel source (CARBS) if for health reasons alone a simple healthy fat is my choice. Down with carb haters sheesh.

Lyadeia

Here is a hypothetical:

If I have two options of food to chose from, and they both have the EXACT same nutritional information EXCEPT for CARBS and FAT, which would you choose?

I.e.: If one was higher in CARBS, but the other was higher in FAT?

Which one would you stay away from? Which is the lesser of two evils: CARBS or FAT?

For me, it depends on the source of the carb and the type of fat. Neither carbs nor fat technically makes you fat. All that is a bunch of mythological hoo ha that sells fad diets. But, if the carb is mostly refined simple sugars and the fat is mostly unsaturated and filled with Omega-3's, then I choose the fat. But, if the carb is a complex carb or perhaps even a simple one accompanied by fiber (like an apple) and the fat is trans fat or saturated fat, then I choose the carb.

There are highly nutritious qualities of carbs and fat, and to vilify one or the other does your body a great dis-service.

PJilly

Here is a hypothetical:

If I have two options of food to chose from, and they both have the EXACT same nutritional information EXCEPT for CARBS and FAT, which would you choose?

I.e.: If one was higher in CARBS, but the other was higher in FAT?

Which one would you stay away from? Which is the lesser of two evils: CARBS or FAT?

It would depend on what the two foods were, but in most cases, I'd probably go with the one higher in carbs. As someone else mentioned, calorie for calorie, you get more food with carbs. I know a lot of people say fat is more filling, but for me, more volume is more filling.

chrisdavey

Here is a hypothetical:

If I have two options of food to chose from, and they both have the EXACT same nutritional information EXCEPT for CARBS and FAT, which would you choose?

I.e.: If one was higher in CARBS, but the other was higher in FAT?

Which one would you stay away from? Which is the lesser of two evils: CARBS or FAT?

For me, it depends on the source of the carb and the type of fat. Neither carbs nor fat technically makes you fat. All that is a bunch of mythological hoo ha that sells fad diets. But, if the carb is mostly refined simple sugars and the fat is mostly unsaturated and filled with Omega-3's, then I choose the fat. But, if the carb is a complex carb or perhaps even a simple one accompanied by fiber (like an apple) and the fat is trans fat or saturated fat, then I choose the carb.

There are highly nutritious qualities of carbs and fat, and to vilify one or the other does your body a great dis-service.

Perfectly said.

Would also depend on timing of the meal for me.

NYGoddess77

I'd chose Fat over Carbs anyday. I had half of a Hass Avocado and 6oz of Steamed Salmon for Breakfast and I wasn't hungry all day until about 5 hours later and then I had the same for lunch with a medium artichoke (carb) :-)

LaJauna

I'd stay away from the fat.

Carbs have 4 calories per gram, fat has 9.

100 calories of carbs is going to be more substantial than 100 calories of fat.

or in other words, I'll get 25 grams of carbs as opposed to 11 grams of fat to eat.

I'll take more to eat please.

But what if eating the 25 grams of carbs makes you just want to eat more carbs, while the 11 grams of fat keep me satisfied and full. I opt for the fat. It has more satiating power.

EbonyGemstoneHealth

CARBS!

lclarkjr

So much hostility on this thread against carbs!

Neither carbs nor fat should be classified as evil. They are both necessary for your body to function properly. To really choose, you would need to know what the two items you are choosing between actually are. Take this example, 2 items that are approximately 120 calories each, the only difference is one has more carbs and the other has more fat. Many of you will automatically choose the one with the fat without knowing what it is because you have given into the "all carbs are bad" hype. Some of you will choose the one with more carbs without knowing what it is because you perceive it as having more substance and being more filling. But what if the two items were a tablespoon of olive oil (more fat) and a large banana (more carbs)? I don't mean for my example to come off as anti-fat. 100 calories of healthy fat is a better choice over 100 calories of refined sugar. I'm just saying you can't really choose the healthier option without knowing what exactly it is you are choosing between.

LaJauna

So much hostility on this thread against carbs!

Neither carbs nor fat should be classified as evil. They are both necessary for your body to function properly. To really choose, you would need to know what the two items you are choosing between actually are. Take this example, 2 items that are approximately 120 calories each, the only difference is one has more carbs and the other has more fat. Many of you will automatically choose the one with the fat without knowing what it is because you have given into the "all carbs are bad" hype. Some of you will choose the one with more carbs without knowing what it is because you perceive it as having more substance and being more filling. But what if the two items were a tablespoon of olive oil (more fat) and a large banana (more carbs)? I don't mean for my example to come off as anti-fat. 100 calories of healthy fat is a better choice over 100 calories of refined sugar. I'm just saying you can't really choose the healthier option without knowing what exactly it is you are choosing between.

If there is one micronutrient that is completely un-necessary it would be carbohydrates. Our bodies are quite capable of making glycogen from proteins and ketones for energy from fats. There are whole cultures across the world that have very little access to vegetational carbohydrates and live quite well on meats and fats. And I am not just talking about Eskimos!

thegoodner

There are no necessary carbs, only necessary fats. I choose fat every time. Your body prefers to use it as a fuel source, it keeps you full, lower your triglycerides, actually IMPROVE your cholesterol, and its tasty! But I would have to qualify that I would want the fat to come from animal, or coconut, or avocados. Carbs are what got me here, so I will pass on those options.

If you are bored or curious, I highly recommend the movie Fat Head on hulu or Netflix (free streaming). Fat has been wrongly accused for a long time.

dxing

So much hostility on this thread against carbs!

Neither carbs nor fat should be classified as evil. They are both necessary for your body to function properly. To really choose, you would need to know what the two items you are choosing between actually are. Take this example, 2 items that are approximately 120 calories each, the only difference is one has more carbs and the other has more fat. Many of you will automatically choose the one with the fat without knowing what it is because you have given into the "all carbs are bad" hype. Some of you will choose the one with more carbs without knowing what it is because you perceive it as having more substance and being more filling. But what if the two items were a tablespoon of olive oil (more fat) and a large banana (more carbs)? I don't mean for my example to come off as anti-fat. 100 calories of healthy fat is a better choice over 100 calories of refined sugar. I'm just saying you can't really choose the healthier option without knowing what exactly it is you are choosing between.

If there is one micronutrient that is completely un-necessary it would be carbohydrates. Our bodies are quite capable of making glycogen from proteins and ketones for energy from fats. There are whole cultures across the world that have very little access to vegetational carbohydrates and live quite well on meats and fats. And I am not just talking about Eskimos!

Why would you make it considerably more inconvenient to cut out carbohydrates completely? A lot of sources of carbs are some of the most affordable and calorie dense types of food. I mean if you wanted to pack a sandwich to work, you wouldn't be able to use bread. If I'm going to be late for work, and I'd like to grab a piece of fruit, I wouldn't be able to. To live off of protein and fat really limits most people because you're cutting out a huge variety of food (starch, legumes, fibrous & leafy vegetables, fruit), and mentally this can be very difficult to follow, which will probably lead you to quit whatever plan your on.

Plus, it's simply unnecessary to cut out carbohydrates. Some of the fittest and strongest people in the world eat 400+ grams of carbs everyday. You can easily lose body fat on a caloric deficit with a variety of food (it may be slower, but people expect things to go too quickly anyways), so why would you purposely make life more expensive and inconvenient for yourself? And unless you plan on incorporating a carb free diet for life, your going to gain fat back. I've done extremely low carb plans, but I understood it was going to be short term, I wasn't surprised the least bit to see a big loss in definition once I re-incorporated carbohydrates. I knew somebody who literally ate chicken breast as his sole source of food and he developed a noticeable set of abs in 1 month! But he lost all definition in his midsection once he reincorporated carbs back into his diet. In my opinion, I'd rather lose bodyfat and be able to keep it off rather than stay in a permanent state of ketosis.