Are carbs really important?

lausa22

I've come to notice since joining this site that a lot people restrict carbs a lot.
In my house (I live with my parents) we have tons of stuff that it 'high in carbs' ; bread, pasta, potatoes, spaghetti, ect. And it's extremely hard for me to go about my day without having one of those.

My diary is open, if anyone cares to look. (I suggest looking at past days, since I've only had breakfast today)
I ask, is my carb intake way too high? Is it really important for me to track my carbs? Otherwise, I'd hardly be making my limit trying to find foods that are low-carb, because my parents do all the shopping.

notoriousgtt

Carbs are essential.

They are the fuel that your body uses to function, especially things like pasta, potatoes, spaghetti etc, these are all idea sources of carbs.

Looking back at your diary I see nothing wrong with your carb intake. Some people will swear by a low carb diet but I could never do it, I need the fuel from them.

glampixxie

Every food group is important. The types of carbs you eat matter though. Whole grains, for example, are much better for you than bleached white flour-y foods. Try wheat pasta! I find it has more flavor anyway.

lausa22

Thanks I was just unsure, because I seen so many people swear by low-carbs. And I'm just about to have my lunch and I wanted to make sure that my regular carb intake was okay and that it wouldn't stop me losing weight in the future if I carried on eating the same amount of carbs.

Chuckw40

Carbs are essential.

They are the fuel that your body uses to function, especially things like pasta, potatoes, spaghetti etc, these are all idea sources of carbs.

Looking back at your diary I see nothing wrong with your carb intake. Some people will swear by a low carb diet but I could never do it, I need the fuel from them.

I would have to say that pasta is far from an ideal source of carbs. Try some nice healthy fruits and vegatables.

wanttogetskinny

I think that a lot of low/moderate carb people are those battling Type 1 diabetes, Type 2 diabetes, or insulin resistance as an effect of PCOS, from what I've seen. So they have a medical reason for their choice - they just mistakenly think that because it's working FOR THEM, that it is necessarily something that will work for everyone.

Chuckw40

I think that a lot of low/moderate carb people are those battling Type 1 diabetes, Type 2 diabetes, or insulin resistance as an effect of PCOS, from what I've seen. So they have a medical reason for their choice - they just mistakenly think that because it's working FOR THEM, that it is necessarily something that will work for everyone.

Do you believe that ingesting large quatities of carbs may contribute to your chances of becomming one of these people?

candistyx

All I know is that I can eat carbs for hours and never feel satisfied.
But if I have a meal of meat and veg I feel fine and not obsessed with food until the next meal.

lausa22

I think that a lot of low/moderate carb people are those battling Type 1 diabetes, Type 2 diabetes, or insulin resistance as an effect of PCOS, from what I've seen. So they have a medical reason for their choice - they just mistakenly think that because it's working FOR THEM, that it is necessarily something that will work for everyone.

Do you believe that ingesting large quatities of carbs may contribute to your chances of becomming one of these people?

PCOS and type 1 diabetes aren't conditions that can be caused by diet.
Also, losing weight helps decrease chance of developing type 2 diabetes and insulin resistances. And losing weight is what I am doing.
I was meerly asking if my carb intake was going to affect my losing weight, not developing diabetes.

Chuckw40

All I know is that I can eat carbs for hours and never feel satisfied.
But if I have a meal of meat and veg I feel fine and not obsessed with food until the next meal.

This! I could eat a whole bag of potato chips and still crave some Reese's peanut butter cups.

BR1986FB

Carbs are essential.

There is no actual physiological requirement for dietary carbohydrates. From the standpoint of survival, the minimum amount of carbohydrates that are required in a diet is zero grams per day. The body can make what little it needs from other sources.

lauraneedstodiet

carbs are important but having said that you can get 'good' carbs from brown rice, carrots, parsnips etc. It is best to not have them after 4pm ish as your body slows down it finds it much harder to break down the carbs and can store them as fat. it's best to eat carbs with your breakfast and lunch. BUT I do understand, I love carbs too, and I am finding it extremely difficult to try and not eat any in an evening. I have lost just over a stone and am now 8stone 9lb, I am 5ft 3in and am happy with my progress, just wanting to tone up now. I believe knowing when to eat certain foods is the key. Fish or chicken with green veg is the best evening meal. x

notoriousgtt

Carbs are essential.

There is no actual physiological requirement for dietary carbohydrates. From the standpoint of survival, the minimum amount of carbohydrates that are required in a diet is zero grams per day. The body can make what little it needs from other sources.

While that may be technically true from a survival standpoint we are not talking from a survival standpoint. The OP was asking if carbs are "really important" simple answer is yes, they are really important.
OP followed up by asking if her diary showed her to have excessive carb intake, simple answer no.

If you want to advise her to eat zero grams per day go ahead, but it wont be much fun from her point of view.

notoriousgtt

carbs are important but having said that you can get 'good' carbs from brown rice, carrots, parsnips etc. It is best to not have them after 4pm ish as your body slows down it finds it much harder to break down the carbs and can store them as fat. it's best to eat carbs with your breakfast and lunch. BUT I do understand, I love carbs too, and I am finding it extremely difficult to try and not eat any in an evening. I have lost just over a stone and am now 8stone 9lb, I am 5ft 3in and am happy with my progress, just wanting to tone up now. I believe knowing when to eat certain foods is the key. Fish or chicken with green veg is the best evening meal. x

I don't think you can give a time for when you should or shouldn't eat food. Everyones body and routine is different. Your body also doesn't "slow down", if I was to go to the gym at 1900 I could easily argue that my body would speed up.

BR1986FB

Carbs are essential.

There is no actual physiological requirement for dietary carbohydrates. From the standpoint of survival, the minimum amount of carbohydrates that are required in a diet is zero grams per day. The body can make what little it needs from other sources.

While that may be technically true from a survival standpoint we are not talking from a survival standpoint. The OP was asking if carbs are "really important" simple answer is yes, they are really important.
OP followed up by asking if her diary showed her to have excessive carb intake, simple answer no.

If you want to advise her to eat zero grams per day go ahead, but it wont be much fun from her point of view.

I wasn't advising her to eat "zero carbs." Was just pointing out that your "carbs are essential" comment was incorrect.

katschi

Nevermind.

lausa22

Eh. notoriousgtt told me what I needed to know and didn't start a 'I'm right, listen to me' arguement. So thank you!
As he said, I wanted to know if my carb intake was too high, he told me.
Some of you just scrutnized me, some help there /sarcasm.
Also, all you people telling me to eat fish and meat, I'm vegetarian, sorry I didn't point that out.

mynameisnutz

While that may be technically true from a survival standpoint we are not talking from a survival standpoint. The OP was asking if carbs are "really important" simple answer is yes, they are really important.
OP followed up by asking if her diary showed her to have excessive carb intake, simple answer no.

If you want to advise her to eat zero grams per day go ahead, but it wont be much fun from her point of view.

Carbs are not essential, nor are they "really important." From a pure weight loss perspective, the most important thing is calories consumed, not macronutrient ratio.

Having said that, carbs are extremely fun to eat, and for that reason alone I would not recommend cutting them out of your diet. (Assuming there is no metabolic disorder involved.)

Chuckw40

Eh. notoriousgtt told me what I needed to know and didn't start a 'I'm right, listen to me' arguement. So thank you!
As he said, I wanted to know if my carb intake was too high, he told me.
Some of you just scrutnized me, some help there /sarcasm.
Also, all you people telling me to eat fish and meat, I'm vegetarian, sorry I didn't point that out.

More like he told you what you wanted to hear.

BR1986FB

Eh. notoriousgtt told me what I needed to know and didn't start a 'I'm right, listen to me' arguement.
.

Well then your title was misleading then because they are not important. As mentioned, "fun to eat", yes...but not important.

lausa22

I meant 'important' as in 'if I eat too much of them, are they going to kill me' that's also why I asked to take a look at my diary to see if I was eating too many.
I'm just a bit confused because so many people are going 'don't eat over a certain amount' and 'carbs are bad!' so I wanted to see if my habit was bad, because as far as I could tell I was fine.

ALSO.
Read what I posted;
'I ask, is my carb intake way too high? Is it really important for me to track my carbs?'

BR1986FB

I meant 'important' as in 'if I eat too much of them, are they going to kill me' that's also why I asked to take a look at my diary to see if I was eating too many.
I'm just a bit confused because so many people are going 'don't eat over a certain amount' and 'carbs are bad!' so I wanted to see if my habit was bad, because as far as I could tell I was fine.

Every persons case is going to be different. I'm not celiac but my body doesn't "do" carbs well so I try to keep my carb intake at around 50g's per day (veggies & occasional fruits) and I'm shedding body fat/pant sizes like wildfire. Others, like say, high performance athletes can take in 300g's+ per day and they are calorie burning "machines", doesn't effect them. Guess the only advice I could give is do what works for YOU. I know that minimal carbs have been great for ME (not the case with everyone though.)

lausa22

I meant 'important' as in 'if I eat too much of them, are they going to kill me' that's also why I asked to take a look at my diary to see if I was eating too many.
I'm just a bit confused because so many people are going 'don't eat over a certain amount' and 'carbs are bad!' so I wanted to see if my habit was bad, because as far as I could tell I was fine.

Every persons case is going to be different. I'm not celiac but my body doesn't "do" carbs well so I try to keep my carb intake at around 50g's per day (veggies & occasional fruits) and I'm shedding body fat/pant sizes like wildfire. Others, like say, high performance athletes can take in 300g's+ per day and they are calorie burning "machines", doesn't effect them. Guess the only advice I could give is do what works for YOU. I know that minimal carbs have been great for ME (not the case with everyone though.)

Well thank you anyway I know it works for some people to restrict carbs, and I do watch what I take in and exercise almost 2 hours a day. I might try to see if I can lower carbs, see what happens. But I don't feel like they're affecting my weight loss.

SHBoss1673

I'm not going to warn anybody on this thread, but I've seen more than one comment that I personally detest. As a moderator, I force myself to stay out of situations that I don't like simply because we've been asked to take a very minimalist approach to board moderation. But I'll say this, some of the posts on this thread walk a very fine line.

If you don't like something someone posts, it's fine to RESPECTFULLY debate the contents of that post, it's never ok to insult, or demean either a poster or a post itself on MyFitnessPal. Just remember, sarcasm does NOT translate to written word very well, before you type something you mean as a joke or sarcasm, read it over a few times to be positively sure it will be taken that way, especially if any alternate meaning could be insulting.

thank you,

SHBoss1673
MyFitnessPal forum moderator

bcattoes

Carbs are only important if you want to live. Your body can't function without them. But it's important to eat the right kind of carbs, and that means getting them from whole foods rather than processed (white) bread, pasta or sugars. Stick to vegetables, fruit and whole grains as your main sources and stay within your calorie limits and you'll be fine.

mynameisnutz

Carbs are only important if you want to live. Your body can't function without them.

Yes, it can.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gluconeogenesis

LaJauna

Carbs are only important if you want to live. Your body can't function without them. But it's important to eat the right kind of carbs, and that means getting them from whole foods rather than processed (white) bread, pasta or sugars. Stick to vegetables, fruit and whole grains as your main sources and stay within your calorie limits and you'll be fine.

This is not a true statement. Your body can and does function quite well without carbs. Your body needs protein. We as a nation have one of the worst diets on the planet for health and fitness. There are cultures around the globe that are sustained without carbs, mainly because their environment will not support agriculture! The eat animals, their by-products and fats of all sorts and are fairly healthy and fit. There are also cultures that survive almost completely on a diet of high density carbs. They have limited access to animal proteins and their by-products. They have to be very creative to not get protein deficiency related diseases.

wanttogetskinny

I think that a lot of low/moderate carb people are those battling Type 1 diabetes, Type 2 diabetes, or insulin resistance as an effect of PCOS, from what I've seen. So they have a medical reason for their choice - they just mistakenly think that because it's working FOR THEM, that it is necessarily something that will work for everyone.

Do you believe that ingesting large quatities of carbs may contribute to your chances of becomming one of these people?

I'm not sure if I believe it leads to it - there are many reasons Type 2 develops (genetics and persistant organic pollutants actually have a lot more to do with it than weight/diet, which the mass media wants us to believe).

I do believe that once you HAVE diabetes however, your ability to use carbs as others do is impaired. Higher levels of carb intake means higher levels of insulin in the body (or in my case (I have Type 1) more insulin needed in an injection into the body)...and more insulin in the blood stream can lead to the body being less able to burn fat.

wanttogetskinny

I think that a lot of low/moderate carb people are those battling Type 1 diabetes, Type 2 diabetes, or insulin resistance as an effect of PCOS, from what I've seen. So they have a medical reason for their choice - they just mistakenly think that because it's working FOR THEM, that it is necessarily something that will work for everyone.

Do you believe that ingesting large quatities of carbs may contribute to your chances of becomming one of these people?

PCOS and type 1 diabetes aren't conditions that can be caused by diet.
Also, losing weight helps decrease chance of developing type 2 diabetes and insulin resistances. And losing weight is what I am doing.
I was meerly asking if my carb intake was going to affect my losing weight, not developing diabetes.

Um, I'm well aware of that fact, as I've had Type 1 since I was 6. But control of these conditions is VERY related to diet. I only mentioned carb control in relation to these conditions because YOU noted that
'I've come to notice since joining this site that a lot people restrict carbs a lot. '.................I was simply filling you in on why you may see many people doing it. Not trying to say that it will/won't lead to diabetes.

Mrs_TrimWaistFatWallet

Eat your carbs. And your protein. And your fats.

Also...this.

I would have to say that pasta is far from an ideal source of carbs. Try some nice healthy fruits and vegatables.

k8edge

I think that a lot of low/moderate carb people are those battling Type 1 diabetes, Type 2 diabetes, or insulin resistance as an effect of PCOS, from what I've seen. So they have a medical reason for their choice - they just mistakenly think that because it's working FOR THEM, that it is necessarily something that will work for everyone.

Do you believe that ingesting large quatities of carbs may contribute to your chances of becomming one of these people?

Not sure if it contributes but it does spike the sugar which is what these people are trying to avoid.

Carbs are good!!! I try to stay away from starchy carbs - White potatoes, white bread, white pasta... However sweet potatoes, whole wheat breads and pasta are great!