CARBS

iwantniceabs

How do carbs affect the overall look of your body? I know that if you consistently eat at a deficit, you will lose weight. I know (I've heard) that your body will look different if you eat a lot of processed foods vs eating a lot of clean foods. Do carbs work like this as well? I feel like if all of my daily calories were from carbs, it would have a much different affect on my body than if only 40 or 50 percent were from carbs...is this right or am I just making this up? basically, if anyone can give me some clarity on what carbs do for your body, I'd be grateful Thanks!

Jeff92se

What type of carbs? Also if you ate only carbs how would you get your protein etc?

Eating alot of processed type carbs like chips or bread is also going to throw you over your calorie limit pretty fast and you'd be starving the rest of the day

MikeSEA

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BigDaddyBRC

Every Body is different from the next. Its not a matter of you eating a Ho-Ho and have it go to your *kitten* versus a twinkie and going to your chin. What matters is the combination of Calorie/carb/proteins/nutrients going into your body.

cirellim

Carbs will give you a more filled out and full look carb depleted diets tend to give people an overall flat body tone. Not to mention carbs are essential to energy and without them you'll more than likely not feel the best throughout the day. They also keep you fuller stomach wise and contrary to popular belief carbs are actually more muscle sparing when on a diet than protein is!

ashnm88

So, which type of carbohydrates should we eat?
Carbohydrates are an essential part of a healthy diet and should make up 50% of our daily calorie intake. The majority should come from complex carbohydrates, preferably the wholemeal varieties, as well as a large intake of fruit and vegetables.

Simple carbohydrates of the refined kind, including refined sugar (sucrose) should be limited. They have no nutritional value and are generally high in sugars and fats.

To make it really simple:

"Good" carbohydrates are:

Bran, wheat germ, wholemeal bread, brown rice, potatoes, all forms of pasta but especially wholemeal pasta, barley, oats, lentils, chickpeas, beans, peas, corn, sweet potatoes, wholegrain cereals such as Weetabix, muesli, All bran, brown breads, root vegetables such as carrots, turnips, leeks and radishes.

"Bad" carbohydrates are:

Sweets, sugary breakfast cereals, cakes, pastries, syrup, table sugar (sucrose), fizzy drinks, biscuits, chocolate.

http://www.helpwithcooking.com/nutrition-information/carbohydrates.html

Rae6503

Personally I believe a deficit is a deficit is a deficit....


As long as you eat enough protein and fat.

Sidesteal

Personally I believe a deficit is a deficit is a deficit....


As long as you eat enough protein and fat.

^ Provided you aren't deficient in micros, I'm in this camp ^^

solpwr

The typical western diet has too much fat.
If you make sure you get a minimum of 45% of total calories from carbs, and 15% from protein, and a maximum of 35% from fat, that's good.
If you are trying to lean out, cut down on "empty calories". Go to nutrition.gov to learn more.