Healthy Carbs????? I need help with this!

Lizzy9
Lizzy9 Posts: 67 Member
in Food and Nutrition
I am keeping my carbs at a low 20% daily intake. I'm assume by setting that it means bad carbs???? I'm taking over 20% of healthy carbs. Am I accurate on this?

Replies

  • sruckstuhl
    sruckstuhl Posts: 13 Member
    In MFP carbs are just carbs, the system doesn't know if they are "healthy" vs "unhealthy". 20% is really low, but if that is what you are sticking to...you are always better to take in healthy carbs like vegetables, and whole grains.
  • Lizzy9
    Lizzy9 Posts: 67 Member
    Exactly what I needed to know. Thanks!!!!!!!!
  • sruckstuhl
    sruckstuhl Posts: 13 Member
    no problemo!
  • ktully93
    ktully93 Posts: 160 Member
    I am shooting for 25% carbs and have had success with vegetables and legumes. I cut out fruit during the week and then eat a few servings of fruit over the weekend. What I've noticed the most is that my appetite has stayed surpressed and my cravings for sugary foods has disappeared. I eat beans or lentils every day with breakfast and lunch. This doesn't work for everyone, but thought I would share.
  • cwolfman13
    cwolfman13 Posts: 41,865 Member
    As a macro nutrient, a carb is a carb is a carb...and all turns to sugar when metabolized. From a nutritional standpoint, look towards veg/fruit...some whole grains but you'll probably have difficulty fitting those in on a 20% restriction. All will ultimately metabolized to sugar, but have the added benefit of vitamins and minerals...fiber, etc.
  • Lizzy9
    Lizzy9 Posts: 67 Member
    Thanks - totally agree. Will burning up calories allow for more carbs???
    As a macro nutrient, a carb is a carb is a carb...and all turns to sugar when metabolized. From a nutritional standpoint, look towards veg/fruit...some whole grains but you'll probably have difficulty fitting those in on a 20% restriction. All will ultimately metabolized to sugar, but have the added benefit of vitamins and minerals...fiber, etc.
  • bcattoes
    bcattoes Posts: 17,299 Member
    What do you mean by "healthy carbs"? Net carbs (carbs minus fiber)? MFP doesn't have a way to track that, but you can track total carbs and fiber separately and do your own math.

    I read an article the other day about food labeling that said a good rule of thumb in determining whether a grain product is "healthy" is to look for at least a 1 : 10 ratio of fiber to total carbs.
  • Lizzy9
    Lizzy9 Posts: 67 Member
    Thanks for the info!
    I am shooting for 25% carbs and have had success with vegetables and legumes. I cut out fruit during the week and then eat a few servings of fruit over the weekend. What I've noticed the most is that my appetite has stayed surpressed and my cravings for sugary foods has disappeared. I eat beans or lentils every day with breakfast and lunch. This doesn't work for everyone, but thought I would share.
  • Lizzy9
    Lizzy9 Posts: 67 Member
    I'm going by carbs/sugar - keeping sugar low even through fruit. I don't touch sweets or bread. I take in fiber through protein shakes that I add to.
    What do you mean by "healthy carbs"? Net carbs (carbs minus fiber)? MFP doesn't have a way to track that, but you can track total carbs and fiber separately and do your own math.

    I read an article the other day about food labeling that said a good rule of thumb in determining whether a grain product is "healthy" is to look for at least a 1 : 10 ratio of fiber to total carbs.
  • bcattoes
    bcattoes Posts: 17,299 Member
    Yes, if you log exercise your total calorie allowance will go up, and since your carb allowance is a %, it will also go up.
    Thanks - totally agree. Will burning up calories allow for more carbs???
    As a macro nutrient, a carb is a carb is a carb...and all turns to sugar when metabolized. From a nutritional standpoint, look towards veg/fruit...some whole grains but you'll probably have difficulty fitting those in on a 20% restriction. All will ultimately metabolized to sugar, but have the added benefit of vitamins and minerals...fiber, etc.
  • shosho420
    shosho420 Posts: 220 Member
    This site doesn't know good carbs bad carbs or good sugars bad sugars.
  • Lizzy9
    Lizzy9 Posts: 67 Member
    I know, that's why it's so awesome to have the support of others on this site. :)
    This site doesn't know good carbs bad carbs or good sugars bad sugars.
  • Desdemina
    Desdemina Posts: 150 Member
    I'm on a doctor supervised diet which is no more than 25% carbs, or 75 grams of carbs/day. My doctor said if I exercise, I can eat more, but I don't get more carbs, I still have to stay under 75 g. Bummer, eh?

    But it's true, after a couple of weeks, you won't crave them anymore.

    Oh, and that's net carbs, which is carbs minus fiber. So I can go over 75 as long as I eat enough fiber to compensate.
  • Lizzy9
    Lizzy9 Posts: 67 Member
    That is exactly what I am doing. Not for medical reasons but for health reasons while I'm on my journey to losing and getting fit. My downfall are carbs (bread, chips, Gigi's Cupcakes - all trigger foods). I am taking in those carbs:fiber! The protein is killing me though....I'm trying to keep protein up and having to add extra carbs if you know what I mean! :)

    It was also the same thing with diet coke. I never drank sugary drinks, I don't drink nor have I ever really drank anything with caffeine, no coffee, I don't smoke, I'm vegetarian - and diet coke was the hardest for me to get off of and after 2 weeks, I prefer not having it now - it actually makes me feel ill.
    I'm on a doctor supervised diet which is no more than 25% carbs, or 75 grams of carbs/day. My doctor said if I exercise, I can eat more, but I don't get more carbs, I still have to stay under 75 g. Bummer, eh?

    But it's true, after a couple of weeks, you won't crave them anymore.

    Oh, and that's net carbs, which is carbs minus fiber. So I can go over 75 as long as I eat enough fiber to compensate.
  • Defren
    Defren Posts: 216 Member
    I eat less than 25g of net carbs a day. I get mine from veggies, berries and nuts.
  • Lizzy9
    Lizzy9 Posts: 67 Member
    Good Carbs! :)
    I eat less than 25g of net carbs a day. I get mine from veggies, berries and nuts.
  • BarackMeLikeAHurricane
    BarackMeLikeAHurricane Posts: 3,400 Member
    All carbs get converted to glucose
  • Carnivor0us
    Carnivor0us Posts: 1,752 Member
    All carbs get converted to glucose

    Yes, but at varying rates, which is key to those who are insulin resistant or diabetic.
  • Carnivor0us
    Carnivor0us Posts: 1,752 Member
    oops triple post
  • Carnivor0us
    Carnivor0us Posts: 1,752 Member
    oops triple post
  • Carnivor0us
    Carnivor0us Posts: 1,752 Member
    oops triple post

    internet is really wigging out
  • albertabeefy
    albertabeefy Posts: 1,169 Member
    All carbs get converted to glucose
    Yes, but at varying rates, which is key to those who are insulin resistant or diabetic.
    The rate of digestion/absorption doesn't matter to those of us who are insulin-resistant and/or diabetic. All carbohydrate is converted to glucose and as such it doesn't matter if you eat 25g of pure glucose or 25 net-grams of sprouted-grain bread, it will have the same overall impact. Slower-digested/absorbed carbohydrate simply makes you 'spike' less, but for LONGER.

    Whether from pure glucose or whole grain the SAME overall impact will show up on an HbA1c test.
  • mvuhlt
    mvuhlt Posts: 7 Member
    Not fiber, which is counted as a carb but passes through the body undigested.
  • albertabeefy
    albertabeefy Posts: 1,169 Member
    Also of note: Regarding "Healthy" carbs ... in terms of overall nutrient value per gram of carbohydrate your BEST sources of carbohydrate are non-starchy vegetables and lower-GI fruits such as berries and cherries.

    The amount of fiber, nutrients, anti-oxidants etc., per gram in these foods is outstanding.
  • charliemarie923
    charliemarie923 Posts: 275 Member
    I am REALLY REALLY worrying now!
    My target carb intake on here is 165g
    Is that loads?
    I thought it differenciated between good and bad carbs by also giving you the target sugar ??
    My target sugar intake is 34g

    charlie
  • albertabeefy
    albertabeefy Posts: 1,169 Member
    Not fiber, which is counted as a carb but passes through the body undigested.
    Yes, but labels are often deceiving when it comes to fiber amounts and what is/isn't digestible.

    Take 'Quest' bars, for example, which claim to have ridiculous amounts of indigestible fiber, yet spike every diabetic that's ever tried them.

    Or 'Julian Bakery' low-carb bread, or Dreamfields low-carb pasta, or any other "low-net-carb" product...

    http://www.meandmydiabetes.com/series/net-carb-or-net-farce/

    Diabetics MUST be very cautious when it comes to claims of indigestible fiber, because the vast majority of it ... isn't.
  • Carnivor0us
    Carnivor0us Posts: 1,752 Member
    All carbs get converted to glucose
    Yes, but at varying rates, which is key to those who are insulin resistant or diabetic.
    The rate of digestion/absorption doesn't matter to those of us who are insulin-resistant and/or diabetic. All carbohydrate is converted to glucose and as such it doesn't matter if you eat 25g of pure glucose or 25 net-grams of sprouted-grain bread, it will have the same overall impact. Slower-digested/absorbed carbohydrate simply makes you 'spike' less, but for LONGER.

    Whether from pure glucose or whole grain the SAME overall impact will show up on an HbA1c test.

    **edit** Never ****ing mind, I don't have the inclination or time to bother with this
  • CoachReddy
    CoachReddy Posts: 3,949 Member
    I am REALLY REALLY worrying now!
    My target carb intake on here is 165g
    Is that loads?
    I thought it differenciated between good and bad carbs by also giving you the target sugar ??
    My target sugar intake is 34g

    charlie

    the stress is far worse for you than the 165g of carbs.

    that's a fine number.

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