Carbs in all foods?

xxtaliaxx
xxtaliaxx Posts: 123
edited February 2 in Food and Nutrition
I'm trying to limit the amount of crabs I consume per day but when I tried accurately logging all my food yesterday, I noticed there are carbs in almost everything. My question is should I be focusing on ALL carbs consumed, or the carbs from breads, pastas, etc.? Or should I disregard the carbs from whole grain foods and focus on the "bad" carbs from enriched flour products? I'm trying to shoot for less than 200 grams a day when I workout.

Replies

  • Chief_Rocka
    Chief_Rocka Posts: 4,710 Member
    I'm trying to limit the amount of crabs I consume per day but when I tried accurately logging all my food yesterday, I noticed there are carbs in almost everything. My question is should I be focusing on ALL carbs consumed, or the carbs from breads, pastas, etc.? Or should I disregard the carbs from whole grain foods and focus on the "bad" carbs from enriched flour products? I'm trying to shoot for less than 200 grams a day when I workout.

    A carbohydrate is either a starch, sugar, or fiber. Other than that distinction, they're pretty much the same.
  • bcattoes
    bcattoes Posts: 17,299 Member
    Log them all to accurately track calories. High fiber carbs (vegetables, fruit, whole grains) digest slower and can help you feel full longer than the quick digesting processed carbs, plus fiber can improve heart health and keep things moving through your digestive tract regularly. Personally, I pay more attention to my fiber than my total carb number. If fiber is high, I call it a good day.
  • grentea
    grentea Posts: 96 Member
    Some foods like bread, pasta, and rice have a lot of carbs. Meat doesn't have any carbs, and dairy products have a small amount. Starchy vegetables like potatoes, beans, peas, etc have a lot of carbs. Green leafy veggies like spinach and broccoli have small amounts. So if you want to eat less carbs, you will probably have to increase the amount of meat and green leafy vegetables you eat. I monitor my carb intake and I count all of them from every food source. I would limit white bread, rice, and flour and stick to brown rice and whole grains. And more than likely to lower the amount you are eating, you will have to eat more meat.
  • lithezebra
    lithezebra Posts: 3,670 Member
    All carbs count equally, but some sources of carbs are more nutritious than others. Most people don't need to cut carbs out completely. 200 grams a day allows you a lot of flexibility. That's about what I eat, at most. I'm trying to limit carbs to 150 grams a day, and I still get plenty of carbohydrate satisfaction, plus a much better blood sugar reading.
  • LAW_714
    LAW_714 Posts: 258
    You might want to read up a bit on the glycemic index. It would give you a better frame for reference.

    http://nutritiondata.self.com/topics/glycemic-index
  • lilRicki
    lilRicki Posts: 4,555 Member
    subtract your fiber from your carbs to get NET carbs too, that should give you a little cushion. I aim for under 100g a day, so instead of eating a bread sandwich, i wrap my lunch meat and stuff in lettuce leaves. I make extra steamed veggies instead of having the pasta salad, corn tortilla's instead of flour tortillas. There's lots of threads about low carb on here. Good Luck :flowerforyou:
  • xxtaliaxx
    xxtaliaxx Posts: 123
    Thanks for all your help guys. But I have another question. What does fiber have to do with carbs?
  • celadontea
    celadontea Posts: 335 Member
    sweet, delicious carbs <3
  • Sabine_Stroehm
    Sabine_Stroehm Posts: 19,251 Member
    Log them all to accurately track calories. High fiber carbs (vegetables, fruit, whole grains) digest slower and can help you feel full longer than the quick digesting processed carbs, plus fiber can improve heart health and keep things moving through your digestive tract regularly. Personally, I pay more attention to my fiber than my total carb number. If fiber is high, I call it a good day.
    THIS

    Smart lady here.
  • lithezebra
    lithezebra Posts: 3,670 Member
    Log them all to accurately track calories. High fiber carbs (vegetables, fruit, whole grains) digest slower and can help you feel full longer than the quick digesting processed carbs, plus fiber can improve heart health and keep things moving through your digestive tract regularly. Personally, I pay more attention to my fiber than my total carb number. If fiber is high, I call it a good day.
    THIS

    Smart lady here.

    There is a caveat, if you're cutting back on carbs for the sake of your blood sugar. Most processed whole grains (like flour, bread and pasta) and fruits raise blood sugar, and the fiber makes very little difference. Eating carbs in combination with protein and fat helps to keep your blood sugar even. You can easily get all the fiber you need from low carb vegetables.
  • Sabine_Stroehm
    Sabine_Stroehm Posts: 19,251 Member
    Log them all to accurately track calories. High fiber carbs (vegetables, fruit, whole grains) digest slower and can help you feel full longer than the quick digesting processed carbs, plus fiber can improve heart health and keep things moving through your digestive tract regularly. Personally, I pay more attention to my fiber than my total carb number. If fiber is high, I call it a good day.
    THIS

    Smart lady here.

    There is a caveat, if you're cutting back on carbs for the sake of your blood sugar. Most processed whole grains (like flour, bread and pasta) and fruits raise blood sugar, and the fiber makes very little difference. Eating carbs in combination with protein and fat helps to keep your blood sugar even. You can easily get all the fiber you need from low carb vegetables.
    And this.
    Yep. I'm in total agreement with both of these.
This discussion has been closed.

Categories