What about the carbs?!?!
amie709
Posts: 99
Carbohydrates are probably one of the more unclear things about nutrition. Simply because they come in such a range: good carbs, bad carbs, fast carbs and slow carbs and each of them has its place in our diets and each of them fills a different void. It’s also one of the things that trips people up most often. So, today we’re going to take a little peek behind the curtain and try to shed some light on carbs to help you make better and more informed food choices.
What are good carbs and what do they do?
One of the most important things about good carbohydrates is that they are absolbed into our bodies slowly. Which helps avoid spikes and valleys in our blood sugar levels (reducing your risk for type 2 diabetes). They also help you to feel satisfied longer than other foods, reducing your tendancy to munch on other things! Good carbs are excellent sources of fiber, which is another essential source of our nutrition. A diet that is high in fiber has been shown to have decreased risks of heart disease, there is some evidence to suggest that it may help to prevent colon cancer and promote weight control and helps to lower blood cholesterol. Now, where can you find these amazing carbohydrates? Well, whole grains are an excellent source of good carbs and fiber, vegetables, fruits, oats and beans.
To get more fiber into your diet here are some quick tips:
1. Eat plenty of fruits and vegetables. Just 5 servings a day of fruits and vegetables can get you about 10 grams of fiber a day depending on which ones you choose.
2. Include beans and bean products in your diet. A half cup of cooked beans can add 4-8 grams of fiber to your day.
3. The better carbs for most people are unprocessed or minimally processed whole foods that contain natural sugar, like fructose or lactose in milk.
But, the problem with the typical American diet is that it is anything but high in fiber, which leads me to the other side: the bad carbs.
What are bad carbs and what do they do?
Bad carbohydrates consist mainly of sugars, added sugars and refined white grains. Unfortunately, our diets are made up of tons of bad carbs! How often do we have a bagel or a muffin in the morning made from white flour followed by a hamburger on a white bun and ending with white rice for dinner? Even many whole grain breads have white flour listed as the second ingredient on the label! Generally, the more refined or the ‘whiter’ the grain-based food the lower the fiber content, which we have already discussed as being very important! Sugars and refined grains supply quick energy to the body in the form of glucose. That’s a good thing-if your body needs quick energy, for example, if you’re running a race or sports competition. But because of their high calorie content and low fiber benefits coupled with the sheer volume of such foods in our diets compounds to add up to lots of extra pounds over time! The more you can incorporate and substitute good carbs into your diet to replace bad carbs the happier, healthier and slimmer your body will become!
Looking for more information or need some help, message me!!
What are good carbs and what do they do?
One of the most important things about good carbohydrates is that they are absolbed into our bodies slowly. Which helps avoid spikes and valleys in our blood sugar levels (reducing your risk for type 2 diabetes). They also help you to feel satisfied longer than other foods, reducing your tendancy to munch on other things! Good carbs are excellent sources of fiber, which is another essential source of our nutrition. A diet that is high in fiber has been shown to have decreased risks of heart disease, there is some evidence to suggest that it may help to prevent colon cancer and promote weight control and helps to lower blood cholesterol. Now, where can you find these amazing carbohydrates? Well, whole grains are an excellent source of good carbs and fiber, vegetables, fruits, oats and beans.
To get more fiber into your diet here are some quick tips:
1. Eat plenty of fruits and vegetables. Just 5 servings a day of fruits and vegetables can get you about 10 grams of fiber a day depending on which ones you choose.
2. Include beans and bean products in your diet. A half cup of cooked beans can add 4-8 grams of fiber to your day.
3. The better carbs for most people are unprocessed or minimally processed whole foods that contain natural sugar, like fructose or lactose in milk.
But, the problem with the typical American diet is that it is anything but high in fiber, which leads me to the other side: the bad carbs.
What are bad carbs and what do they do?
Bad carbohydrates consist mainly of sugars, added sugars and refined white grains. Unfortunately, our diets are made up of tons of bad carbs! How often do we have a bagel or a muffin in the morning made from white flour followed by a hamburger on a white bun and ending with white rice for dinner? Even many whole grain breads have white flour listed as the second ingredient on the label! Generally, the more refined or the ‘whiter’ the grain-based food the lower the fiber content, which we have already discussed as being very important! Sugars and refined grains supply quick energy to the body in the form of glucose. That’s a good thing-if your body needs quick energy, for example, if you’re running a race or sports competition. But because of their high calorie content and low fiber benefits coupled with the sheer volume of such foods in our diets compounds to add up to lots of extra pounds over time! The more you can incorporate and substitute good carbs into your diet to replace bad carbs the happier, healthier and slimmer your body will become!
Looking for more information or need some help, message me!!
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Depending on the person and their health veggies & fruits in small or larger amounts have the same effect as eating a bowl of ice cream. I know being insulin resistant that if I have a banana I feel like crap, I get high blood sugars, I am hungrier then if I walk away from the fruit. Some people seem to think its a crash diet or a fad to go low carb, but if I still ate pasta, rice, bread and beans I would be on medicines that make me feel depressed, bloated, tired and old and being self employed/insured I would be b-r-o-k-e... I supplement my fiber and also have dark green veggies in my eating plan. What works for one may not for another....0
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Eating disorders/deteriorating relationship with foods can start with this type of nutritional dissection.........0
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Sheesh.
Just. Sheesh.0 -
Carbs don't come in a range. They come in starches, sugars, and fiber.
And dividing them into "good, bad, slow, and fast" is just...well...no.0 -
They come in starches, sugars, and fiber.
I did that once. Crazy party. :smokin:0 -
Just set your macros the way you want them and don't sweat the small stuff. For example, my macros are 40% carbs, 35% fats, and 25% protein. I try to meet those goals more or less each day by eating foods I like. Sometimes that's potatoes, sometimes brown rice. . . it doesn't really matter as long as you are overall hitting your targets.0
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Depending on the person and their health veggies & fruits in small or larger amounts have the same effect as eating a bowl of ice cream. I know being insulin resistant that if I have a banana I feel like crap, I get high blood sugars, I am hungrier then if I walk away from the fruit. Some people seem to think its a crash diet or a fad to go low carb, but if I still ate pasta, rice, bread and beans I would be on medicines that make me feel depressed, bloated, tired and old and being self employed/insured I would be b-r-o-k-e... I supplement my fiber and also have dark green veggies in my eating plan. What works for one may not for another....
Absolutely when you add in medical conditions that changes the mix-this is simply a breakdown of what each one means because there is a lot of confusion around carbs0 -
Eating disorders/deteriorating relationship with foods can start with this type of nutritional dissection.........
I think it improved mine lol I started this at 270 lbs and still gaining. Avoiding bad carbs gives me more energy and has helped me lose weight.0 -
Carbohydrates are probably one of the more unclear things about nutrition. Simply because they come in such a range: good carbs, bad carbs, fast carbs and slow carbs and each of them has its place in our diets and each of them fills a different void. It’s also one of the things that trips people up most often. So, today we’re going to take a little peek behind the curtain and try to shed some light on carbs to help you make better and more informed food choices.
What are good carbs and what do they do?
One of the most important things about good carbohydrates is that they are absolbed into our bodies slowly. Which helps avoid spikes and valleys in our blood sugar levels (reducing your risk for type 2 diabetes). They also help you to feel satisfied longer than other foods, reducing your tendancy to munch on other things! Good carbs are excellent sources of fiber, which is another essential source of our nutrition. A diet that is high in fiber has been shown to have decreased risks of heart disease, there is some evidence to suggest that it may help to prevent colon cancer and promote weight control and helps to lower blood cholesterol. Now, where can you find these amazing carbohydrates? Well, whole grains are an excellent source of good carbs and fiber, vegetables, fruits, oats and beans.
To get more fiber into your diet here are some quick tips:
1. Eat plenty of fruits and vegetables. Just 5 servings a day of fruits and vegetables can get you about 10 grams of fiber a day depending on which ones you choose.
2. Include beans and bean products in your diet. A half cup of cooked beans can add 4-8 grams of fiber to your day.
3. The better carbs for most people are unprocessed or minimally processed whole foods that contain natural sugar, like fructose or lactose in milk.
But, the problem with the typical American diet is that it is anything but high in fiber, which leads me to the other side: the bad carbs.
What are bad carbs and what do they do?
Bad carbohydrates consist mainly of sugars, added sugars and refined white grains. Unfortunately, our diets are made up of tons of bad carbs! How often do we have a bagel or a muffin in the morning made from white flour followed by a hamburger on a white bun and ending with white rice for dinner? Even many whole grain breads have white flour listed as the second ingredient on the label! Generally, the more refined or the ‘whiter’ the grain-based food the lower the fiber content, which we have already discussed as being very important! Sugars and refined grains supply quick energy to the body in the form of glucose. That’s a good thing-if your body needs quick energy, for example, if you’re running a race or sports competition. But because of their high calorie content and low fiber benefits coupled with the sheer volume of such foods in our diets compounds to add up to lots of extra pounds over time! The more you can incorporate and substitute good carbs into your diet to replace bad carbs the happier, healthier and slimmer your body will become!
Looking for more information or need some help, message me!!
Well there's a whole lot of wrong there0 -
I did research this before I wrote it up...and I gotta say it's certainly working for me and has worked for a lot of others who are doing the same thing that I know .0
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I did research this before I wrote it up...and I gotta say it's certainly working for me and has worked for a lot of others who are doing the same thing that I know .
Oh well in that case, it must all be correct. My bad0 -
edited for:: nevermind0
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I have a much simpler and effective guideline.
Good carbs: the ones that are tasty
Bad carbs: the ones that are not0 -
I did research this before I wrote it up...and I gotta say it's certainly working for me and has worked for a lot of others who are doing the same thing that I know .
Oh well in that case, it must all be correct. My bad
No, if there is something you think is factually inaccurate, please let me know.0 -
Greetings, fellow food fanatics.
I have been down with a slight virus, and after two weeks with daily doses of garlic, and armed with enough pong to put out the hardiest onion loving viking, I decided to take a closer look at my weekly food shopping.
I don't realy have a set meny, that I follow, and given that I am a 5'8'' female, on 14 stones, I know, I have a lot to learn. In my teens, I lived on a min of 800 cal a day, and every Sunday, I had West Indian food from a local take out.
Needless, to say I am not surprised to find that MyFitnessPal, has given me 1300 cal a day to live on. I am happy to say that I was allowed an extra 300 cal as a result to my little spurt of arm slinging.
I am forever changing and swapping to get my carb and protein balanced, but then my sugar level goes up. I don't use sugar, and have always been careful with fruit. I can see, getting the carb at level with protein, without the sugar, will take some research from my part. I am very grateful, as I can now see the strain, I was putting my immune system through. The high sugar consumption was lowering my immune system, and over time has made me put on weight.0 -
In nursing school we learned that the body does not digest fiber. So that's good, it will fill you up. What I'm saying is that while I don't like the notion of "good carbs" and "bad carbs" because as sure as I label something "bad", I will covet it until I am shoving food in my face at midnight on a Tuesday night in my pajamas by myself. But, there are carbs that just make more sense to eat because it will go further in preventing hunger later on. But I'll agree that sometimes, I want that bagel over whole wheat toast and so I'll have it and not beat myself up. But for the most part, I try to stick to high fiber healthier options.0
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Carbohydrates are probably one of the more unclear things about nutrition. Simply because they come in such a range: good carbs, bad carbs, fast carbs and slow carbs and each of them has its place in our diets and each of them fills a different void.
Hmm. I have never seen a food label contain the word "Good" or "Bad" or "Fast" or "Slow" next to the word "Carbohydrate."
Every carb, regardless of the adjective, is 4 calories. Eat less. Lose weight. Profit.0 -
If you are hitting your protein and fat targets (minimums) consistently, carbs become the variable among the 3 macros. So, if you eat enough protein, eat enough fat, but have decreased calories, those calories came mostly from carbs. You lost weight because cutting back on carbs reduced your caloric intake, not because the carbs were either "good" or "bad".0
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*passes around white flour white sugar buttery cookies*0
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Eating disorders/deteriorating relationship with foods can start with this type of nutritional dissection.........
I think it improved mine lol I started this at 270 lbs and still gaining. Avoiding bad carbs gives me more energy and has helped me lose weight.
I'm glad to hear that you've found something that works for you. Everyone has to find their balance and everybody's balance is different. Some have to go to greater lengths at first to find their balance and that may mean labeling carbs as either good or bad in their own mind. And that works for them.
Others don't have to go to extremes with limiting or removing certain foods from their diet because to them those foods aren't trigger foods. They have a different relationship with food and realize that it doesn't have power over them. It's their own choices on how much and how often they can fit certain foods into their lives that matter. They realize that "bad carbs" in moderation are OK and nothing bad happens when they're eaten. It's enjoyable and doesn't have to mean a slippery slope to a binge or regaining weight.
That's why people are disagreeing with you. They have different feelings about food. It's all just food, it can be enjoyed in moderation, and doesn't need to be labeled in any way.
Medical conditions aside, it's a good idea to work on learning this kind of mastery over food. Yes, we need food for fuel and we feel better when we make nutritious choices. But what would my life be like if I couldn't have pizza night with my family? Or if I couldn't laugh in the kitchen with my kids while eating cookie dough. Or if I couldn't have date night with my husband and enjoy drinks and a good meal. I don't want to live without that stuff. I don't eat 5 slices of pizza or half of the cookies or an app+dinner+ dessert+2 drinks anymore, though. That's the key. Moderation and fitting into my calorie goal.
In short, do what works for you, but don't expect others to agree. They're all simply different ways to achieve a calorie deficit.0 -
Eating disorders/deteriorating relationship with foods can start with this type of nutritional dissection.........
I think it improved mine lol I started this at 270 lbs and still gaining. Avoiding bad carbs gives me more energy and has helped me lose weight.
Everyone is different. I've tried the so-called "good carb only" approach. I bonked hard.
That's the whole key to success. Everyone needs to experiment and find the approach that works best for them. Saying one type of food is "good" or "bad" does everyone a disservice.0 -
Carbs? Where?!?!
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There is no such thing as a good carb or bad carb. This entire post is based on misinformation. Carbs are carbs. Calories matter. Getting enough protein matters. Getting enough fat matters. Getting enough fiber matters. Agonizing over white rice vs brown rice is silly.0
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Eating disorders/deteriorating relationship with foods can start with this type of nutritional dissection.........
No, no, no. It results in better, more nutritious choices. Choose brown rice rather than white much of the time. Choose leafy green and other healthy vegetables over mashed potatoes. Eat a well-balanced, healthy diet, full of the nutrients needed for health.
Does this mean never eat mashed potatoes, bacon, ice cream, a fast food burger and fries? No. It means make smart choices most of the time. Learn the ins and outs of a healthy diet and apply that information. Man does not live by calories alone.0 -
Brown rice is actually a terrible choice. All the nutrients in brown rice are trapped in the fiber, which your body cannot digest. So your body can't actually use any of the nutrients in brown rice. White rice, on the other hand, is very easily processed by the body, and as the nutrients are transferred out of the fiber and into the rice kernel in the processing of the rice, it's highly bio available and gives you a great nutrient boost.Eating disorders/deteriorating relationship with foods can start with this type of nutritional dissection.........
No, no, no. It results in better, more nutritious choices. Choose brown rice rather than white much of the time. Choose leafy green and other healthy vegetables over mashed potatoes. Eat a well-balanced, healthy diet, full of the nutrients needed for health.
Does this mean never eat mashed potatoes, bacon, ice cream, a fast food burger and fries? No. It means make smart choices most of the time. Learn the ins and outs of a healthy diet and apply that information. Man does not live by calories alone.
As has been said, agonizing over specific choices like that generally backfires. Hit your calorie and macro goals and fill them with foods you enjoy. That's all there is to it.0 -
I have a much simpler and effective guideline.
Good carbs: the ones that are tasty
Bad carbs: the ones that are not
^this is my philosophy as well. And so much less reading.0 -
Do the bad carbs stand in the corner or do you just give them a time-out?0
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Carbs? Where?!?!
See, now that ^ is Good carbs. Now I get it, I just needed a picture.0 -
My body reacts negatively to fiber so I have to limit what people call "good carbs". I also can't have acidic fruits so that is even more "good carbs" I had to eliminate. In my situation "bad carbs" serve me better than what most people call "good carbs". This is why I like balance and moderation over categorizing foods as good or bad. For dinner I am making fresh veggie and chicken stir fry over a bed of white rice... I think it sounds pretty healthy...0
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