why are carbs so bad

Nothing wrong with carbs. Many of them (fruits and veg) are loaded with vitamins and minerals. Low carb is a diet and a fad. It will go away in about 5 years after everybody loses weight on it and then regains it. Most (like myself) have been through that cycle on low carb already. I personally eat 50% carb per day and it kick started my weigh loss. I had to go to a dietitian to get that advice but i'll give it to you for free! lol

carbohydrates are organic compounds that contain carbon, oxygen and hydrogen (carb-O-hydr ates) - they are made by plants, initially by photosynthesis, but plant enzymes can convert the glucose produced by photosynthesis to other carbohydrates (and to fats and proteins (which aren't carbohydrates but are still needed by the body), although some of these need additional elements (e.g. protein needs nitrates))

Carbohydrates are the most readily available energy source for your body... your cells break it down, using oxygen, to release the energy from the glucose molecule which it uses for its life processes. The body can convert other carbohydrates into glucose and also get energy from fats and proteins (although fats and proteins are used for other things in the body, e.g. building new cells) not just for energy.

Carbohydrates have a reputation for being bad because it's easy to overeat on them. Eating a lot of protein and fat tends to make you feel full and stop eating, but a lot of people can eat way too much carbohydrate before feeling full. Some high carbohydrate foods like fruits are harder to overeat on because they also contain a lot of fibre. But generally speaking, it's easy to overeat on carbs, so diets that restrict carbohydrates tend to be successful as they result in the person eating less food and therefore creating a calorie deficit (although it's not a foregone conclusion). The solution to this problem, of course, is to eat carbohydrate in moderate serving sizes, which take into account your size and your activity levels. Demonising carbs just because some people eat too much of them is just silly.

Its not that Carbs are bad, but they come in different forms. You can get Carbs from Vegetables, Fruit, Salad Veg, Oils and Fats, Natural Wheat products (Brown Bread, Brown Rice, Porridge, High Fibre Cereals). These are generally seen as GOOD Carbs.

However, in this day and age, I would say the majority of Carbs tend to come from processed foods - White Rice, Bread, Flour, Pasta, Fat Dairy, Butter, Sugar, Batter/Breadcrumb products, Alchohol etc. These are generally seen as BAD Carbs.

There are many diets that restrict carbs, purely because ppl normally eat BAD carbs.

For example - Take a traditional Sunday Lunch - Roast Beef/Chicken, Mashed Potato, Roast potato, Veg, Yorkshire Pudding, Gravy. You can break that meal down into basic food groups - Protien, Carbs, Fats. Unfortunatly, it tens to work out that you are eating 25% Protien (Meat) 25% Good Carbs (Veg) 45% Bad Carbs (Potatoes/Yorkshire Pudding/Gravy) and 5% Fats (Gravy/Batter/Oil).

This is why ppl say carbs are bad.

Each time you look at a meal, break it down. Try going for a 70/30 split - 70% Protien/Veg 30% Carb/Potato/Fat.

The body uses more energy breaking down protien, than it does to break down carbs/fat. More energy used = more calories burned.

ooops double posted because my browser is crazy

Always been a big fan of carbohydrates. carbohydrate is any any of a large group of organic compounds occurring in foods and living tissues and including sugars, starch, and cellulose. They contain hydrogen and oxygen in the same ratio as water (2:1) and typically can be broken down to release energy in the animal body. Starving yourself of them will often mean it will have to be made up with protein. (Coincidentally gluten is a protein substitute; I wouldn't want to be a hyperglycemic vegetarian). But enough blathering.
I am also not an expert so don't take this word for word.

Often people choose to do low carbs because they often have high calories for what is there. Personally I think they are often healthy and weight loss wise just eat below or close to your calorie limit.

They aren't bad

They are very nice in fact
I love my carbs

Actually, the other reason for eating complex carbs is how they are processed. Complex carbs break down slower and I think are utilized better? Simple carbs ie: sugar, pasta, refined foods, soda, breads get converted and deposited as fat stored in your body. In a nutshell: they make you fat!

PSA: Bacon has no carbs!!



In......for carb hatin'