why are carbs so bad

13

Replies

  • parkscs
    parkscs Posts: 1,639 Member
    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

    A diet and a fad and will go away in 5 years... even though it's already been around for decades. Got it. :laugh: And since when does the term "diet" have such a negative connotation? Hate to break it to you, but eating 50% carbs per day and tracking your calories is a diet. You can use squishy language like "lifestyle change" if that makes you feel warm and fuzzy, but what you call it matters a lot less than what you do.

    As for the OP, carbs aren't bad. They aren't always filling, oftentimes they're tasty, but I think even people who purposefully restrict their carb intake won't tell you that "carbs are bad." Put another way, just because people may follow a low carb diet doesn't mean that they think carbs are inherently bad for them; rather, keeping carbs low may simply have other benefits that the low carb dieter (or "lifestyle changer", if that makes you feel warm and fuzzy) prefers.
  • tennisdude2004
    tennisdude2004 Posts: 5,609 Member
    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

    A diet and a fad and will go away in 5 years... even though it's already been around for decades. Got it. :laugh: And since when does the term "diet" have such a negative connotation? Hate to break it to you, but eating 50% carbs per day and tracking your calories is a diet. You can use squishy language like "lifestyle change" if that makes you feel warm and fuzzy, but what you call it matters a lot less than what you do.

    As for the OP, carbs aren't bad. They aren't always filling, oftentimes they're tasty, but I think even people who purposefully restrict their carb intake won't tell you that "carbs are bad." Put another way, just because people may follow a low carb diet doesn't mean that they think carbs are inherently bad for them; rather, keeping carbs low may simply have other benefits that the low carb dieter (or "lifestyle changer", if that makes you feel warm and fuzzy) prefers.

    I take umbrage, low carb isn't a diet - it's an eating strategy!
  • Cathi888
    Cathi888 Posts: 37 Member
    [/quote]

    The world ain't all sunshine and rainbows. It's a very mean and nasty place... and I don´t care how tough you are, it will beat you to your knees and keep you there permanently, if you let it. You, me or nobody, is gonna hit as hard as life. But ain't about how hard you hit... It's about how hard you can get hit, and keep moving forward... how much you can take, and keep moving forward. That´s how winning is done. Now, if you know what you worth, go out and get what you worth. But you gotta be willing to take the hits. And not pointing fingers saying: You ain´t what you wanna be because of him or her or anybody. Cowards do that and that ain´t you! You´re better than that

    life hits us hard,.. but instead if hitting back we decided to hit a box of twinkies... then I'd be dead by now
    its easy to point and blame other stuff... in this case and in many .. carbs are the bad guy
    [/quote]

    Thanks for this. I hope you don't mind my printing it out and hanging on my fridge. I love it.
  • Chieflrg
    Chieflrg Posts: 9,097 Member
    My motorcycle wouldn't run without carbs.

    They help regulate the mixture of oxygen and gasoline for combustion...
  • waldo56
    waldo56 Posts: 1,861 Member
    Low carb dieting will almost always be better for someone with significant insulin resistance (diabetic/prediabetic), it will just work better.

    If you have high insulin sensitivity the opposite is true, a high carb, low fat diet will work better.

    However you have to understand that insulin resistance is WHY this is the case and take care not to extend your case to everyone.

    You also have to understand that insulin resistance can and does change with success; low carb diets are very good at making themselves a poor option.

    It seems to be a very common scenario for someone obese to start out low carb dieting, have a ton of success and have it cemented in their mind that low carb dieting is the One True Way™, especially for their body. Then once they pass from obese to overweight and then toward normal to start to really struggle with it (stuff like aderenal fatigue is very much a symptom of using a low carb diet when no longer appropriate), not realizing (or accepting) that in fact that low carb dieting has become a problem for them, the same revelation they had when starting out low carbing they will have switching to a high carb/low fat diet.
  • martinel2099
    martinel2099 Posts: 899 Member
    They're not bad.
  • Rainboots80
    Rainboots80 Posts: 218 Member
    Eating too many carbs can cause your blood sugar to rise and fall which makes you crave more of them.
  • Yes-Carbs will make you crave more food and ladies make those FAT cells GROW! I am starting a KETO eating plan for one month and I hope to get to the stored fat cells. I have been on a low carb eating plan for 22 months and down 60 lbs.
  • htimpaired
    htimpaired Posts: 1,404 Member
    Just in to see all the anti-carb nonsense.

    I love bread.
  • waldo56
    waldo56 Posts: 1,861 Member
    Eating too many carbs can cause your blood sugar to rise and fall which makes you crave more of them.

    This is only true if you have insulin resistance. When your metabolism is working perfectly normal, your body can maintain a near constant blood sugar level.
  • bcattoes
    bcattoes Posts: 17,299 Member
    and what are they :angry:

    They are not bad if you choose good quality sources for your carbs.

    http://www.hsph.harvard.edu/nutritionsource/carbohydrates/
  • Ronni66
    Ronni66 Posts: 43
    Lots of people have responded but i will too cause i'm bored! I am not supposed to have carbs, and if i do they must be complex. Complex is wheat bread, rolled oats, Perverted rice (yes i said perverted cause i've always called it that and i don't remember the correct name lol) . beans, green veggies etc.

    "Bad " Carbs are in essence "white " foods. White bread, pastas of all kinds, potatoes, corn, sugar , crackers, flour tortilla's and anything else yummy bread wise. Carbs turn into sugar..and with normal carbs it is no different then eating table sugar or high fructose corn syrup...Body absorbs the sugar calories, causes glucose spikes and a whole mess of fat on the *kitten*. Carbs also will not satisfy you in the long run and because of the boost in energy , you will be craving more carbs very soon.

    Complex take longer to digest , you stay fuller longer and since they take a while to process it does not cause spikes in blood sugars and the body does not store it as fat like other carbs.

    High Protein , low carb diet is the way to go and it does work. However..::raises her finger:: It is not a sin to indulge in the bad carbs once in a while so you do not lose your mind. Just make sure it is a small portion and not consumed daily.

    Anyways, i hope this helped you or maybe it was just something to read while you mess with facebook...either way, good luck!
  • AliceDark
    AliceDark Posts: 3,886 Member
    You remember back in the 80s and 90s, when fat was the devil and everyone was on a "low-fat diet?" We're going through the same thing with carbs right now, and have been for the last 10-15 years. Wait another 10 years or so, and all the wackjob fad dieters will be on low-protein diets.
  • rebalee8
    rebalee8 Posts: 161 Member
    Explain why I was in such a bad state, despite eating the magical low fat diet ...

    Th^s is why.

    Because it wasn't magical... and as you later figured out, fat wasn't bad. And the too-drastic reduction made you feel kinda ****ty.

    And just like fat wasn't bad, neither are carbs bad. And low carb/high fat is just as "magical" as the low fat diet really. A too drastic reduction in carbs will do bad things too you too. We need carbs, just like we need fat and protein.
  • rebalee8
    rebalee8 Posts: 161 Member
    Yes-Carbs will make you crave more food and ladies make those FAT cells GROW! I am starting a KETO eating plan for one month and I hope to get to the stored fat cells. I have been on a low carb eating plan for 22 months and down 60 lbs.

    No. Carbs do not make your fat cells grow.

    Unless you eat too many. Your fat cells only grow when you eat too much and your body needs to store the excess. If you are eating at a deficit, your fat cells do not grow - even if you're eating carbs. And while carbs may make you crave more food. That's not true for everyone. That's just your personal thing.

    Converse to your experience, I have been on a fairly high-carb eating plan for about 9 months and am down more than 40 pounds. So, you know... experiences vary and all that.
  • salembambi
    salembambi Posts: 5,585 Member
    i love carbs

    carbs carbs carbs carbs alll up in me
  • Francl27
    Francl27 Posts: 26,371 Member
    Carbs are bad because they made me fat and pre-diabetic. Now that I restrict them to under 30g a day, I've lost 1/3 of my body weight and 1/2 the gain of the last 14 years, and I am no longer pre-diabetic and I have a normal blood lipid profile and blood pressure.

    Now, tell me again that carbs are good? :p

    You were pre-diabetic because you were fat and ate too much. Now that your weight is healthier, your blood sugar and blood pressure are normal. That has most probably nothing to do with carbs.
  • JoRocka
    JoRocka Posts: 17,525 Member
    You remember back in the 80s and 90s, when fat was the devil and everyone was on a "low-fat diet?" We're going through the same thing with carbs right now, and have been for the last 10-15 years. Wait another 10 years or so, and all the wackjob fad dieters will be on low-protein diets.

    I can see it now...

    LOW PROTEIN SALADS!!!

    NO PROTEIN ORANGES!!!!

    LOW PROTEIN WATER.

    <facepalm>
  • amandzor
    amandzor Posts: 386 Member
    Because they tend to be high in calories, and over consumption of calories equals weight gain, which can and does lead to a whole host of medical problems, including, but not limited to, diabetes.

    Also there is a HUGE difference between the nutritional value of simple carbs (white bread, white rice, potatoes) and complex carbs (Brown rice, whole grain, sweet potatoes) Most of the beneficial nutrition has been bleached and removed from the simple sort.

    Carbs, Fat, Gluten are not your enemy. They're all an essential part of the human nutrition. It's the overeating of calories, and missing vitamins/minerals which makes you malnourished and overweight.

    It's that simple.
  • JoRocka
    JoRocka Posts: 17,525 Member
    Because they tend to be high in calories, and over consumption of calories equals weight gain, which can and does lead to a whole host of medical problems, including, but not limited to, diabetes.

    Also there is a HUGE difference between the nutritional value of simple carbs (white bread, white rice, potatoes) and complex carbs (Brown rice, whole grain, sweet potatoes) Most of the beneficial nutrition has been bleached and removed from the simple sort.

    Carbs, Fat, Gluten are not your enemy. They're all an essential part of the human nutrition. It's the overeating of calories, and missing vitamins/minerals which makes you malnourished and overweight.

    It's that simple.

    it is my understanding the difference between brown and white ride is negligible in terms of nutrients.
  • parkscs
    parkscs Posts: 1,639 Member
    You remember back in the 80s and 90s, when fat was the devil and everyone was on a "low-fat diet?" We're going through the same thing with carbs right now, and have been for the last 10-15 years. Wait another 10 years or so, and all the wackjob fad dieters will be on low-protein diets.

    The difference is there can be real advantages to lowering your carb intake, whereas a low protein diet would just lead to increased muscle loss.
    Converse to your experience, I have been on a fairly high-carb eating plan for about 9 months and am down more than 40 pounds. So, you know... experiences vary and all that.

    Nothing wrong with taking it slow, but if you were aiming for a more aggressive caloric deficit, you may well find that your high carb macro leads to you going hungry more often and feeling unhappy as a result.
  • JesterMFP
    JesterMFP Posts: 3,596 Member
    Also there is a HUGE difference between the nutritional value of simple carbs (white bread, white rice, potatoes) and complex carbs (Brown rice, whole grain, sweet potatoes)
    White bread, rice and potatoes aren't simple carbs.
  • MityMax96
    MityMax96 Posts: 5,778 Member
    I had over 300 gr of carbs yesterday

    Will prolly have that much today....

    Just ate 300 gr of white rice with my chicken and broccolli
  • aarnwine2013
    aarnwine2013 Posts: 317 Member
    I stay away from most carbs, except fruit. I also have some kind of medical issue that the Dr still isn't really sure of. The weightloss is great but I feel so much better.

    I have twice the energy and I feel good all day, whereas before I would be tired all the time.

    So for me, low carb works. I can't say that it's right for everybody. Feeling good is as important as looking good for me. Also it's a lifestyle I can keep up with even after I finish with my weightloss goals.

    I think that's the biggest thing is finding something you can live with. It shouldn't be a fad type diet.
  • waldo56
    waldo56 Posts: 1,861 Member
    So for me, low carb works. I can't say that it's right for everybody. Feeling good is as important as looking good for me. Also it's a lifestyle I can keep up with even after I finish with my weightloss goals.

    I wouldn't be so sure about that.
    Nearing/reaching your goals has a way of flipping your diet type affinity.

    The leaner and more fit you are, the better you body handles carbs, and vice verse the more it fights when you aren't taking in enough.
  • No_Finish_Line
    No_Finish_Line Posts: 3,661 Member
    Also there is a HUGE difference between the nutritional value of simple carbs (white bread, white rice, potatoes) and complex carbs (Brown rice, whole grain, sweet potatoes)
    White bread, rice and potatoes aren't simple carbs.

    this is a ****in knee slapper.

    unfortunately i think most people who grew up in the 80s think this way, i know i did.

    the term 'complex carbs' is a total misnomer, at least in the world of nutrition. from a chemistry stand point, it makes sense. long chains of carbon make a 'complex' molecule.

    the truth is that all carbs need to be broken down into glucose in order to be absorbed. when the 'complex carbs' are finally broken down into glucose, it enters your blood stream all at once.

    a serving of white or wheat bread will be more likely to raise your blood sugar then a serving of sugar because of this.

    not that any of it really matters if your at or under your calorie goal
  • TKhamvongsa
    TKhamvongsa Posts: 287
    They're not. They're amazing!
  • aarnwine2013
    aarnwine2013 Posts: 317 Member
    So for me, low carb works. I can't say that it's right for everybody. Feeling good is as important as looking good for me. Also it's a lifestyle I can keep up with even after I finish with my weightloss goals.

    I wouldn't be so sure about that.
    Nearing/reaching your goals has a way of flipping your diet type affinity.

    The leaner and more fit you are, the better you body handles carbs, and vice verse the more it fights when you aren't taking in enough.

    Could be, I'm very new to this. My Dr suggested this diet and I love the results so far. I'm really nervous about how to maintain when I reach my goals.

    I'm about 15lbs from my goal weight. As to what I do then, I've no idea.

    I am hoping I can continue it and up my calories to maintain. I also started running in March and love it. Hopefully I can research and find out what to do once I hit my goals.

    It would seem I still have so much to learn and honestly, it's very confusing because everybody says something different.

    Anybody reach their goal and continue to eat low carb?
  • jimbmc
    jimbmc Posts: 83 Member
    Lots of people have responded but i will too cause i'm bored! I am not supposed to have carbs, and if i do they must be complex. Complex is wheat bread, rolled oats, Perverted rice (yes i said perverted cause i've always called it that and i don't remember the correct name lol) . beans, green veggies etc.

    "Bad " Carbs are in essence "white " foods. White bread, pastas of all kinds, potatoes, corn, sugar , crackers, flour tortilla's and anything else yummy bread wise. Carbs turn into sugar..and with normal carbs it is no different then eating table sugar or high fructose corn syrup...Body absorbs the sugar calories, causes glucose spikes and a whole mess of fat on the *kitten*. Carbs also will not satisfy you in the long run and because of the boost in energy , you will be craving more carbs very soon.

    Complex take longer to digest , you stay fuller longer and since they take a while to process it does not cause spikes in blood sugars and the body does not store it as fat like other carbs.

    High Protein , low carb diet is the way to go and it does work. However..::raises her finger:: It is not a sin to indulge in the bad carbs once in a while so you do not lose your mind. Just make sure it is a small portion and not consumed daily.

    Anyways, i hope this helped you or maybe it was just something to read while you mess with facebook...either way, good luck!

    This :)
  • Derpes
    Derpes Posts: 2,033 Member
    Carbs are evil!!

    Carbs cause war, famine, disease, and conflict.

    The sky is falling!