Low carb... Is it a diet fad?

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Replies

  • nvmomketo
    nvmomketo Posts: 12,019 Member
    edited January 2016
    auddii wrote: »
    nvmomketo wrote: »
    lorib642 wrote: »
    Is there a universal meaning for "low carb"?

    No.
    Most will accept low carb as being below 100 to 150 g of sugar per day.

    I'm assuming you meant carbs, not sugar. Most people can stay under 150g of sugar a day...

    Oops, yes. Thank you. Under 100-150 g of carbs per day is low carb. Sorry about that @lorib642

    Edited again for bad typing.
  • dubird
    dubird Posts: 1,849 Member
    stealthq wrote: »
    dubird wrote: »
    Some people don't like cream cheese frosting? I personally don't, if I make a cake, I put buttercream frosting on it.

    Go on... :)

    If you've never had it, go look up the recipe. It's what my mom always put on, and while other frostings are good, buttercream is my absolute favorite.

    White chocolate pound cake with buttercream frosting............damn, now I want to make some! XD[/quote]

    Psst - which type of buttercream? American, French, Swiss, Italian, Flour, German? Those last two types I've not had the opportunity to made yet, but I have tried them :smile: [/quote]

    I guess American? It's the one in the old Wilson books. Essentially it's powdered sugar, vanilla and milk.
  • JackieMarie1989jgw
    JackieMarie1989jgw Posts: 230 Member
    vivmom2014 wrote: »
    It works for some people, especially people with PCOS or severe epilepsy, but you should be choosing a diet you can maintain for life. I personally think reducing "white" carbs and focusing on whole grains is good for your overall health and makes it easier to lose weight by keeping you fuller, but I really don't like to follow any diet that completely or nearly completely cuts out any major food groups. Many carbs are nutrient rich, and are more affordable and accesible for people from lower incomes. From a wider perspective, I dont believe the world population can be sustained without grains, grains are good for food stability.
    Maybe that was a bit off topic but basically, carbs are not evil.
    You can lose weight with them, you'll be healthier is you choose whole grains, youre more likely to maintain your diet for life if it doesnt cut out any major food groups.

    This doesn't apply to me - white carbs keep me very full for a long time. I'm tired of seeing 'white carbs' put in the corner all the time. Over it. And why will I "be healthier" if I choose whole grains?

    Hey, if they keep you full, great. Whatever works for you. Many people find whole grains help with satiety because of the fiber. Some people choose to get fiber from other sources instead.*shrugs*. I mention health because whole grains have more micronutrients per calorie, which might help people who arent getting those nutrients from other sources. Also for those with diabetes whole grains instead of white helps with keeping blood sugar stable.
    That said, I eat plenty of white carbs myself and am not tying to demonize them as a "bad food" or "put them in a corner" (I hate categorizing foods as "good" or "bad"-not my style). I just find they dont keep me full as long, and it's easier for me to meet my calorie and nutient goals if I try to eat some whole grains in my diet too.
  • ChickaDee2012
    ChickaDee2012 Posts: 49 Member
    Ahh... Everyone is different, and your needs and tolerances will change from your 20s->30s->40s->50s->60s. Those who are in your 20s and 30s, enjoy it and take advantage of all that you can do now. But as you get older, many people find it more challenging and many will have some medical issues. Many find they cannot lose weight the way they could before.

    I'm 52 and 150+ lbs. I have been active most of my life. I've lost weight before, I've weight trained regularly most my life. But now, I've some medical issues. My hormones are also wreaking havoc which affect how I lose weight. And find it's 5 times more challenging than even 10 years ago. I also have diabetes in my family history. For those reasons, and because I care about my health, I've chosen to go low carb, which means, cutting way down on processed stuff, sugars, flours and the like. But I didn't stop there, I've chosen to go Low Carb High Fat (this means healthy fats and not a GO pass for all the bacon you can eat), for my own personal situation and because it's HEALTHY, while still aiding weight loss. I would NOT have even thought to do this in my 20s, 30s or 40s.

    Those who are younger and who have no medical issues may not appreciate what it's like to be older or have medical issues... I know, because I was once there. Bottom line: Do your research. Do what works for your situation: your body, your health situation and your goals. Be smart about your health. And be kind to yourself.
  • vivmom2014
    vivmom2014 Posts: 1,649 Member
    Ahh... Everyone is different, and your needs and tolerances will change from your 20s->30s->40s->50s->60s. Those who are in your 20s and 30s, enjoy it and take advantage of all that you can do now. But as you get older, many people find it more challenging and many will have some medical issues. Many find they cannot lose weight the way they could before.

    I'm 52 and 150+ lbs. I have been active most of my life. I've lost weight before, I've weight trained regularly most my life. But now, I've some medical issues. My hormones are also wreaking havoc which affect how I lose weight. And find it's 5 times more challenging than even 10 years ago. I also have diabetes in my family history. For those reasons, and because I care about my health, I've chosen to go low carb, which means, cutting way down on processed stuff, sugars, flours and the like. But I didn't stop there, I've chosen to go Low Carb High Fat (this means healthy fats and not a GO pass for all the bacon you can eat), for my own personal situation and because it's HEALTHY, while still aiding weight loss. I would NOT have even thought to do this in my 20s, 30s or 40s.

    Those who are younger and who have no medical issues may not appreciate what it's like to be older or have medical issues... I know, because I was once there. Bottom line: Do your research. Do what works for your situation: your body, your health situation and your goals. Be smart about your health. And be kind to yourself.

    I'm your age, and while I don't have medical issues, diabetes runs all through my family. Still, this has been the easiest time of my life for losing weight and keeping it off. I bought into the age-as-excuse myth for a while, but not anymore.

    Caring about one's health can also mean choosing NOT to go low carb.

  • TaraHancock827
    TaraHancock827 Posts: 37 Member
    I try to do low carb most of the week and find that I am never hungry. Its just something about carbs that makes me want more carbs and crave sugar. It really works for me and I feel so much better not having all that sugar in my diet...even tho I love sugar!! I just don't crave it when im eating low carb...its amazing really
  • lemurcat12
    lemurcat12 Posts: 30,886 Member
    For those reasons, and because I care about my health, I've chosen to go low carb, which means, cutting way down on processed stuff, sugars, flours and the like. But I didn't stop there, I've chosen to go Low Carb High Fat (this means healthy fats and not a GO pass for all the bacon you can eat), for my own personal situation and because it's HEALTHY, while still aiding weight loss. I would NOT have even thought to do this in my 20s, 30s or 40s.

    Low carb is NOT healthier than other diets. Sure, it's possible to do LCHF in a healthy manner (although sadly I don't see this pushed as much). It's also easy to modify your diet to be more healthful (if necessary) without cutting carbs. I'm all for LCHF if someone finds it a more enjoyable or pleasant way to achieve a deficit or maintain weight, for them, but find it frustrating when people start claiming that eating carbs is somehow not healthy. It is certainly possible for someone to make poor choices as to the types and amounts of certain foods containing carbs (and often fat too) in their diets, just as it's possible to make poor choices when eating LCHF.
  • stealthq
    stealthq Posts: 4,298 Member
    edited January 2016
    dubird wrote: »
    I guess American? It's the one in the old Wilson books. Essentially it's powdered sugar, vanilla and milk.

    And butter, I assume? Yep, that's American buttercream.

    ETA: removing earlier quotes to fix botched tags - plus this quote is the only relevant bit anyway.
  • Wheelhouse15
    Wheelhouse15 Posts: 5,575 Member
    stealthq wrote: »
    dubird wrote: »
    I guess American? It's the one in the old Wilson books. Essentially it's powdered sugar, vanilla and milk.

    And butter, I assume? Yep, that's American buttercream.

    ETA: removing earlier quotes to fix botched tags - plus this quote is the only relevant bit anyway.

    I'm assuming butter is somehow involved in buttercream. ;)
  • JQuinnLife
    JQuinnLife Posts: 102 Member
    lemurcat12 wrote: »
    ...but find it frustrating when people start claiming that eating carbs is somehow not healthy.

    Carbs are unhealthy.
  • ndj1979
    ndj1979 Posts: 29,136 Member
    Nage3000 wrote: »
    lemurcat12 wrote: »
    ...but find it frustrating when people start claiming that eating carbs is somehow not healthy.

    Carbs are unhealthy.

    source?
  • ChickaDee2012
    ChickaDee2012 Posts: 49 Member
    lemurcat12 wrote: »

    Low carb is NOT healthier than other diets. Sure, it's possible to do LCHF in a healthy manner (although sadly I don't see this pushed as much). It's also easy to modify your diet to be more healthful (if necessary) without cutting carbs. I'm all for LCHF if someone finds it a more enjoyable or pleasant way to achieve a deficit or maintain weight, for them, but find it frustrating when people start claiming that eating carbs is somehow not healthy. It is certainly possible for someone to make poor choices as to the types and amounts of certain foods containing carbs (and often fat too) in their diets, just as it's possible to make poor choices when eating LCHF.

    I agree with you...low carb is not necessarily healthier. People can choose poor carb choices...poor food choices regardless of diet. For me personally, going low carb meant choosing more veggies (which are carbs) and low glycemic fruit (over the processed stuff) combined with adequate fat and proten, because diabetes is in my family history. I want to avoid that in my future as much as possible. So LCHF may also be a way toward better health (and not necessarily because it's more enjoyable or for weight loss). That's why I did it primarily. But everyone needs to choose what makes sense for them.
  • bluefish86
    bluefish86 Posts: 842 Member
    Nage3000 wrote: »
    lemurcat12 wrote: »
    ...but find it frustrating when people start claiming that eating carbs is somehow not healthy.

    Carbs are unhealthy.

    @Nage3000, I understand your enthusiasm and I think it's great that keto works so well and is sustainable for you, but making blanket statements like this is why most people here think we all wear tinfoil hats...
  • blankiefinder
    blankiefinder Posts: 3,599 Member
    Nage3000 wrote: »
    lemurcat12 wrote: »
    ...but find it frustrating when people start claiming that eating carbs is somehow not healthy.

    Carbs are unhealthy.

    Carrots aren't healthy? Brussels sprouts? Asparagus? Strawberries? Blueberries? Cherries?

    Sounds legit.
  • ndj1979
    ndj1979 Posts: 29,136 Member
    Nage3000 wrote: »
    lemurcat12 wrote: »
    ...but find it frustrating when people start claiming that eating carbs is somehow not healthy.

    Carbs are unhealthy.

    Carrots aren't healthy? Brussels sprouts? Asparagus? Strawberries? Blueberries? Cherries?

    Sounds legit.

    am I going to die, because carbs?
  • dubird
    dubird Posts: 1,849 Member
    stealthq wrote: »
    dubird wrote: »
    I guess American? It's the one in the old Wilson books. Essentially it's powdered sugar, vanilla and milk.

    And butter, I assume? Yep, that's American buttercream.

    ETA: removing earlier quotes to fix botched tags - plus this quote is the only relevant bit anyway.

    I'm assuming butter is somehow involved in buttercream. ;)

    Just looked at the recipe and yeah, there's butter involved. ^_^ So it's never a nice bright white, but whenever I make it, people don't seem to care about that. XD


    Nage3000 wrote: »
    lemurcat12 wrote: »
    ...but find it frustrating when people start claiming that eating carbs is somehow not healthy.

    Carbs are unhealthy.

    How are carbs unhealthy? I can understand if you have a medical reason for it, but 99% of the human population has no medical issue with carbs, so how are they unhealthy?
  • lemurcat12
    lemurcat12 Posts: 30,886 Member
    lemurcat12 wrote: »

    Low carb is NOT healthier than other diets. Sure, it's possible to do LCHF in a healthy manner (although sadly I don't see this pushed as much). It's also easy to modify your diet to be more healthful (if necessary) without cutting carbs. I'm all for LCHF if someone finds it a more enjoyable or pleasant way to achieve a deficit or maintain weight, for them, but find it frustrating when people start claiming that eating carbs is somehow not healthy. It is certainly possible for someone to make poor choices as to the types and amounts of certain foods containing carbs (and often fat too) in their diets, just as it's possible to make poor choices when eating LCHF.

    I agree with you...low carb is not necessarily healthier. People can choose poor carb choices...poor food choices regardless of diet. For me personally, going low carb meant choosing more veggies (which are carbs) and low glycemic fruit (over the processed stuff) combined with adequate fat and proten, because diabetes is in my family history.

    Yeah, I understand that many people do improve their diets when going low carb, and like I said I respect that it can be the right choice. I just always find it odd (although I believe it) when people say they started eating more vegetables when they went low carb since of course (as you said) vegetables are carbs and there's no reason why someone couldn't eat a lot of them when eating 50% carb. Same with choosing to focus on cooking from whole foods vs. pre-made stuff. (Both things I try to do.)

    Lots of the "carbs" people seem to over-indulge in are about half fat in reality, so it's a personal pet peeve that they get dismissed as "carbs" while many of the highest carb foods (by %) are full of micronutrients. (This is not intended to be an argument with you!)

    Healthful traditional diets are all over the place in terms of macro ratios, but on the whole include lots of plants.
  • robertw486
    robertw486 Posts: 2,399 Member
    Low carb a fad? I don't think so. Quite a few people naturally gravitate towards all types of eating balances. Though I don't lean towards low carb, I've never noticed any difference in energy levels when just chance puts my carbs down lower than usual by a chunk.

    I'm not sure if I've ever approached keto, did Atkins for a while back in the day and missed my starchy and sugary carbs too much to deal with it for long. But I do think that evidence shows the ratios of carbs, fats, and even protein are all things that can vary quite a lot and allow great health and fitness. So in that respect, do what works for you, and just be aware of any potential shortcomings with your way of eating.

    And that might include knowing that if you steal my bread, I could club you with a ham or steak. I like my carbs too much!
  • stealthq
    stealthq Posts: 4,298 Member
    edited January 2016
    stealthq wrote: »
    dubird wrote: »
    I guess American? It's the one in the old Wilson books. Essentially it's powdered sugar, vanilla and milk.

    And butter, I assume? Yep, that's American buttercream.

    ETA: removing earlier quotes to fix botched tags - plus this quote is the only relevant bit anyway.

    I'm assuming butter is somehow involved in buttercream. ;)

    Well, so would I (obviously) but what she listed is also a legitimate set of ingredients for a different type of frosting. It's not uncommon for a term in cooking to get hijacked to refer to a completely different recipe so I'm just making sure.

    When I was growing up, what the local bakeries called 'buttercream' was made with shortening, sugar and flavoring. For the temperature stability, you see. To me, it was disgusting.
  • Wheelhouse15
    Wheelhouse15 Posts: 5,575 Member
    stealthq wrote: »
    stealthq wrote: »
    dubird wrote: »
    I guess American? It's the one in the old Wilson books. Essentially it's powdered sugar, vanilla and milk.

    And butter, I assume? Yep, that's American buttercream.

    ETA: removing earlier quotes to fix botched tags - plus this quote is the only relevant bit anyway.

    I'm assuming butter is somehow involved in buttercream. ;)

    Well, so would I (obviously) but what she listed is also a legitimate set of ingredients for a different type of frosting. It's not uncommon for a term in cooking to get hijacked to refer to a completely different recipe so I'm just making sure.

    When I was growing up, what the local bakeries called 'buttercream' was made with shortening, sugar and flavoring. For the temperature stability, you see. To me, it was disgusting.

    Ugh, using shortening in place of butter could cause a riot in some areas.
  • nvmomketo
    nvmomketo Posts: 12,019 Member
    lemurcat12 wrote: »
    For those reasons, and because I care about my health, I've chosen to go low carb, which means, cutting way down on processed stuff, sugars, flours and the like. But I didn't stop there, I've chosen to go Low Carb High Fat (this means healthy fats and not a GO pass for all the bacon you can eat), for my own personal situation and because it's HEALTHY, while still aiding weight loss. I would NOT have even thought to do this in my 20s, 30s or 40s.

    Low carb is NOT healthier than other diets. Sure, it's possible to do LCHF in a healthy manner (although sadly I don't see this pushed as much). It's also easy to modify your diet to be more healthful (if necessary) without cutting carbs. I'm all for LCHF if someone finds it a more enjoyable or pleasant way to achieve a deficit or maintain weight, for them, but find it frustrating when people start claiming that eating carbs is somehow not healthy. It is certainly possible for someone to make poor choices as to the types and amounts of certain foods containing carbs (and often fat too) in their diets, just as it's possible to make poor choices when eating LCHF.

    This is a bit of a blanket statement. For many people, a LCHF diet is healthier for them than other diets are.
  • ndj1979
    ndj1979 Posts: 29,136 Member
    nvmomketo wrote: »
    lemurcat12 wrote: »
    For those reasons, and because I care about my health, I've chosen to go low carb, which means, cutting way down on processed stuff, sugars, flours and the like. But I didn't stop there, I've chosen to go Low Carb High Fat (this means healthy fats and not a GO pass for all the bacon you can eat), for my own personal situation and because it's HEALTHY, while still aiding weight loss. I would NOT have even thought to do this in my 20s, 30s or 40s.

    Low carb is NOT healthier than other diets. Sure, it's possible to do LCHF in a healthy manner (although sadly I don't see this pushed as much). It's also easy to modify your diet to be more healthful (if necessary) without cutting carbs. I'm all for LCHF if someone finds it a more enjoyable or pleasant way to achieve a deficit or maintain weight, for them, but find it frustrating when people start claiming that eating carbs is somehow not healthy. It is certainly possible for someone to make poor choices as to the types and amounts of certain foods containing carbs (and often fat too) in their diets, just as it's possible to make poor choices when eating LCHF.

    This is a bit of a blanket statement. For many people, any LCHF diet is healthier for them than other diets are.

    fixed it for you

  • nvmomketo
    nvmomketo Posts: 12,019 Member
    edited January 2016
    ndj1979 wrote: »
    nvmomketo wrote: »
    lemurcat12 wrote: »
    For those reasons, and because I care about my health, I've chosen to go low carb, which means, cutting way down on processed stuff, sugars, flours and the like. But I didn't stop there, I've chosen to go Low Carb High Fat (this means healthy fats and not a GO pass for all the bacon you can eat), for my own personal situation and because it's HEALTHY, while still aiding weight loss. I would NOT have even thought to do this in my 20s, 30s or 40s.

    Low carb is NOT healthier than other diets. Sure, it's possible to do LCHF in a healthy manner (although sadly I don't see this pushed as much). It's also easy to modify your diet to be more healthful (if necessary) without cutting carbs. I'm all for LCHF if someone finds it a more enjoyable or pleasant way to achieve a deficit or maintain weight, for them, but find it frustrating when people start claiming that eating carbs is somehow not healthy. It is certainly possible for someone to make poor choices as to the types and amounts of certain foods containing carbs (and often fat too) in their diets, just as it's possible to make poor choices when eating LCHF.

    This is a bit of a blanket statement. For many people, any LCHF diet is healthier for them than other diets are.

    fixed it for you

    You really didn't. Are you really that completely anti-LCHF that you won't admit or believe that LCHF diets are healthier for some people? I didn't say all. I said some people. Even that statement is too much for you?
  • ndj1979
    ndj1979 Posts: 29,136 Member
    nvmomketo wrote: »
    ndj1979 wrote: »
    nvmomketo wrote: »
    lemurcat12 wrote: »
    For those reasons, and because I care about my health, I've chosen to go low carb, which means, cutting way down on processed stuff, sugars, flours and the like. But I didn't stop there, I've chosen to go Low Carb High Fat (this means healthy fats and not a GO pass for all the bacon you can eat), for my own personal situation and because it's HEALTHY, while still aiding weight loss. I would NOT have even thought to do this in my 20s, 30s or 40s.

    Low carb is NOT healthier than other diets. Sure, it's possible to do LCHF in a healthy manner (although sadly I don't see this pushed as much). It's also easy to modify your diet to be more healthful (if necessary) without cutting carbs. I'm all for LCHF if someone finds it a more enjoyable or pleasant way to achieve a deficit or maintain weight, for them, but find it frustrating when people start claiming that eating carbs is somehow not healthy. It is certainly possible for someone to make poor choices as to the types and amounts of certain foods containing carbs (and often fat too) in their diets, just as it's possible to make poor choices when eating LCHF.

    This is a bit of a blanket statement. For many people, any LCHF diet is healthier for them than other diets are.

    fixed it for you

    You really didn't. Are you really that completely anti-LCHF that you won't admit or believe that LCHF diets are healthier for some people? I didn't say all. I said some people. Even that statement is too much for you?

    LCHF is not healthier then any way of eating that hits micros and macros….

  • ndj1979
    ndj1979 Posts: 29,136 Member
    sorry, LCHF is not healthier than any other way of eating that hits micros and macros….
  • nvmomketo
    nvmomketo Posts: 12,019 Member
    ndj1979 wrote: »
    sorry, LCHF is not healthier than any other way of eating that hits micros and macros….

    I do hit my micros and macros though.

    I had a piece of cake the other day. It was small but had sugar. I also had a higher carb meal (for me). Within 24 hours my autoimmune arthritis was acting up rather badly (first time in past 6 months when I avoided sugary cake) and my blood glucose was up for over 24 hours...

    So in your opinion, LCHF is still not healthier for some people with health issues like that?
  • ndj1979
    ndj1979 Posts: 29,136 Member
    nvmomketo wrote: »
    ndj1979 wrote: »
    sorry, LCHF is not healthier than any other way of eating that hits micros and macros….

    I do hit my micros and macros though.

    I had a piece of cake the other day. It was small but had sugar. I also had a higher carb meal (for me). Within 24 hours my autoimmune arthritis was acting up rather badly (first time in past 6 months when I avoided sugary cake) and my blood glucose was up for over 24 hours...

    So in your opinion, LCHF is still not healthier for some people with health issues like that?

    its not healthier than any other way of eating that hits micros and macros, period.

    I don't believe we were discussing medical conditions in this thread.
  • nvmomketo
    nvmomketo Posts: 12,019 Member
    ndj1979 wrote: »
    nvmomketo wrote: »
    ndj1979 wrote: »
    sorry, LCHF is not healthier than any other way of eating that hits micros and macros….

    I do hit my micros and macros though.

    I had a piece of cake the other day. It was small but had sugar. I also had a higher carb meal (for me). Within 24 hours my autoimmune arthritis was acting up rather badly (first time in past 6 months when I avoided sugary cake) and my blood glucose was up for over 24 hours...

    So in your opinion, LCHF is still not healthier for some people with health issues like that?

    its not healthier than any other way of eating that hits micros and macros, period.

    I don't believe we were discussing medical conditions in this thread.

    Medical conditions determine a large part of some people's health.
  • ndj1979
    ndj1979 Posts: 29,136 Member
    nvmomketo wrote: »
    ndj1979 wrote: »
    nvmomketo wrote: »
    ndj1979 wrote: »
    sorry, LCHF is not healthier than any other way of eating that hits micros and macros….

    I do hit my micros and macros though.

    I had a piece of cake the other day. It was small but had sugar. I also had a higher carb meal (for me). Within 24 hours my autoimmune arthritis was acting up rather badly (first time in past 6 months when I avoided sugary cake) and my blood glucose was up for over 24 hours...

    So in your opinion, LCHF is still not healthier for some people with health issues like that?

    its not healthier than any other way of eating that hits micros and macros, period.

    I don't believe we were discussing medical conditions in this thread.

    Medical conditions determine a large part of some people's health.

    no where in this thread were they mentioned.

    If one has a medical reason to do LCHF then sure, do it…however, that does not make it healthier than any other way of eating.


  • nvmomketo
    nvmomketo Posts: 12,019 Member
    ndj1979 wrote: »
    nvmomketo wrote: »
    ndj1979 wrote: »
    nvmomketo wrote: »
    ndj1979 wrote: »
    sorry, LCHF is not healthier than any other way of eating that hits micros and macros….

    I do hit my micros and macros though.

    I had a piece of cake the other day. It was small but had sugar. I also had a higher carb meal (for me). Within 24 hours my autoimmune arthritis was acting up rather badly (first time in past 6 months when I avoided sugary cake) and my blood glucose was up for over 24 hours...

    So in your opinion, LCHF is still not healthier for some people with health issues like that?

    its not healthier than any other way of eating that hits micros and macros, period.

    I don't believe we were discussing medical conditions in this thread.

    Medical conditions determine a large part of some people's health.

    no where in this thread were they mentioned.

    If one has a medical reason to do LCHF then sure, do it…however, that does not make it healthier than any other way of eating.


    Thanks doctor.