Simple v complex carbs

callumwalker1995
callumwalker1995 Posts: 389 Member
in Food and Nutrition
I have IBS and thus find digesting complex carbs such as wholegrains and beans very difficult and often suffer cramping pain and bloating therefore I now mainly consume simple carbs such as white rice, pasta, bread etc but have found many online articles suggesting this leads to greater fat gains due to insulin spikes etc. Am I ok from just getting my carb sources as these as well as sweet potatoes?

Replies

  • CharlieBeansmomTracey
    CharlieBeansmomTracey Posts: 7,682 Member
    overeating is what leads to fat and weight gain. many people have lost weight eating simple carbs. so I wouldnt worry about it
  • SophieSmall95
    SophieSmall95 Posts: 233 Member
    edited July 2016
    The whole weight gain because of insulin spikes is bad science taken out of context. It doesn't work like that, but magazines and websites try to simplify it to the non-scientifically trained masses....which just ends up hashing up the information to something that is no longer correct or useful. My advice steer clear of those information sources, you're just going to end up confused and have your head stuffed with bad science and misinformation.

    As above, over consumption of calories leads to weight gain. NOT specific food types. You could eat a diet of only bread and not gain weight so long as you don't go over your maintenance calories.
  • xmichaelyx
    xmichaelyx Posts: 883 Member
    callumwalker1995 wrote: »
    have found many online articles suggesting this leads to greater fat gains due to insulin spikes etc.

    The difference is negligible. It might be worth caring about if you're an elite bodybuilder, but it's irrelevant to everyone else.

  • elphie754
    elphie754 Posts: 7,574 Member
    In one of your numerous other threads about similar topics, you state you want to GAIN weight, so not sure why so worried?
  • ivanfawcettgibson
    ivanfawcettgibson Posts: 193 Member
    I used to suffer with ibs. I ditched porridge, bread, potato, rice and pasta, I never ate pulses etc... I don't eat much in the way of carrot and don't eat fruit apart from some berries and not a lot of them. I do eat a heck of a lot of spinach, cabbage, kale. I use fat for energy.
    Today I had 2 coffees with extra thick double cream (heavy cream) went and played 90 mins of football (soccer), I ate about an hour after: a little pulled chicken. Later, I had chicken tikka rogan josh and shish kebab. This is the way to eat for me. Plenty of fat, a decent amount of protein and lots of leafy veg or 'fruit veg': cucumber, aubergine (eggplant), pumpkin tomatoes etc...
  • ivanfawcettgibson
    ivanfawcettgibson Posts: 193 Member
    elphie754 wrote: »
    In one of your numerous other threads about similar topics, you state you want to GAIN weight, so not sure why so worried?

    Is gaining weight always gaining fat?
  • psuLemon
    psuLemon Posts: 38,428 MFP Moderator
    ivanfawcettgibson wrote: »
    elphie754 wrote: »
    In one of your numerous other threads about similar topics, you state you want to GAIN weight, so not sure why so worried?

    Is gaining weight always gaining fat?

    Yes. Its impossible to gain just muscle.


    Op, if you have IBS, you have to address that requirement. Complex vs simple is a bit over exaggerated. All carbs and even protein will spike insulin. But even if insulin is low the body can still store body fat. Its all about energy balance.
  • ivanfawcettgibson
    ivanfawcettgibson Posts: 193 Member
    psulemon wrote: »
    ivanfawcettgibson wrote: »
    elphie754 wrote: »
    In one of your numerous other threads about similar topics, you state you want to GAIN weight, so not sure why so worried?

    Is gaining weight always gaining fat?

    Yes. Its impossible to gain just muscle.

    But it is possible to gain more muscle than fat in a bulk or, what would be the point in doing it? Minimising fat increase is the goal not minimising weight increase.

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