I'm confused....Are Carbs really bad?
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There are no bad foods. Period.
Eat it. Enjoy it. Log it. 💙5 -
This is really bad.
The Chicago Classic Deep Dish Pizza
The “individual” size packs 2,240 calories (enough for the whole day), plus 48 grams of saturated fat (a 2½-day supply) and 4,400 milligrams of sodium (nearly two days’ worth). You might as well eat three Pizza Hut Pepperoni Lover’s Personal Pan Pizzas.
But probably tastes oh so good.3 -
butterfly_2019 wrote: »Thanks everyone for your comments. Its really insightful. What are simple carbs?
Yeah I think I do suffer from information overload :-( Time to nip it in the bud I think and just concentrate on my calorie deficit only as opposed to worrying about going over 100g of carbs daily!
Simple carbs are the sugars. Complex carbs are the starches. The only difference between them is that it takes a little longer for complex carbs to hit the bloodstream because your body has to break them down into sugars before they can be used or stored as energy. Some complex carbs are fiber and some fiber does not get digested (insoluble fiber) which helps with elimination of waste (or as your granny would call it: "roughage"). Soluble fiber helps control how fast glucose hits the bloodstream and is also necessary.
Like any other macro, the majority of your carbs should come from foods that are nutrient dense (whole grains, fruits, veggies, etc) which is especially important when eating a limited calorie diet. Whether they are simple or complex (or some of both which is common in fruits and veggies) shouldn't matter.
Don't be afraid of carbs. Find your "happy place" where you are eating a macro mix that you enjoy, that fuels your activity, and keeps you satisfied.3 -
Well, if I had any advice, it would be to vet your sources of information better. Just because someone wrote a book and/or calls themselves a doctor doesn't mean they aren't full of misinformation and BS.
Those people you refer to? Bull. Freely ignore their quackery.
There is no bad food, except maybe trans fats? People seem to agree pretty well on that.
Carbs are not bad, sugar is not the devil, eggs are a good source of protein, don't listen to people who demonize food.7 -
This is really bad.
The Chicago Classic Deep Dish Pizza
The “individual” size packs 2,240 calories (enough for the whole day), plus 48 grams of saturated fat (a 2½-day supply) and 4,400 milligrams of sodium (nearly two days’ worth). You might as well eat three Pizza Hut Pepperoni Lover’s Personal Pan Pizzas.
Bad? I think it looks good.
Again, food has no morality. This pizza is perfectly fine for folks who have certain calorie requirements.12 -
I've been doing some research myself on carbs and their effect.
For the vast majority of people, carbs are not bad, they are good and needed (within certain limits). Obviously getting all your carbs from sugar isn't good, but carbs themselves are not evil.
My reasons for researching ARE health related. Low-carb diets have been proven (and used) to help with certain brain dysfunctions - "keto" has been used to help treat epilepsy for a long time. I'm finding some evidence that a lower carb diet can often help with the symptoms of TBI/RHI (my reasons for researching it). I've tried to stick to actual scientific and medical studies rather than the wide variety of bro-science articles out there.
Most of the things you list I don't believe (nor does my research support) are caused by carbs. Some people find it an easy way to restrict calories, but unless you have something very specific going on, limit them, make good carb choices, and enjoy.3 -
Also, I just want to put it out there, assigning foods morality (good vs. bad) is very triggering for folks with eating disorders. I know, because I have been in recovery for most of my adult life, and removing assigned morality from foods has been key to my recovery.
I only say this because I think it's easy for us to be very self-focused and put ourselves down and say that we've been bad, but there are lots of people around us (children, etc.) who hear that and think that because they like pizza or whatever "bad" foods they are "bad" people themselves, which leads to an unhealthy relationship with food that is hard to extricate one from. This kind of thing had me dieting from age 8, and I would never wish that upon my young niece or nephew.
It's been soo important in my journey to think/say things that aren't triggering and creating unhealthy diet cultures for other people. In our journeys towards health, we also have an obligation to dismantle oppressive structures and unhealthy mindsets for folks who might be working through EDs, impressionable children etc. Not accusing anyone of being selfish, but just encouraging all of us to be mindful of the terminology we use and how it can be toxic to other people. 😊10 -
butterfly_2019 wrote: »OK so I'm confused...I'm one of these people who reads/researches/watches numerous videos etc but is also a sponge and takes things in to much! I became interested in IF about 12 months ago, I read books (Dr Berg, Dr Fung, Dr Mosley etc), watched videos and learnt a whole lot along the way (or so I thought). Just before Summer I tried low carb high fat which I enjoyed, not just to lose weight but from what I was reading carbs cause all kinds of things to happen i.e. inflammation, insulin spikes, diabetes etc so I did it for both "health" and weight loss.
However, I then read how we need carbs, carbs are not bad, don't see carbs as the enemy, just stick to your calorie goal, we don't need carbs from grains but we need the carbs from veggies and so on and it confuses me.
People seem to have mixed reviews on this...Is it excessive carbs that cause these issues such as diabetes, weight gain, inflammation...
I also watched that film on Netflix...The Magic Pill and people on there were so anti-carb!
Mosely is a publicist who writes various diet books for a living. I'm pretty sure there isn't any bandwagon he won't jump on. I read his book on 5:2, lots of misinformation there. He used 5:2 for weight loss....his medical markers before, his medical markers after. Whallah! 5:2 is 100% responsible for any and all improvements.
No - this isn't how it works. Weight loss, exercise, and even diet (ie: Mediterranean) can ALL have positive effects on health. How much of an impact is often genetics.
5:2 isn't even terribly original. He just recycled the decades old "rotation diet."3 -
I've practiced IF, keto, carnivore, vegetarian, anorexia, and bulimia and was formerly morbidly obese with rampant diabetes. No, carbs aren't bad from any dietary view. What people choose to do their bodies isn't bad. There are consequences and that's it. Being lean is a consequence of being mindful about energy balance. Being obese is the same consequence. IF is a consequence of not eating around the clock and Fung is a consequence of monetizing the concept of fasting.2
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Lou Malnati's (Chicago style pizza) individual sized "Lou" (spinach, mushrooms, and sliced tomato) -- 900 cal (for the whole thing -- a slice is 550 cal for a medium size pizza, and it's plenty filling on its own), 500 from fat (note, even without high fat meat this is more fat than carbs), 20 g sat fat, 880 mg sodium, 66 g carbs, 38 g protein. Big meal, if you must eat the whole individual size instead of a slice of some other (I'd recommend a slice plus a salad on the side with just veg and balsamic), but hardly that tough to fit in, especially if not dieting. If I were dieting and eating, say, 1600, I'd have it on a bigger workout day, and it's likely less than plenty of other restaurant meals one might have.
I'm wondering how big that individual pizza above is.
Oh, I found where it came from: https://cspinet.org/eating-healthy/foods-to-avoid/10-worst-foods (apparently just cut and pasted without credit).
Uno's is not even good, IMO.
On the other hand, I bet a slice (one is filling) at my favorite Pequod's is higher than 550 cal for a slice of the Lou, although definitely worth in on occasion (and for Chicago pizza to be good it shouldn't be getting a majority of the cals from the crust as the Uno's seems to).
[Edited since I misread the nutrition info initially but double checked since it did seem off.]5 -
butterfly_2019 wrote: »OK so I'm confused...I'm one of these people who reads/researches/watches numerous videos etc but is also a sponge and takes things in to much! I became interested in IF about 12 months ago, I read books (Dr Berg, Dr Fung, Dr Mosley etc), watched videos and learnt a whole lot along the way (or so I thought). Just before Summer I tried low carb high fat which I enjoyed, not just to lose weight but from what I was reading carbs cause all kinds of things to happen i.e. inflammation, insulin spikes, diabetes etc so I did it for both "health" and weight loss.
However, I then read how we need carbs, carbs are not bad, don't see carbs as the enemy, just stick to your calorie goal, we don't need carbs from grains but we need the carbs from veggies and so on and it confuses me.
People seem to have mixed reviews on this...Is it excessive carbs that cause these issues such as diabetes, weight gain, inflammation...
I also watched that film on Netflix...The Magic Pill and people on there were so anti-carb!
The number one cause of diabetes is being overly fat...the number one cause of being overly fat is consuming too many calories. Carbohydrates do not cause these things. There are all kinds of highly nutritious carbohydrates...look at the nutritional profile of a potato and sweet potato or beets or whole grains such as oats...lentils and legumes are really nutritious, etc...and obviously fruits and veggies have all kinds of good for you micro nutrition.
Look at blue zones...these are some of the healthiest populations in the world and they eat diets high in carbohydrates. Vegans and vegetarians also eat diets high in carbohydrates given they are plant based diets...so by this logic that carbohydrates are the enemy, vegans and vegetarians should all be falling over sick.5 -
cwolfman13 wrote: »butterfly_2019 wrote: »OK so I'm confused...I'm one of these people who reads/researches/watches numerous videos etc but is also a sponge and takes things in to much! I became interested in IF about 12 months ago, I read books (Dr Berg, Dr Fung, Dr Mosley etc), watched videos and learnt a whole lot along the way (or so I thought). Just before Summer I tried low carb high fat which I enjoyed, not just to lose weight but from what I was reading carbs cause all kinds of things to happen i.e. inflammation, insulin spikes, diabetes etc so I did it for both "health" and weight loss.
However, I then read how we need carbs, carbs are not bad, don't see carbs as the enemy, just stick to your calorie goal, we don't need carbs from grains but we need the carbs from veggies and so on and it confuses me.
People seem to have mixed reviews on this...Is it excessive carbs that cause these issues such as diabetes, weight gain, inflammation...
I also watched that film on Netflix...The Magic Pill and people on there were so anti-carb!
The number one cause of diabetes is being overly fat...the number one cause of being overly fat is consuming too many calories. Carbohydrates do not cause these things. There are all kinds of highly nutritious carbohydrates...look at the nutritional profile of a potato and sweet potato or beets or whole grains such as oats...lentils and legumes are really nutritious, etc...and obviously fruits and veggies have all kinds of good for you micro nutrition.
Look at blue zones...these are some of the healthiest populations in the world and they eat diets high in carbohydrates. Vegans and vegetarians also eat diets high in carbohydrates given they are plant based diets...so by this logic that carbohydrates are the enemy, vegans and vegetarians should all be falling over sick.
True... look into people who have "cured" themselves of diabetes using high sugar diets. No cure really, you can put it into remission, but there is no cure for type2. They are getting closer for type1 though. Some real interesting work coming out of Canada.0 -
in a word: NO0
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cwolfman13 wrote: »butterfly_2019 wrote: »OK so I'm confused...I'm one of these people who reads/researches/watches numerous videos etc but is also a sponge and takes things in to much! I became interested in IF about 12 months ago, I read books (Dr Berg, Dr Fung, Dr Mosley etc), watched videos and learnt a whole lot along the way (or so I thought). Just before Summer I tried low carb high fat which I enjoyed, not just to lose weight but from what I was reading carbs cause all kinds of things to happen i.e. inflammation, insulin spikes, diabetes etc so I did it for both "health" and weight loss.
However, I then read how we need carbs, carbs are not bad, don't see carbs as the enemy, just stick to your calorie goal, we don't need carbs from grains but we need the carbs from veggies and so on and it confuses me.
People seem to have mixed reviews on this...Is it excessive carbs that cause these issues such as diabetes, weight gain, inflammation...
I also watched that film on Netflix...The Magic Pill and people on there were so anti-carb!
The number one cause of diabetes is being overly fat...the number one cause of being overly fat is consuming too many calories. Carbohydrates do not cause these things. There are all kinds of highly nutritious carbohydrates...look at the nutritional profile of a potato and sweet potato or beets or whole grains such as oats...lentils and legumes are really nutritious, etc...and obviously fruits and veggies have all kinds of good for you micro nutrition.
Look at blue zones...these are some of the healthiest populations in the world and they eat diets high in carbohydrates. Vegans and vegetarians also eat diets high in carbohydrates given they are plant based diets...so by this logic that carbohydrates are the enemy, vegans and vegetarians should all be falling over sick.
That's a good point because these groups usually have fewer incidents of diabetes. Their average weight also tends to be lower, which explains the first statistic. Not being overweight is the best way to reduce your diabetes risk regardless of your carb intake.5 -
The only reason I'd say that carbs are bad because they make me hungry and want more carbs. Now, I still eat them. Close to 130g a day. But let's say I start the day with toast and peanut butter. By 10am I'm jonesing for more carbs. But if I have 2 eggs and 2 pieces of bacon I can easily make it through to noon without thinking about my growling stomach.
But, no, carbs aren't bad and they won't make it so you can't lose weight and be healthy. All you have to do is eat food (any food) at a deficient and over time you'll lose weight. What that deficient ends up being is up to you.2 -
First off OP, it's nice that you want to be informed. Trouble is people are making money off food theories and snappy headlines. The boring truth, as so many above me have mentioned, is that you have to eat fewer calories than you burn. HOWEVER you choose to do that will make you lose weight. If you have a medical condition, you may need to modify what you eat. The very best way to lose is to eat what you like, just less of it. You can also branch out and try new foods. You need to stick with this for a long time so it's easier if you like what you eat.3
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There is an awful lot of bunkum out there, it can be overwhelming.
Think about what you like to eat, and what your particular issues are. It's fine to try things for a few weeks and see what happens/ what suits you and adjust accordingly.
For example I mostly don't eat anything between dinner and breakfast. There is no magic to that, it's just because otherwise I'll scoff crisps and sweeties. It's easier not to.
A bowl of porridge will sustain me for hours, but a plate of scrambled eggs leaves me starving by mid morning. Other people have a different experience.
You are the expert on you, just need to figure out the best fit.5 -
"I read books (Dr Berg, Dr Fung, Dr Mosley etc), watched videos and learnt a whole lot along the way (or so I thought). "
What a collection of reprobates to choose your reading/viewing material from!
A disgraced Chiropractor, a Nephrologist who is a laughing stock for his mangling of science and a medical journalist that flits from whatever is in fashion to the next hot ticket.
No carbs aren't bad, if you managed to completely eliminate them your body would actually produce its own.
Overeating of carbs can be bad of course.
Ditto overeating of fat and protein or the more common overeating of all three macros in varied combinations.
12 -
I do think it's healthier to eat more veggies and fruit than more processed carbs, like bread, cookies, cracker, tortillas, soda, etc. Do I think we should avoid all added sugars and carby treats? No.2
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I had someone on Quora telling me that:
"Sugar is a poison just a slow one. The body shouts out this…. obesity, t2d, lethargy, body odour, cancer, heart disease, strokes, poor vision, rapid aging, poor brain function, dementia, epilepsy, autism the list goes on and on and on. A monstrously lucrative treatment process."
As in, "Well, since just about everyone eats carbs, let me round up all the current conditions that just about everyone has/will eventually get and blame the carbs for it!" Correlation at its finest...8
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