I just dont understand.......

anw82506
anw82506 Posts: 5
edited September 19 in Food and Nutrition
:grumble: I dont understand the difference between "good carbs" and "bad carbs" or with sugar that is okay and sugar thats not. and I dont understand Fats vs Sat. Fats at all??

Can anyone break down any of these things in simple terms??
What should I be eatting???

I only ask because I really have NO clue what-so-ever and I really want to lose weight and eat healthy but I was never taught how and now I am REALLY over weight.........:brokenheart:

Please help............:sad:

Replies

  • lotusfromthemud
    lotusfromthemud Posts: 5,335 Member
    This is based on my experience and opinion. Nutrition is a thorny topic, and I'm sure other people will chime in with their own opinion.

    Sugar is not the best thing for your body, in any of its forms, which includes fruits with a high glycemic index and refined carbs.

    "Bad" carbs, in my opinion are anything refined. In other words, white foods. . .white rice, white flour, etc. If you're going to have carbs, and I believe you should, they should come mostly from plant sources vegetables and fruits in moderation and whole grains such as brown rice, oats and real 100% whole wheat bread.

    The easiest way to think about sat. fat vs. the other kinds is usually sat fat is "four legged fat" or animal fat. There are other fats that are good for you and necessary to a healthy diet. They come from plant sources such as olive oil, nuts, and avocados.

    The best bits of food advice I can give is from a book called "In Defense of Eating" by Michael Pollan:

    1. If your great grandmother wouldn't recognize it, don't eat it.

    2. Eat food, not too much, mostly plants.

    Hope that helps!:flowerforyou:
  • benw
    benw Posts: 211 Member
    http://diet.lovetoknow.com/wiki/List_of_Good_Carbs_and_Bad_Carbs

    Good :happy:

    Fruit
    Vegetables
    Whole grains and foods made from whole grains, such as bread and cereal
    Beans
    Nuts
    Legumes
    Those are the good carbs, here's where bad carbs come from:


    Bad :mad:
    Refined grains like white bread and white rice
    Processed foods such as cake, cookies and chips
    Soft drinks
    Alcohol
  • sapphire092170
    sapphire092170 Posts: 42
    That's tough to answer all in one go...but here's a link to get you started.

    http://www.healthy-eating-made-easy.com/eating-healthy-to-lose-weight.html
  • stormieweather
    stormieweather Posts: 2,549 Member
    http://www.goodcarbs.org/

    THe above site does a good job explaining what the difference is in good vs bad carbs.
  • hasiangirl
    hasiangirl Posts: 1,613
    pretty much good carbs = stuff people normally dont crave....bad carbs/sugars= stuff people normally crave :laugh: :laugh:
  • pkgirrl
    pkgirrl Posts: 587
    Bad fats
    -saturated and trans fats, ie. butter, red meat, (pretty much any fat that comes from a mammal) chocolate, chips, etc.

    Good fats
    -unsaturated and polyunsaturated, ie. olive oil, walnuts, avocados, fish, etc.

    just noticed no one touched on those :tongue:
  • RB12000
    RB12000 Posts: 43
    I only ask because I really have NO clue what-so-ever and I really want to lose weight and eat healthy but I was never taught how

    Yea, me too, anw! I was raised on hamburger helper and thought it was a healthy meal back then!! So good carbs/sugars/fats, I'm still working all that out.

    You guys posted some great info, thank you!
  • mrd232
    mrd232 Posts: 331
    I don't agree with the bad rap saturated fat is given in our modern diet. In fact, I'll go out on a limb and say the arguments surrounding avoidance of saturated fat and cholesterol are highly debatable and inconclusive.

    The bad rap ultimately should be given to trans fats, altered vegetable fats, and polyunsaturated fats.

    I don't know why so many people vilify real butter, animal skin, and hearty oils such as avocado, olive, coconut, and walnut. There is some serious evidence backing me up that moderate usage of these is SO much more beneficial than the use of PUFA oils.

    Read good calories, bad calories by Gary Taubes for a pretty solid viewpoint. Unfortunately, I think much of our "low fat" and "veggie fats" craze here in the US is what's ultimately killing us...
  • LeanLioness
    LeanLioness Posts: 1,091 Member
    Bad fats
    -saturated and trans fats, ie. butter, red meat, (pretty much any fat that comes from a mammal) chocolate, chips, etc.

    Good fats
    -unsaturated and polyunsaturated, ie. olive oil, walnuts, avocados, fish, etc.

    just noticed no one touched on those :tongue:

    Actually there is debate on the natural occurring saturated fats (animal fats). Saturated fats are not as "unhealthy" as previously thought.

    I, myself consume quite a bit of saturated fat (love that strip of fat on a thick, juicy ribeye) and I am losing weight just fine - along with my blood work improving immensely.............

    Let me dig up the studies on this................I have some website on my other laptop that my naturopath pointed me to that outlines why saturated fats in the form of coconut oil and animal fat is not unhealthy.

    And chocolate (depending on the type) is not bad for you either. I bought a Lindt 90 at Wal-Mart tonight. I had 1 square just a little while ago, which was a 1 ounce square. There are anti-oxidants in dark chocolate that makes it good for you. Also, the sugar and carb count was very, very low.............
  • LeanLioness
    LeanLioness Posts: 1,091 Member
    I don't agree with the bad rap saturated fat is given in our modern diet. In fact, I'll go out on a limb and say the arguments surrounding avoidance of saturated fat and cholesterol are highly debatable and inconclusive.

    The bad rap ultimately should be given to trans fats, altered vegetable fats, and polyunsaturated fats.

    I don't know why so many people vilify real butter, animal skin, and hearty oils such as avocado, olive, coconut, and walnut. There is some serious evidence backing me up that moderate usage of these is SO much more beneficial than the use of PUFA oils.

    Read good calories, bad calories by Gary Taubes for a pretty solid viewpoint. Unfortunately, I think much of our "low fat" and "veggie fats" craze here in the US is what's ultimately killing us...

    Thank You, thank You, Thank You................................

    I am demonized and told I have it all wrong when I have been saying the same thing...............

    I am glad I am not the only person on this site that believes this.

    I have posted my bloodwork in my signature and I eat an abundance of saturated fats, mostly fat on steaks and chicken skin............yummo!!!! My cholesterol went down overall, HDL went up, LDL went down and triglycerides also went down...............

    :drinker: :drinker:
  • Bella_Luna
    Bella_Luna Posts: 9
    The real difference between saturated fat and trans fat and the polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fats is their chemical makeup. It has a lot to do with how many oxygen and hydrogen molecules make up the carbon chain of each but I won't bore you with those details. :laugh: Saturated and trans fats, fats derived from animal products, are solid at room temperature, while the polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fats are liquids at room temperature. There is nothing wrong with eating some saturated fats in moderation. Your body breaks down the fats into their respective "forms" in the body. But the idea is, if you have a diet that is high in these animals fats, since they remain solid at room temperature and within the body, over time they deposit in your arteries and narrow the width of them (particularly arteries in the heart, brain and lungs). This is what is commonly known as "plaque". The fats that remain liquids at room temperature flow freely through the bloodstream and actually help remove artery plaque. Thus the reason people who have high cholesterol levels are more prone to strokes and heart attacks. And also the reason why many strokes and heart attacks occur---mainly due to clogged arteries from a diet high in saturated fats. Dr. Atkins, anyone? :flowerforyou:
  • anw82506
    anw82506 Posts: 5
    :happy: Thanks Everyone I feel that I have learned a lot more now! I dont know if I will ever fully understand what to eat but baby step at a time and I will lose weight and be healthier! Thank you all!:tongue:
  • Bella_Luna
    Bella_Luna Posts: 9
    Well if you're wondering what foods to eat to maintain a healthy lifestyle and help you lose weight, here's my advice.

    Eat a diet rich in fresh vegetables, fresh fruits and lean meats. Its also important to be getting a lot of whole grains. This means looking at the labels on packages of breads and cereals. You DO NOT want to see anything called "enriched" on a label. This means that it has been processed and all of the good vitamins have been taken out. Look for things like "whole wheat flour" or "whole oat flour". Oatmeal is a great thing to be eating. Switch from white bread to whole wheat, substitute white rice with brown rice, and white enriched pasta for whole wheat pastas. Stick to lean cuts of meat like boneless skinless chicken breasts and center cut pork loins. If you buy ground beef, get the extra lean variety. (96% lean, 4% fat). If you eat bacon get turkey bacon instead. Switch from 2% milk to skim. And most importantly, stay away from processed, packaged foods. Things like crackers, chips, cookies, candy, anything that comes in a box or a can is no good. The occasional Lean Cuisine wont hurt you but you shouldnt make a steady habit of them. One good tip I've read is staying away from the middle aisles of the grocery store as much as possible. The middle aisles contain all the packaged items while the fresh produce and lean meats are around edges of the store.

    Also, watch your portion sizes! Look on labels to see how much one serving is, its almost always smaller than you think it is. Also its very easy to load up on something that is healthy and eat way too many calories. Whole wheat pasta is a very healthy choice, but not when you load up a huge plateful. :laugh: This is all just the tip of the iceburg but hopefully it sheds a little light for you :)
  • LeanLioness
    LeanLioness Posts: 1,091 Member
    The real difference between saturated fat and trans fat and the polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fats is their chemical makeup. It has a lot to do with how many oxygen and hydrogen molecules make up the carbon chain of each but I won't bore you with those details. :laugh: Saturated and trans fats, fats derived from animal products, are solid at room temperature, while the polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fats are liquids at room temperature. There is nothing wrong with eating some saturated fats in moderation. Your body breaks down the fats into their respective "forms" in the body. But the idea is, if you have a diet that is high in these animals fats, since they remain solid at room temperature and within the body, over time they deposit in your arteries and narrow the width of them (particularly arteries in the heart, brain and lungs). This is what is commonly known as "plaque". The fats that remain liquids at room temperature flow freely through the bloodstream and actually help remove artery plaque. Thus the reason people who have high cholesterol levels are more prone to strokes and heart attacks. And also the reason why many strokes and heart attacks occur---mainly due to clogged arteries from a diet high in saturated fats. Dr. Atkins, anyone? :flowerforyou:

    He didn't die of a heart attack. He was a heart doctor that helped many people get healthy. A head injury killed Dr. A. Do not slander the man.

    Check out my blood work in my signature.....................It is better thanks to Atkins.
This discussion has been closed.

Categories