6 ms·

My mother is convinced if i dont eat carb heavy foods (rice, fruit) that I will die of some disorder or other. It is hard to stay on diet whenever I go home.

by kbar13 9y ago

brianwawok 9y ago
She may be correct. The 70% ratio that many Americans eat may not be great, but 30% or 40% carbs seems about right for me. I see the no carb movement much like the no fat movement of the 80s.
- hashable 9y ago
  Except for the fact that carbs are the only macronutrient that are not essential and can be completely synthesized by the body via gluconeogenesis. There are essential amino acids that need to be sourced via food (protein). There are essential fatty acids that need to be sourced via food (fat). There are no essential carbs.
  - soundwave106 9y ago
    From a practical standpoint you are correct; however, it is very difficult to have a zero carb diet, so I don't think this theory has been 100% tested. At least, this is the impression I got reading this opinion paper. (http://ajcn.nutrition.org/content/75/5/951.2.long http://ajcn.nutrition.org/content/75/5/951.2.long) I think even most ketogenic specific diets aim for around 5% carbs. Some other aspects of carbs seem to be not fully investigated, such as the effect of dietary fiber's role in nutrition. While not "essential" (http://jandonline.org/article/S2212-2672(15)01743-8/abstract http://jandonline.org/article/S2212-2672(15)01743-8/abstract) it seems to play a mostly positive role. (If only to prevent constipation...) At this time, I'd think "fad" of any ketogenic diet advocate that has little vegetable consumption. But as the first link states, "most of the current low-carbohydrate, weight-reducing diets advocate the consumption of low-carbohydrate vegetables". "Eat more veggies" has been a mantra of dietary advice for a while. :)
  - brianwawok 9y ago
    Sure. But if you live even a little bit active lifestyle, you are going to have issues with this, as converting fat to energy is a much harder process. You can try to counter the point by pointing out that there are ultra-marathoners who are keto. But my two counters against this are: 1) They generally still use some form of carbs during the race, i.e. sugar packets. 2) There is no world class sprinter / 5k / 10k / sprint biker / football player / soccer play that is keto. So fine, you can make the argument that no carb is a better diet for an office potato with no exercise. But I would argue that bumping your carb intake up 25-40% and doing some exercise is going to lead to a much more healthy body and mind (many studies around on the benefits of exercise). TLDR: The problem with office potatoes is being an office potato. You are better fixing it via exercise, vs trying to eat a weird diet that lets you stay skinny while an office potato.
    - saiya-jin 9y ago
      > TLDR: The problem with office potatoes is being an office potato. You are better fixing it via exercise, vs trying to eat a weird diet that lets you stay skinny while an office potato. You don't get it. People don't want good proper science-based long-term solutions, they want fast & effortless solutions (meaning no sweat). People don't want to change their life, they want to throw money at problem to see it solved. Well, our bodies are not some TVs or radios. One day, sure, but not now, not during this century. That's the only reason why so many idiotic diets exists (some are OK, but most just don't work for long term or are outright absurd).
  - ArlenBales 9y ago
    No carbs is really hard if you exercise, or are an athlete. I stick to a low carb diet, but I can't imagine cycling/running 50+ miles a week in combination with weightlifting every other day, if I didn't have the energy from carbs. Chicken breasts and vegetables just aren't enough for me. (Carbs for me is usually oatmeal breakfast and protein bar)
  - parrellel 9y ago
    Which is how we reclaim energy from Fat yes, but the biproducts of that process can lead to A) Gout B) Kidney stones C) Appendicitis and a number of other wonderful issues. Look at morbidity among various arctic cultures (Eskimos, Siberian Reindeer cultures) for more details.
  - nicky0 9y ago
    Why avoid carbs?
jonnathanson 9y ago
My mother simply does not understand what a "carbohydrate" is, let alone the relationship between starch and sugar, or why things like mashed potatoes are not low-carb. ("But I didn't use any butter in them, so they're low-carb!") When left to her own devices, she will consistently confuse and/or conflate carbs and fats. I think this is because she's from a generation that totally bought into the war on fat, and raised us accordingly. Fat is so evil in her mind that there is a subconscious revulsion to it. I'm not sure older generations' assembly-level worldviews can be reprogrammed at this point. Carbs will be ubiquitous until younger folks become the predominant consumer power in the economy -- or unless someone actually influences the Boomers somehow, e.g., convinces Dr. Phil or Ellen DeGeneres or Gwyneth Paltrow or Matt Lauer or whoever to come out strongly against carbs.
- E6300 9y ago
  Well, fat certainly is worse than carbs, as far as weight loss is concerned. Fat contains twice the calories per gram compared to carbohydrates or protein, that's why things like cheese and oil are a big no-no if you're trying to lose weight. Butter is alright as long as you don't take a big ol' chomp out of a stick.
  - SmellyGeekBoy 9y ago
    Anecdotal I know, but I have plenty of friends who have lost weight on a high-fat, low-carb diet.
  - khuey 9y ago
    That diets like paleo and keto work is pretty strong counter evidence to this position.
    - E6300 9y ago
      The only diet that works is caloric restriction. You can follow any fad diet you want, but if you don't expend more calories than you ingest you're not going to lose weight. Replace all the carbs in your equilibrium diet with the same amount of fat per mass and you're going to start gaining weight. It's as simple as that.

My mother is convinced if i dont eat carb heavy foods (rice, fruit) that I will die of some disorder or other. It is hard to stay on diet whenever I go home.

by kbar13 9y ago

My mother is convinced if i dont eat carb heavy foods (rice, fruit) that I will die of some disorder or other. It is hard to stay on diet whenever I go home.

brianwawok 9y ago

She may be correct. The 70% ratio that many Americans eat may not be great, but 30% or 40% carbs seems about right for me. I see the no carb movement much like the no fat movement of the 80s.

hashable 9y ago
Except for the fact that carbs are the only macronutrient that are not essential and can be completely synthesized by the body via gluconeogenesis. There are essential amino acids that need to be sourced via food (protein). There are essential fatty acids that need to be sourced via food (fat). There are no essential carbs.
- soundwave106 9y ago
  From a practical standpoint you are correct; however, it is very difficult to have a zero carb diet, so I don't think this theory has been 100% tested. At least, this is the impression I got reading this opinion paper. (http://ajcn.nutrition.org/content/75/5/951.2.long http://ajcn.nutrition.org/content/75/5/951.2.long) I think even most ketogenic specific diets aim for around 5% carbs. Some other aspects of carbs seem to be not fully investigated, such as the effect of dietary fiber's role in nutrition. While not "essential" (http://jandonline.org/article/S2212-2672(15)01743-8/abstract http://jandonline.org/article/S2212-2672(15)01743-8/abstract) it seems to play a mostly positive role. (If only to prevent constipation...) At this time, I'd think "fad" of any ketogenic diet advocate that has little vegetable consumption. But as the first link states, "most of the current low-carbohydrate, weight-reducing diets advocate the consumption of low-carbohydrate vegetables". "Eat more veggies" has been a mantra of dietary advice for a while. :)
- brianwawok 9y ago
  Sure. But if you live even a little bit active lifestyle, you are going to have issues with this, as converting fat to energy is a much harder process. You can try to counter the point by pointing out that there are ultra-marathoners who are keto. But my two counters against this are: 1) They generally still use some form of carbs during the race, i.e. sugar packets. 2) There is no world class sprinter / 5k / 10k / sprint biker / football player / soccer play that is keto. So fine, you can make the argument that no carb is a better diet for an office potato with no exercise. But I would argue that bumping your carb intake up 25-40% and doing some exercise is going to lead to a much more healthy body and mind (many studies around on the benefits of exercise). TLDR: The problem with office potatoes is being an office potato. You are better fixing it via exercise, vs trying to eat a weird diet that lets you stay skinny while an office potato.
  - saiya-jin 9y ago
    > TLDR: The problem with office potatoes is being an office potato. You are better fixing it via exercise, vs trying to eat a weird diet that lets you stay skinny while an office potato. You don't get it. People don't want good proper science-based long-term solutions, they want fast & effortless solutions (meaning no sweat). People don't want to change their life, they want to throw money at problem to see it solved. Well, our bodies are not some TVs or radios. One day, sure, but not now, not during this century. That's the only reason why so many idiotic diets exists (some are OK, but most just don't work for long term or are outright absurd).
- ArlenBales 9y ago
  No carbs is really hard if you exercise, or are an athlete. I stick to a low carb diet, but I can't imagine cycling/running 50+ miles a week in combination with weightlifting every other day, if I didn't have the energy from carbs. Chicken breasts and vegetables just aren't enough for me. (Carbs for me is usually oatmeal breakfast and protein bar)
- parrellel 9y ago
  Which is how we reclaim energy from Fat yes, but the biproducts of that process can lead to A) Gout B) Kidney stones C) Appendicitis and a number of other wonderful issues. Look at morbidity among various arctic cultures (Eskimos, Siberian Reindeer cultures) for more details.
- nicky0 9y ago
  Why avoid carbs?

jonnathanson 9y ago

My mother simply does not understand what a "carbohydrate" is, let alone the relationship between starch and sugar, or why things like mashed potatoes are not low-carb. ("But I didn't use any butter in them, so they're low-carb!") When left to her own devices, she will consistently confuse and/or conflate carbs and fats. I think this is because she's from a generation that totally bought into the war on fat, and raised us accordingly. Fat is so evil in her mind that there is a subconscious revulsion to it. I'm not sure older generations' assembly-level worldviews can be reprogrammed at this point. Carbs will be ubiquitous until younger folks become the predominant consumer power in the economy -- or unless someone actually influences the Boomers somehow, e.g., convinces Dr. Phil or Ellen DeGeneres or Gwyneth Paltrow or Matt Lauer or whoever to come out strongly against carbs.

E6300 9y ago
Well, fat certainly is worse than carbs, as far as weight loss is concerned. Fat contains twice the calories per gram compared to carbohydrates or protein, that's why things like cheese and oil are a big no-no if you're trying to lose weight. Butter is alright as long as you don't take a big ol' chomp out of a stick.
- SmellyGeekBoy 9y ago
  Anecdotal I know, but I have plenty of friends who have lost weight on a high-fat, low-carb diet.
- khuey 9y ago
  That diets like paleo and keto work is pretty strong counter evidence to this position.
  - E6300 9y ago
    The only diet that works is caloric restriction. You can follow any fad diet you want, but if you don't expend more calories than you ingest you're not going to lose weight. Replace all the carbs in your equilibrium diet with the same amount of fat per mass and you're going to start gaining weight. It's as simple as that.