Is it true that carbs really are bad?

Question

I've heard about it and how you should avoid having too many if you want to lose weight. Is it true?

Wow wasn't expecting that many answers! thanks. Gonna be hard to choose a best answer! lol

Answer 1

There are good carbs and bad carbs. Good carbs are whole-grain without sugar added. The carbs that are bad for you are the simple sugars and white flours (processed grains that don't have any fiber left to balance the sugar with the fiber go through your system very quickly, causing a quick rise in blood sugar and then a crash. The more often this happens, the harder your pancreas works. The harder your pancreas works, the more likely it will shut down, causing diabetes 2.) I would suggest any carbs you consume be high in fiber and low in sugar. The more "natural" the grain, the healthier it is for you. Check labels also for the amount of soluble fiber and insoluble fiber. The insoluble fiber is the stuff that cleans out your system. The soluble fiber helps reduce blood cholesterol and maintain a level amount of energy through the day.
Great sources of healthy fiber are whole grain breads, whole grain pasta, beans, whole fruits like apples, berries and citrus fruit. Vegetables are also a great source of fiber, and they tend to have more nutrients the less processed they are. Frozen are the best to get, but fresh are usually just as good or almost as good. Canned should be avoided because they have been stripped of their nutrients and drowned in salt. If you must have canned veggies, opt for the salt-free or low-sodium versions.

Eating lots of good carbs gives you better energy, since your energy won't yo-yo throughout the day. Bad carbs get stored quickly as fat and leave you tired all the time. So, eat the good carbs. They will help you lose weight by controlling your energy levels and hunger. If you skip carbs (grains) entirely to lose weight, you will gain it back once you allow carbs back in.

It's better to eat a healthy diet than to skip carbs entirely. Just make better choices for the carbs you do eat and you'll still lose weight, but at a healthy rate and it will be more likely to be permanent weight loss.

Answer 2

Like said above.. carbs are an important source of energy, and fuel for your brain. It is the type, and ratio, that matters the most. The GI, glycemic index, is a way that the carbs are rated for the time that they are absorbed/used by the body. The way that they are processed depends on the form of the carb. An example is whole grain, not just brown colored, bread is full of carbs (complex), fiber, some fat, etc. The fiber slows the absorption of the carbs to a useable rate for the body. If that fiber was not there then the carbs (simple) would zip right into the bloodstream, cause a spike, then crash and burn, along with storing that excess! If you want to cut down on the bad carbs, or anything food related, then you will want to stick to foods that are the least processed. Example is fruit instead of juice, oatmeal instead of an oatmeal cookie or bar, etc. Some also believe that the ratio of carbs, protein, and fat is key. Something like in a meal eat 3 parts protein, 2 parts carbs, one part fat. Hope I helped you, good luck. :)

Answer 3

Nope, complete rubbish. we need carbs, protein, and vitamins to maintain health. I have said this sooo many times, the way to lose weight and keep it off is to avoid foods high in fat, (particularly saturated fats).and artificial sugars. Exercise, and having a well balanced diet will maintain a healthy weight and a healthy body. Carbs provide energy, are filling, and satisfy hunger. There are good and bad carbs. Eat wholemeal bread, brown rice, pasta without rich calorie filled sauces, eat more fish, especially oily ones high in Omega 3, more "white" meat eg fresh poultry, The whole point is about being balanced! Eat plenty of vegetables and fruit, have breakfast! Do not snack on rubbish, try never to eat after 6pm. Drink plenty of water, this is not about being on a "diet" it is about eating healthily.

Answer 4

No. Anything in excess is bad. But carbs are a major source of energy and very important. The bottom line is too many calories = weight gain. Doesnt matter what form of calorie. Though too many carbs can make you crave more.
The trouble is when way too many are consumed. For example, one serving of pasta, a popular carb, is only half a cup.
Also, people often consume too many "white" carbs.... white bread, white rice, and white pasta. Whole wheat is a better option.

Answer 5

umm in moderation no they're not, carbs contain double the amount of energy that protein or fats would provide, so this energy you get from carbs is good to help u with bodily functions,movement etc...however the excess energy you don't use/consume is readily almost immediately converted to fat and stored in your body. IF you're gonna work out to lose weight then you can eat it but if you're jus gonna diet to lose weight you should avoid it.Sooo carbs is good but too much of it is really bad, and its kinda hard to decide when you had too much of something that tastes so good. My weakness is bread.

Answer 6

Low carb diets lead to something called the Atkins attitude. It is being aggravated easily and a crabby disposition. My dad got this while on a low carb diet. You can loose lots of weight by avoiding most carbs but it will make you a very unlikeable person who is not happy. It also isn't a healthy way to loose weight.

Answer 7

Carbs are not bad; the basic food unit cells need is glucose- a carbohydrate. All food is broken down into carbohydrates eventually in the body.

Diets need to be balanced and provide a range of nutrients in order to meet needs. NO one food group is "bad"... even fat is necessary; moderation and balance are the keys to a good and healthy diet.

Fad diet theories, where carbs are bad and protein are gods, or where eating brocolli is the key to life, come and go. A balanced diet with approprate calories versus exercise is the only way to be healthy.

Answer 8

carbs, fat are not bad.

there are good and bad fats.
good fats are in olive oil, nuts.
bad fats in processed foods,fried chicken, most beef products.

carbs are bad when u eat too much and gain lots of calories just like fats.
if u gain more calories than u lose calories, u gain weight.

u want to eat low glycemic foods ( foods which don't raise ur blood sugar quick) like whole grains, oatmeal ( not the sweetened), fruits and veggies.

high glycemic fooods raise ur blood sugar up very quick.
honey, sugar, high fructose corn syrup, read the labels oin drinks and foodstuffs if they contain the above especially too uch sugar or high fruc. corn syrup.and limit this and pay close attention to serving size.

Answer 9

I think it is the opposite. The body mainly relies on the energy provided by the carbs to carry out its biochemical reactions (nourishing the brain and muscles). The problem only arises when we eat an excess of carbs because they store as fat. Without carbs you will feel sluggish and unable to concentrate because the brain relies on carbs to work.

Answer 10

Only some. Stay away from bleached flours and any starch products made from hydrogenated and partially hydrogenated oils. Rye, whole wheat etc. are ok. Regulate your carbs so that your energy levels and blood sugars are balanced. Don't back up a bread or starch included lunch with a starch laden dinner.