Guest guest Posted August 5, 2002 Report Share Posted August 5, 2002 Is 20 grams of carbs a day healthy??? I have a friend who is doing the hydroxy cut diet. High fat, high protein, I'm thinking that's what it is. But she just said she is doing 20 grams of carbs a day. That just doesn't sound healthy to me. leigh fl Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 5, 2002 Report Share Posted August 5, 2002 It really depends on the person. I'd say, in general, " no, " because to me, any extreme restrictive diet is unhealthy. I like to see variety - varieties of meats, fruits, vegetables, you name it. Restricting carbs means you don't gain access to certain foods like grains and oats that have tremendous health benefits. The body can certainly function on that low carbohydrate intake, and some people respond well to nutrition plans like that. They utilize protein for energy but consume larger amounts so they are not losing muscle mass. However, in my experience, diets that restrict carbohydrate like that are " temporary " or " quick " fixes, and they may result in some dramatic body composition changes over a short period of time, but I have seldom met someone able to maintain that type of nutrition for prolonged periods of time. So ... if you can't maintain it, why do it? Unless it is for a short 2 - 4 week " sprint " at the end of a competition, I'd rather see lifestyle changes - the nutrition you can stick to for the rest of your life. That's just my personal opinion. Is the 20 grams a day UNHEALTHY? Maybe or maybe not, depending on that person's other food choices. Are there HEALTHIER alternatives? I think, " absolutely. " In health, Likness > Is 20 grams of carbs a day healthy??? I have a friend who is doing > the hydroxy cut diet. High fat, high protein, I'm thinking that's > what it is. But she just said she is doing 20 grams of carbs a day. > That just doesn't sound healthy to me. > > leigh > fl Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 21, 2002 Report Share Posted August 21, 2002 The other carbs are simply carbs. Here is the breakdown: Carbohydrate is a macronutrient - a major type of food. Carbohydrates are molecules. Specific types of carbohydrates are known as fiber. Fiber cannot be ingested by the body for energy, but it helps slow digestion, keep the digestive tract clean, may help absorb nutrients, etc. A carbohydrate that has one or two molecules is known as a simple carbohydrate, or sugar. Any carbohydrate that has three or more molecules is a " complex " carb. So, another way to look at your oatmeal: Total carb: 26g *Dietary Fiber: 4g **Soluble fiber: 1g **Insoluble fiber: 2g **Miscellaneous fiber: 1g *Sugars: 0g *Complex carbohydrates (not fiber): 22g And new regulations require that all carbs are listed, including glycerin. So on the Met-Rx Protein Plus! bars which USED to be around 11 grams of carbs, you'll now see something like 29g of carbs. The glycerin will be listed as a " non-impact carb " which for the general consumer implies it doesn't need to be counted, which isn't true - it still supplies calories, it just doesn't impact blood sugar so it's safe for diabetics. In health, Likness > OK, I have a question about carbs. > > Reading an oatmeal box: > > Total Carbohydrate 26g > Dietary Fiber 4g > Soluble Fiber 1g > Insoluble Fiber 2g > Sugars 0g > > What are the other carbs if they are not sugar or > fiber? Is there another " type " of carb I'm missing? > > I know on most " high " protein bars they list a low > carb count because the rest is glycerin and it doesn't > spike blood sugar; but what about other foods? > > Thanks! > Charmaine > > __________________________________________________ > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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