What's the 411 on carbs. Starches and sugars, do we need them. Since there have been alot of reports that carbs can induce fat, and that people are getting fat on carb overdose. Do we still need carbs and is there a way to get the energy we need in out diets without carbs, say from health fats? What's everybody's take on this?
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Do We Still Need Carbs Or Are They Out Of Style?
- Thread starter MIGHTY DOG
- Start date
Somewhat yes, but on most bulking diets carbs are still there. For people who eat pizza and tons of breads (bread is in almost all fast food, plus high fat PLUS sugar plus salt etc) fast foods etc, then sure it is a problem.
If you were to avoid carbs or almost completely avoid them that would be a ketogenic diet, high fat/protein and modest carbs.
Sugar for the most part is out especially if your trying to lose weight, but there are many sugar types (and threads which talk about em).
If you were to avoid carbs or almost completely avoid them that would be a ketogenic diet, high fat/protein and modest carbs.
Sugar for the most part is out especially if your trying to lose weight, but there are many sugar types (and threads which talk about em).
IMO, hell yes you need carbs, especially if you're trying to gain mass. I read a article recently by Jeff Everson where he was talking about bodybuilding and carbs....let me try and find that.
Prince, I have read that artical before and it is great! I had tried to find it to post here and forgot where it was! I hope you find and post it! Carbs have gotten a bad rap! It's like anything else, you need to watch what kind you eat!
w8lifter
Elite Member
Yes, carbs are important to prevent a slowed metabolism, but it's not an excuse to eat crap. Slow-burning, sugar-free, un-processed carbs are what you should be eating.
Of course, we all need carbs...that is our body's preferred source for energy. The only time I believe you should dramatically reduce your carbohydrate intake is as you approach a contest when you need to make the severe changes required to become extremely lean.
The key thing to understand is to figure out what type of carbs to eat. You should try to consume carbs that are natural...unprocessed (i.e. no white flour), minimal sugar, high fibre, nutrient-dense, etc.
Some examples are most fruits and vegies, sweet potatos, brown rice, wild rice, oatmeal, whole wheat pasta, bean and lentils, low-fat milk, low-fat & sugar free yogurt, etc.
The key thing to understand is to figure out what type of carbs to eat. You should try to consume carbs that are natural...unprocessed (i.e. no white flour), minimal sugar, high fibre, nutrient-dense, etc.
Some examples are most fruits and vegies, sweet potatos, brown rice, wild rice, oatmeal, whole wheat pasta, bean and lentils, low-fat milk, low-fat & sugar free yogurt, etc.
Yes, for anaerobic respiration. Aerobic respiration is primary for most of the day, if not all if some people are total lazy bastards.
You can shift your metabolism over to primarily fat burning, which, if you think back to primitive man, was how things were (mostly meats, with some carbs coming from berries and such).
Hmmm...first you say unprocessed, which is good. Then you say:
...which is man made.
Doth you haveth your wires crossed, Sire?
For initial question: Yes, for success in performance and asthetic body composition, you need carbs.
Technically no, there is no requirement for carbs and any glucose requirements can be met through gluconeogensis from fats and proteins. For optimal results in body composition and training, carbs are necessary to some degree.
Understand that carbs themselves aren't the main cause of fat gain. Denovo lipogenesis, the conversion of carbs to fat, rarely happens in humans even w/ carb overfeeding, if the conditions are right. The problem arises w/ no activity, high calories, high carbs and high fat diets that fat really gets stored. Or if you really, really overeat carbs for days on end. But carbs do inhibit lipolysis (stops fat burning), so other excess calories, especially fat, can be stored more easily as fat, but only on hypercaloric diets, eating more than you burn.
Understand that carbs themselves aren't the main cause of fat gain. Denovo lipogenesis, the conversion of carbs to fat, rarely happens in humans even w/ carb overfeeding, if the conditions are right. The problem arises w/ no activity, high calories, high carbs and high fat diets that fat really gets stored. Or if you really, really overeat carbs for days on end. But carbs do inhibit lipolysis (stops fat burning), so other excess calories, especially fat, can be stored more easily as fat, but only on hypercaloric diets, eating more than you burn.
Without carbs you would burn up the protein you need for muscle growth while you worked out.
If that were the case, people would be losing MORE muscle on a ketogenic diet where you eat few carbs. But aren't ketogenic diets MORE protein sparing than a high carb diet. Well, they are for some within certain ranges of bodyfat. The body doesnt just start 'burning' protein when carbs are low.
w8lifter
Elite Member
Great posts by Chicken Baby and Pete...lol...I knew someone would say it 
I cant find the article now, but I read that you must get enough carbs so that when your muscles are being broken down while you workout there is enough energy (carbs) that can be used up instead of the body having to breakdown the protein that you want to go towards rebuilding the muscle.
Either way, carbs are definitly crucial to providing your body with enough energy to fuel your workouts.
About the unprocessed carsb comment.....when I mentionned whole wheat pasta I understand that these are still a form of a processed carbohydrate however it is definately better than many other sources. I was simply trying to provide some variety. Remember that the goal of health and fitness is to be healthy and this encompasses normalized eating habits. I mean...we need variety...the key is to make more healthy choices than unhealthy choices. It is not healthy to live year-round on minimal carb diets.
I know many of you will not like this post...so be it. We should be encouraging people to eat more well-balanced meal plans. This obviously changes in a pre-contest phase however most people asking quastions such as this one are not in a pre-contest diet phase...they are likely interested in maintaining or achieving a healthy body with minimal bodyfat!
Just my 2 cents worth and now that I've said this...I'm done!
I know many of you will not like this post...so be it. We should be encouraging people to eat more well-balanced meal plans. This obviously changes in a pre-contest phase however most people asking quastions such as this one are not in a pre-contest diet phase...they are likely interested in maintaining or achieving a healthy body with minimal bodyfat!
Just my 2 cents worth and now that I've said this...I'm done!
Your eyes go green and squishy, you lose control of your tongue and it hangs out your mouth while your willy falls off and your stomach falls out of your ass.
Jesus Pete, EVERYONE knows that...
I thought the brains primary source to function was glucose?
Chicken_daddy, thats right!!! almost forgot, just a "few" negative side effects. But besides that, everything else seems to function fine.
Leslie, during a balanced diet the primary source of energy for the brain IS glucose. It requires on average 100g of glucose a day. But during a ketogenic diet, the body adapts and after 3 weeks can derive 75% of its energy from ketones. The rest of its energy can be derived from a small amount of carbs eaten, or from the conversion of protein and fats (glycerol, actually) into glucose via gluconeogenesis. Some people actually function better this way once adapted, some do not. Either way it takes time for the adjustments to be made. Basically adaptions to ketosis are made to fuel the brain w/ ketones, at first most tissue use them but after 3 weeks or so, muscle and most other tissue are using Free Fatty Acids for energy, and ketones are mode almost exclusively for the brain. Free fatty acids cant be used to fuel the brain b/c they can't cross the BBB (Blood Brain Barrier).
(Just for the record, I'm not 100% pro ketogenic dieting like I used to be, it serves its purpose just like other diets and can be better/worse for a person depending on many factors) Just stating the facts.
Leslie, during a balanced diet the primary source of energy for the brain IS glucose. It requires on average 100g of glucose a day. But during a ketogenic diet, the body adapts and after 3 weeks can derive 75% of its energy from ketones. The rest of its energy can be derived from a small amount of carbs eaten, or from the conversion of protein and fats (glycerol, actually) into glucose via gluconeogenesis. Some people actually function better this way once adapted, some do not. Either way it takes time for the adjustments to be made. Basically adaptions to ketosis are made to fuel the brain w/ ketones, at first most tissue use them but after 3 weeks or so, muscle and most other tissue are using Free Fatty Acids for energy, and ketones are mode almost exclusively for the brain. Free fatty acids cant be used to fuel the brain b/c they can't cross the BBB (Blood Brain Barrier).
(Just for the record, I'm not 100% pro ketogenic dieting like I used to be, it serves its purpose just like other diets and can be better/worse for a person depending on many factors) Just stating the facts.
Thanks for the info Pete69! That makes sense...
Coming back to the main point about carbs, the general rule of thumb is you need protein and a source of energy to build muscle. IF you do not eat carbs, your body can use fat/protein as an energy source instead of carbs however, you will need to eat a lot more. If you work on the basis of a 200lb body weight, you would need atleast 400grams of protein per day if you took in no carbs!
Carbs are OK but if you comsume too much in one go (sugar or glucose carbs) your body will produce insoline and store the exses carbs as fat. Whilst you could eat your 200grams of protein (for the day) in one go, the carb intake must be gradual. small meals regularly. Also, starchy foods which have to be converted to glucose and hence, drip feed the body with enrgy are best as you will not get the spike you do with sugar based. Whole meal bread etc. are good for this.
Not explained in full detail I know but hey, it's a forum not a place to write books right??
Carbs are OK but if you comsume too much in one go (sugar or glucose carbs) your body will produce insoline and store the exses carbs as fat. Whilst you could eat your 200grams of protein (for the day) in one go, the carb intake must be gradual. small meals regularly. Also, starchy foods which have to be converted to glucose and hence, drip feed the body with enrgy are best as you will not get the spike you do with sugar based. Whole meal bread etc. are good for this.
Not explained in full detail I know but hey, it's a forum not a place to write books right??
Your wrong about eating too much carbs at one time making you fat. A recent study of overfeeding 500-700g of carbs resulted in almost NO fat gain whatsoever. Denovo Lipogenesis, The conversion of carbs to fat, rarely happens in humans unless they are inactive, and eat very very high carbs for days on end. If calories eaten are less than what the body needs, you will not get fat from insulin.
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Opps, I screwed this up, fellow mods.......how do I restore this
So sorry Pete
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Opps, I screwed this up, fellow mods.......how do I restore this
So sorry Pete
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Dr. Pain
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My bad...I accidentaly deleted 2/3 of this post by using the edit button instead of the quote button!
I officially place myself on moderator probation!
Sorry all, esp Pete!
DP
I officially place myself on moderator probation!
Sorry all, esp Pete!
DP
LOL......Dp needs his Mod learner plates back 
Dr. Pain
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And I supposed this has "never" happened before?
Shit, my instructions were "you will now see an Admin. options on the bottom right".....only thing I have ever done is move a post.
Stupid edit button is on the thread, I'm terribly sorry!
DP
Shit, my instructions were "you will now see an Admin. options on the bottom right".....only thing I have ever done is move a post.
Stupid edit button is on the thread, I'm terribly sorry!
DP
Sorry man.....shouldn`t have rubbed it in
It has ALMOST happened to me....was just about to hit submit when I noticed no
w8lifter
Elite Member
DP...this is just embarrassing 
