The right amount of healthy carbs.

11 years ago

Is there a special number?

I know about simple and complex carbs/hi glycermic and low.

When I had gestational diabetes, I saw a nutritionist who had me follow this:
30g carbs breakfast
30g carbs snack
60g carbs lunch
30g carbs snack
60g carbs supper/dinner
30g carbs snack
______________
240g

My blood glucose levels were great and thankfully I never needed to be on insulin or meds.

My levels are back to normal but the g.d. made me really think about the job of our pancreas. Over the past decade my eating times throughout the day have varied - a lot.

Anyhow, I asked her what would be a good way to eat (relating to carbs) later and she said the same plan was good and, if I wanted, could change the breakfast to 45 or 60 and skip the morning snack. After the baby, I stopped carb counting and haven't done it since.

Isn't 240g of carbs a lot for a day? (Assume we're talking about good carbs.) The 30 grams weren't hard but 60 became more challenging if you were going to make sure you didn't eat ONLY carbs. Also once I included other foods it ended up being a lot on my plate.

What's are good numbers if you wanted to lose weight or maintain? Is it right to assume the amount of carbs would best be spread throughout the day to keep your blood sugar stable? That makes sense to me but I don't see anyone really do that. I'm sure someone is going to say counting calories is the important part. I agree your calories burned needs to be more than consumed in order to lose weight, but I'm really hung up on the blood glucose thing right now. You're at a higher risk for developing diabetes once you've had g.d. and I really don't want that.

During that time frame, I noticed I was actually HUNGRY every few hours. Before the g.d. this never happened to me consistently. I don't know that it was the carb intake or just the fact that I was eating something every few hours.

Also, I noticed I gained weight VERY slowly during that time once I started eating that way.

Other general notes:
I do try and eat food in their natural state.
I'm looking to add more beans to my diet.
I know our bodies need glucose and I don't plan to go on a no carb way of living.

What are your thoughts on carb intake?

This post was edited by sheesharee on Wed, Feb 27, 13 at 23:25

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Comments (9)

mitchdesj
11 years ago
I've been trying to cut down on my carb intake, and exploring a more gluten free diet, I've started reading the Wheat Belly: so I'll be interested to see who answers your quest. I find I need more knowledge on what foods contain what.
The article below was helpful

Here is a link that might be useful: Harvard guide to carbs
Oakley
11 years ago
I think your nutritionist is right on target. If you still had diabetes, she'd cut the numbers a bit. For me, I didn't go past 30 carbs per meal, and I lost 40 pounds in six months. And I ate a lot!

It's a long process in figuring out what you can safely eat.
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User
11 years ago
The dietitian initially told DH (diagnosed as pre diabetic) to eat between 45-60 carbs per meal and between 15-30 carbs per snack. He was counting calories then and was consuming between 1600-1700 day.

When he couldnt lose weight on that and was always hungry , she actually said to increase the carbs to 75 per meal. She said he wasnt eating enough for his body since he was fairly active and his body was signally that it needed more calories. He increased his calories to 2000 a day for two weeks and gain 2 lbs!

We are hoping now that he had the food intolerance test done that maybe eating the right foods for his body will help him shed the 20 lbs so his blood sugars will be in the normal range. So far he is more satiated, cravings have diminished.

So maybe just eating the right amount of carbs is not enough sometimes. It is just as important as to what kind of carbs you are feeding your body. Our bodies are always trying to let us know what is good and bad but we dont listen and ignore those signals. I now truly believe that "you are what you eat" In my own diet I try to consume more proteins, and good fats and less carbs.
DLM2000-GW
11 years ago
Carbs = sugar in terms of how your body uses them so I'm astounded that a nutritionist would recommend such a high carb count! That said........ I am not diabetic or pre-diabetic and no one in my family is so I have no first hand experience, nor am I a nutritionist. However...... I know several people in another online group who do have issues with blood sugar levels and by cutting their carbs dramatically - under 100/day (and for a few under 75/day) - they are in control and insulin free. I try to keep my carb intake very limited, although I no longer count and just eat what I know helps me feel healthy. Breakfast is my 'carb heavy' meal and I have the day to work it off. The later in the day I eat carbs the worse I feel the next day.
User
11 years ago
dlm, I was just as surprised when she said to increase his carbs. We thought she knew best!

I would love to know what those people you spoke of who consume under 100 carbs a day eat. Every vegetable has carbs!
Annie Deighnaugh
11 years ago
Schwarzbein (endocrinologist...the Schwarzbein principle) suggests that you don't worry about fats except to get a balance of them...poly, mono, saturated and omega 3 fats....eat the protein you need (6 oz or more per day) ....and use the carb intake to maintain or lose the weight you want. Also you should eat fat, protein and carb at every meal and snack (2 per day) and eat vegetables at least 3 x per day... carbs should come from whole fruits, grains and starchy vegetables, not refined flours and sugar...avoid artificial sweeteners except stevia.

This balanced approach will help keep your blood sugar even throughout the day and the presence of fat and fiber in each meal will slow the absorption of carbs into the system. Further the fat will help keep you from feeling hungry. Cutting carbs to adjust your calorie requirements will ensure you are getting the adequate nutrition you need from protein and fats and all the vitamins and minerals they contain. And remember milk, yogurt, is high in carbs.
tinam61
11 years ago
My sister works with diabetics and does nutritional counseling as part of that. She had this great little book - I wish I still had a copy and I'd send it to you. I do not know the answer to how many carbs you need a day but I do know the kind of carbs are important. Do you eat much fiber? Foods with high fiber contents should help you not feel hungry.

tina
tishtoshnm Zone 6/NM
11 years ago
I think the right number will vary for each individual. I am carb aware as my 11 yo is diabetic. We generally aim for no more than 45 g of carbs in a meal. The only vegetables we count in that would be peas, corn, and potatoes (in other words, starchy ones). Generally in the 45 would be counted pasta, bread, rice, dessert, etc. We set that as a kind of maximum but most meals are under and that is fine but we really have no minimum.
User
Original Author
11 years ago
Correction, I saw a dietician not a nutritionist.

Mitch - Thank you for the article.

Oakley - I was hoping you'd weigh in. I was surprised when she told me to basically keep it the same. I figured the numbers she gave were for pregnant women.

Rose - "So maybe just eating the right amount of carbs is not enough sometimes. It is just as important as to what kind of carbs you are feeding your body."
I completely agree.
I saw your other thread about your DH's food intolerances. I hope you're able to find some recipes. I think that would be very challenging.

Dlm - Thanks for the feedback. I was hoping there would be people here that could give me some numbers for comparison.

Annie - I agree with what you wrote. I don't always eat fat, protein, and carb at every meal though. Snacks too? Thanks for the info.

Tina - I've been trying to eat more fiber. Made some beans today for the first time not in a can (don't laugh people). I need to look up more bean recipes.

Tishtoshnm - Yeah, after I posted this I thought more about how not everyone is the same and it's going to vary. Thanks for the feedback about your 11 yo's situation.

I know this isn't rocket science but the g.s. was a hard smack in the face so I wanted to see what others had to say on the topic. I tend to overthink and make things harder than they need to be at times.

A few years back Bumble recommended the book Deep Nutrition. (BTW, thank you Bumble.) I enjoyed this book very much. I dug it out today and am going to read it again.

I'm going to continue eating 5-6 meals a day and space my carbs out. I'm not going to eat as many as I was originally instructed. I still have some weight to lose and that's a priority.

The right amount of healthy carbs.

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mitchdesj

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The right amount of healthy carbs.

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