Irritable Bowel Syndrome Message Boards | "simple carbs" vs, complex carbs vs. refined carbs

Well, this is such a complicated subject, and so heated for those of us who fight to keep our weight under control.

I know that I live just fine without many of the "carbs" like French bread and sourdough bread. I don't eat gluten, so all bread is out for me. I do just fine on this diet without those. But I do eat a lot of potatoes and rice. Have I gained weight from it. Not a bit. In fact, I've lost about 30 pounds over the last year + on this diet. I'd lost 10 other pounds on a "traditional" diet prior to changing to Heather's plan. I have maintained that loss and the new 30 for over 6 months. Why do I think that is? Because the "carbs" aren't the point-- the huge power they wield as soluble fiber is the point, to me. It fills my large intestines so that I don't get cramping or diarrhea or constipation.

Do I think I'm going to get cancer or die from eating these things? NO WAY. Sweet potatoes, white potatoes, red potatoes, rice... these aren't going to kill me. Let's focus specifically on rice, for example: White rice is white because the insoluble fiber "husk" on the outside has been taken off. Many many cultures and civilizations have subsisted on white rice as a staple of their diets. Asian communities, for example. Most of those cultures and civilizations have much lower cancer rates than we Americans do. You know what's going to kill me? Eating tons of McDonalds like I used to.... eating processed chips and so forth like many people do. Not getting my veggies, my fruit, my vitamins and minerals because I am eating junk all day, junk I pick-up at the 24-hour market or even the gas station--- that's going to make me fat and sluggish and eventually kill me.

I don't eat "simple carbs" much. Simple Carbs are defined as "candy, honey, pop, donuts, sweetened cereal, cakes, sweet fruit, fruit juice, white sugar, brown sugar, corn syrup, maple syrup, molasses, sucrose, glucose, fructose, dextrose, and other "...ose" variations." Refined carbs are white breads, white rice, non-whole grained breads, pasta, etc... and those aren't nearly as bad as "simple carbs." They may be processed, but remember that the processing takes out the bad bits--- the part that mess up our digestive tracts! (Some vitamins and minerals are also removed, but since they're not the only things I eat, I don't worry about that. I get my vitamins and minerals for other foods!) No need to overdo them, but you shouldn't be overdoing ANYTHING! A nice variety... a broad variety of safe foods with a soluble fiber base. That's what I need to keep myself happy. And full. And not wandering around looking for the next snack! Simple carbs are what do that to me! I make sure I am eating other complex carbs, like veggies and legumes and lentils and nuts carefully. This helps me get my nutrients. I also take a multivitamin.

If it makes you feel better... I've found that by taking my soluble fiber supplement (in my case, acaia), I do not require as much soluble fiber with my meals. It's there, but I don't need as much as I used to. I used to need to eat 90% soluble fiber just to keep myself stable. I have stablized and now take a few tablespoons of rice with my salmon and cooked broccoli, maybe a half a baked potato with my chicken and asparagus, a few bananas and my acacia in my smoothie to go with the soy milk, peaches, pears, strawberries... there's always a soluble base, but it doesn't always have to be the whole meal!

Does that help at all??

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