carbs

Is it bad that everything I've been eating is mostly carbs? How do you know which are good and which are bad?!  Since Im trying to gain I have been avoiding vegetables cause they tend to make me very full, but I do eat a lot of granola bars and cereal and occasionally pizza all in the same day.  I usually end up somewhere in the 65-68% range.  Is there anything you could recommend I eat instead?

Carbs aren't the enemy. About 50-60% of your diet should come from carbs, and given your #%, I'd say you're probably lacking on fats? Always seems to be fats. x: Either way, what are your other percentages?

You want to get more complex than simple carbohydrate, and look for your carbs in their most natural forms. There's a list here as well as some info that might explain it better:


NetDoctor: Carbohydrates

The difference between complex and simple carbohydrates

All carbohydrates form glucose when digested. Glucose is transported around the body via blood and taken into cells to be converted into energy. The pancreas gland in your abdomen secretes the hormone insulin which controls the uptake of glucose by your cells. If you have any excess glucose, this is converted into glycogen which is stored in the liver or in fat around the body.

When your body needs more energy, a second hormone called glucagon is secreted by the pancreas. This converts the glycogen back into glucose, which is then released into your bloodstream for your cells to use. This means the body's glucose (sugar) metabolism is a cycle of glucose, insulin and glucagon reactions.

• The slower the release of glucose and hormones, the more stable and sustainable the energy levels of the body.
• The more refined the carbohydrate, the faster the glucose is released into your blood. This can cause peaks and drops in your blood sugar level, and less stable energy levels in the body.

Complex carbohydrates provide a slower and more sustained release of energy than simple carbohydrates. In their natural form they contribute to long-term good health, appetite control and sustained energy levels.

Totally agree with the above.

Along with that, carbohydrates help in the proper function of the brain as well as the body's muscles by transforming sugar into the energy your body truly needs. The body breaks them down into simple sugars, which is then absorbed into the bloodstream. As the sugar level rises in your body insulin is released. (Insulin is needed to move sugar from the blood into the cells, where the sugar can be used as a source of energy)

When this process goes fast (with simple carbohyrates)  you're more likely to feel hungry again soon. When it occurs more slowly, as with a whole-grain food, you'll be satisfied longer. These types of complex carbohydrates give you energy over a longer period of time.

The carbohydrates in some simple carbohydrate foods cause the blood sugar level to rise more quickly than others. You're probably already on the right track if you are limiting simple sugars (such as candy, chocolate) and eating more complex carbohydrates (like vegetables, oatmeal, and whole-grain wheat bread).

To my understanding, The daily intake for all carbohydrates is 310g (or as lala stated, 50%-60%).

xx

thanks for your help...I guess im not too worried then.