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Originally Posted by JustJuneBug
so what is the average amount of carbs (not percentage) you guys are taking in per day?
You really have to go by percentage because everyone is at a different calorie level. For example, 200g of carbs on my 1900-calorie diet would be WAY different from 200g of carbs on a 1200-calorie diet. In any case, the number (be it grams or percentage) is practically irrelevant--what counts is calories in vs. calories out. Limiting your carbohydrate intake is not magically (or at least, not healthfully) going to make you lose weight. "Good" (complex) carbohydrates contain many nutrients we NEED to survive.
The ones you should avoid are those that are extremely processed--white flour, white pasta, white rice, white bread (noticing a trend?), refined sugar, etc. However, whole-grain products and natural sugars (such as those found in low-fat dairy, fruits, and veggies) are very healthy for your body and don't typically need to be limited as long as you are within your caloric intake range (unless you have been told otherwise by a doctor for diabetes or any other special condition). Some people try to avoid carbs because they trigger the desire to eat MORE carbs, but if this isn't the case for you, then I wouldn't worry about it.
I try to follow the American Heart Association guidelines. They suggest 4+ fruits and 4+ veggies each day in addition to AT LEAST 6 servings of whole grains. What they stress is to keep your fat intake to 30% or less (with 10% or less coming from saturated fats). Of course, I can't find it now, but I know I have also read from the AHA that they recommend that you keep your protein intake to 20-30% of your total, and that if you lower your protein or fat intake, you should INCREASE your carbs to compensate, NOT increase your protein.
From the AHA website (available at http://www.americanheart.org/present...entifier=11234):
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Most Americans already eat more protein than their bodies need. And eating too much protein can increase health risks. High-protein animal foods are usually also high in saturated fat. Eating large amounts of high-fat foods for a sustained period raises the risk of coronary heart disease, diabetes, stroke and several types of cancer. People who can't use excess protein effectively may be at higher risk of kidney and liver disorders, and osteoporosis.
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High-protein diets don't provide some essential vitamins, minerals, fiber and other nutritional elements. A high-carbohydrate diet that includes fruits, vegetables, nonfat dairy products and whole grains also has been shown to reduce blood pressure. Thus, limiting these foods may raise blood pressure by reducing the intake of calcium, potassium and magnesium while simultaneously increasing sodium intake.
I know no one here really said they were on a low-carb or high-protein diet, but just in asking how many carbs are good, it's apparent that the Atkin's-type hype is far too widespread, IMO 
JustJuneBug , 01-17-2006 08:52 AM
jillybean720 , 01-17-2006 09:59 AM
