Comments on: How Many Carbohydrates Do You Need?

By: lylemcd

lylemcd — Sun, 07 Mar 2010 15:24:24 +0000

Thank you for repeating many old ideas that are incorrect. The brain shifts to ketones (a fat derived fuel) and can run just fine in some people (others feel terrible). And you dont need carbs to burn fat. That’s a 30 year old idea that is also false. I’d suggest you get a physiology book published since 1970.

By: Tim

Tim — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 05:32:07 +0000

This article is full of misconceptions about carbohydrates. First off all, even the oxidation of fats burns off the flame of glycolysis. You need some source of carbohydrates periodically AT LEAST to burn fat. Most importantly, however, is the energy requirement of your brain. Your brain requires approximately 200 kcal per day of carbohydrate fuel. If you want to have your body “make carbohydrates,” then go for it: but your brain WILL suffer.

By: lylemcd

lylemcd — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 18:11:57 +0000

had to spam me twice, eh?

I’ll repose from the other article:

***
Unfortunately you’re wrong and need to look up the definition of an essential nutrient which is that

a. it is required by the body for life
b. It can NOT be made by the body

The body can produce glucose from other substrates (lactate, pyruvate, alanine, leucine). Hence carbohydrates are not essential to come from the diet. Because carbs don’t meet criterion ‘b’ for being an essential nutrient.

By: cryer

cryer — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 18:03:53 +0000

“Despite the fact that there is no physiological requirement for carbohydrates in the human diet”

I will have to disagree with that. Carbohydrates join the structure of the cell membranes, and they are used in the production of enzymes, neurotransmitters, and they make up part of nucleotides and hormones, showing structural function in the human body. they are not only sole energy suppliers.

By: lylemcd

lylemcd — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 16:07:50 +0000

Because developing ketosis has nothing to do with muscle glycogen. It has to do with liver glycogen status (and a couple of other things) and the liver only holds about 50 grams and will be at least partially depleted after an overnight fast (and mostly depleted by about day 2).

By: christopher john barton

christopher john barton — Sun, 07 Feb 2010 10:52:48 +0000

Hi there, I have a question as to glycogen depletion.
The total glycogen store on average is 500g (400g in muscle and 100g in your liver)
This is equivalent to 1600-2000kcals.
If this is the case and at rest we burn nearly all fat how can I be in ketosis in 24hrs which
I am. (zero carb intake and no exercise being 6 foot at 100kg with 30%bodyfat)
If the brain uses around 100g a day and if at rest we burn pure fat, it should take 5 days
for our body to deplete our 500g reserve.
By the same token if we have 500g of glycogen to deplete and it should take 5 days.
Why on a psmf do we need so much protein at the start when our glycogen level is high.

By: skierka187

skierka187 — Mon, 28 Dec 2009 15:40:07 +0000

very good informations, thanks

By: lylemcd

lylemcd — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 16:13:10 +0000

Mickie: As per the article, it depends on the situation. How much activity, insulin sensitivity all go into the determination of how many carbs a given person needs on a given day. An old rough guideline (esp. for fat loss dieting) is an intake of 1 g/lb bodyweight and that’s often a good starting point. Fiber was addressed in some detail in recent articles on the site (Look for Fiber – It’s Natures Broom).

By: Mickie

Mickie — Sat, 24 Oct 2009 05:32:26 +0000

I am still confused as to how many carbs I need to eat daily. I am 198 lbs. and have a goal weight of 150. I am female and 58 years of age. Also, if I eat a food that has 5 grams of carbs and 2 grams of fiber, am I allowed to subtract the 2 grams of fiber from the 5 grams of carbs for a total of 3 grams of carbs for that particular food?

By: Milly

Milly — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 17:10:33 +0000

Great reading.

I’m a type 2 diabetic. I went on a no carb diet of dairy (minus milk), meat, raw eggs, nuts and salad for 3 months. I lost a stone and a half before I began to feel unwell. In addition, my short term memory seems to have been trashed. I’ve increased carbs to around 100gms/day and do feel better. I’m not adding any weight but my memory is still bad. A big plus is that I hardly seem to be diabetic any more. Almost as though the freedom from carbs enabled my pancreas to recover (dunno).

Will my memory come back or am I damaged for life ?