Too Low Carb, Not so Smart? (Part 1)

As an outpatient Registered Dietitian Nutritionist, I meet people on all sorts of diets and meal plans. Even if they think they are not on a diet, they are. Their diet may not be the most optimal, but it could be “the fast food diet” or “the eat food only if it is convenient diet” or the “no-time-to-cook-so-everything-is-from-a-package diet”.  No matter.

I always look at what people are doing now, and try to help them move in a more healthful direction.

One of the more common types of diets people try on their own is the low-carbohydrate diet. They may be trying this diet because the Dr. told them their blood sugar is creeping up. Or they heard it would help them lose some weight. Or their neighbor told them to “cut out everything white”.

There is a lot of misinformation out there about eating low-carbohydrate. There may be grains of truth in the misinformation, which makes it sound like it could be true to many folks.

In order to learn more about carbs, pretend you are in one of my classes. First, I have 10 questions to test your knowledge about carbs. Answer them to the best of your ability, and in about a day, and I will give you my answers. No need to send me your answers. I’m not grading you.  Here we go:

1. Low carbohydrate eating will help you lose weight. T or F

2. Low carbohydrate eating will help your blood sugar. T or F

3. Everyone needs carbohydrate. T or F

4. How much carbohydrate (in grams) is a minimum needed for adults?

5. Athletes do better on a high-carbohydrate diet. T or F

6. You need extra carbohydrate after exercise. T or F

7. Carbohydrate helps you think. T or F

8. The carbohydrate in white rice and white bread is worse for you than the carbohydrate in brown rice and grainy bread. T or F

9. It is better to divide your carbohydrate intake throughout the day (rather than eat it all at one time). T or F

10. Natural carbs (such as honey, pure maple syrup, fruit, and 100 percent fruit juice) don’t count toward your carbohydrate for the day. T or F