Tuesday, 07 April 2009

  • Sugars or Carbs: Which Make More Fat?



    My friend has a sweet tooth, while I have a salt tooth.  She'd choose a piece of chocolate over a chip any day, while I'm the complete opposite.

    I've always thought that I have the upper-hand when it comes to choosing healthier foods, but I'm not so sure anymore.  I know that many kinds of sugars can turn into fat, but if carbohydrates aren't as bad for you, then why are there so many carb-free diets out there today?

    Do you find yourself taking in more sugars, or more carbohydrates on your average day?  Which one do you think is less harmful?

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Comments (17)

  • feedtheplants@xanga

    My days are filled with far too much of both lately.
  • peacelove__CALLIE@xanga

    carbs and sugar are the SAME thing. and there are a lot of diets out there that take away things that are bad for you or good for you. Carb-free diets are stupid, especially since you really need carbs, but in the right amounts (130-200 carbs unless you are an athlete)

  • TornadoChaser@momaroo

    Not exactly the same thing but yup sugars are carbohydrates (as well as starch and cellulose.) Carbs are fuel for your body, take away the fuel.... yeah not pretty.


    But I understand what you are asking. Personally, I feel that refined sugar is evil and limit that as much as possible. Besides that, I keep everything in balance. 
  • antimony_demon@xanga

    @peacelove__CALLIE@xanga - True that.

    All carbs are made out of sugars. Fiber is made out of sugars. =\

    As for the chocolate vs. chips dilemma, chips also has a LOT of fat (depending on what kind of chips you eat.) Dark chocolate is good for you up to a point, but both in excess are totally horrible for your health.

    If I were you guys, I would limit the amounts of both that I eat. It's just such a bad habit.

  • Erika_Steele@xanga

    Well, like everyone else said sugars are carbohydrates and all excessive calories are stored as fat no matter where the extra calories came from.  I take in more carbohydrates as I tend to eat more fruits and whole grain breads than I do soda, candy, or sugar licking.


    I usually have a sweet tooth, but occassionally I'll go for chips and crackers, too.
  • quiet_strength@revelife

    it depends on what kinds of carbs you are eating. carbs are essential to living...but there is a big difference between potato chips or white bread and say, fresh veggies. Both are carbs, and your body handles them differently. Some carbs are more starchy than others and starch turns quickly to sugar, and sugar to fat. Not all sugar is bad for you, either, it is refined sugars and fructose that are especially harmful and turn quickly to fat.

    i don't worry a lot about it because i eat a wide variety of foods.
  • tastytimmm@xanga

    Sugars and carbohydrates... if you don't use it, you lose it. lol jk Actually, it's "if you don't use it, it turns into fat." Sugar = a carb.
  • sparkle1202@xanga

    Anything you eat in excess of your calorie needs will be stored as fat, regardless of whether it is carbohydrate, protein, or fat. Foods that are sweet also tend to be higher in fat (like pastries and cookies) and therefore are higher in calories (fat has 9 calories/gram, carbohydrates and protein only have 4). That's why you may gain weight if you eat a lot of sweet foods. However, chips and other salty carb foods may be fried, which mean they also pack a lot of fat and calories. If you want to satisfy a craving for salty foods, try healthier options like baked chips or pretzel rods, and stick to the correct portion size. If you crave sweet, have some fruit salad instead of a big hunk of cake.
  • wishing_writing@xanga

    I depends on what type of carbs you take in. I get a lot of crabs because I love fiber and whole grain things. But they are good carbs. It just depends. Potatoe chip carbs probably aren't good carbs.
  • J4MIE_YUN@xanga

    CARBSSSS for sure!!!!!
  • meadow_clock@xanga

    Carbs are brain food, take out what your brain is running on and, most often, you'll probably start getting headaches.  Not to mention, I've done research on carb-free diets like the Atkins diet and...a guy from Florida actually sued them for causing him to have a heart attack because no carbs in your diet is such a bad idea! 

    As a general rule, use everything in moderation.  It's alright to go for the sweet tooth or salt tooth every once in a while, just don't overdo it!
  • der_lila_Stern@xanga

    They both make the same amount of fat if you are consuming too many calories.  Period.


    Either one can be bad for you.  It really is all about balance!
  • angular_achievement@xanga

    carbs

    apparently sugar, although its bad for you, just passes right through you

    while with carbs- you better work it off
  • Manstration@xanga

    Carbs are healthier for you since they provide energy. I eat the right carbs. I eat oatmeal to start my day, topped off with fruit. Through out the day I refrain from breads, pastas, and anything else carb-y. I focus in more on raw plant foods and nuts.
  • inspireothers@xanga

    i take in wayy way more carbs. my mom doesnt buy me any sugary food. i eat noodles in the morning, bread in the afternoon, rice at night. carbs carbs D:
  • Hermyoninny229@xanga

    Both are calories. Obviously the quality depends on the food you choose. Dark chocolate is good, white is bad.  Whole grain bread is good, white is bad. 


    I reach for ice cream, or nuts when I binge. Not so much chips. Sometimes binge. I'm even with the two.  I don't reach for either on a good day very much.
  • angelwingfive@xanga

    Just stay in moderation. If you eat a lot of either, it's likely to hurt you in the 'ol fat-storage game.

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