# I'm now boycotting any food product that says anything about "Carbs" **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [April 5, 2004, 12:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-now-boycotting-any-food-product-that-says-anything-about-carbs/238263 "2004-04-05T00:41:14Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![BiblioCat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ed8c4c/32.png) [@BiblioCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BiblioCat)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2004, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-now-boycotting-any-food-product-that-says-anything-about-carbs/238263/81 "2004-04-06T16:32:37Z")
> [@overlyverbose](#): > > Just because Dr. Atkins says something does not make it gospel. That’s one of the problems I have with people on Dr. Atkins’ diet. Yeah, the diet has some good points (eat more vegetables), but he’s not Christ or anything. You don’t have to take everything he says with blind faith. > > If you do happen to have legitimate proof (as in something that comes from a source other than the Atkins Web site), by all means, please prove me wrong. But until you can provide proof, you’re just blowing hot air. I don’t have any actual cites, but a year ago I weighed 250-something (I think I was about 256/257 to be precise). I had tried other diets, lost weight, and always gained it back. Last April, I read the Atkins book, thought it made sense, and with the blessing of my neurologist (who wanted me to eliminate sugar from my diet because of my severe migraines), I started on Atkins. I **did not** eat any of the recent “Lo-Carb” franken-foods, but instead ate mainly whole, fresh foods, starting walking and riding an exercise bike. Today I weigh 184, and am still losing weight. No, I certainly don’t think he’s Christ, but it worked for me. I am not a Diet Nazi, and I don’t go around talking about other’s food choices - I think that’s rude. I usually don’t even tell people how I lost weight; I just vaguely say, “Oh, diet and exercise…” because of the strange and horrified looks I get when I say I’m “doing” Atkins. I just know people think I’m about to keel over from all the bacon and red meat they just “know” I must be eating. And they’re wrong… I eat lots of chicken and fish, and lots of green veggies. ---
**Author:** ![overlyverbose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/9dc877/32.png) [@overlyverbose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/overlyverbose)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2004, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-now-boycotting-any-food-product-that-says-anything-about-carbs/238263/82 "2004-04-06T16:41:44Z")
> [@gobear](#): > > No. Merely being derived from a plant does not define a “carb”. Carbohydrates are chemical compounds that generally (but not always) contain a ratio of 2 hydrogen atoms:1 carbon:1 oxygen. When you eat carbohydrate-heavy foods, like bread or potatoes, the body turns some of it into glycogen for immediate energy, but stores most of it as fat. When the body runs out of glycogen for energy, it begins breaking down fats, but fats can’t be turned back into gycogen. Instead, the fat is broken down into byproducts called ketones. This process is called ketosis, and its what Adkins adherents try to achieve through their diet. After reading Ilsa’s post, I realize that I probably mis-stated the reason vegetables are carbs; however, it appears that, regardless of the simplistic execution of my own argument, they most certainly are. If you have evidence to the contrary, by all means please provide it. So far you’re just spouting. ---
**Author:** ![overlyverbose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/9dc877/32.png) [@overlyverbose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/overlyverbose)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2004, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-now-boycotting-any-food-product-that-says-anything-about-carbs/238263/83 "2004-04-06T16:49:02Z")
> [@BiblioCat](#): > > I don’t have any actual cites, but a year ago I weighed 250-something (I think I was about 256/257 to be precise). I had tried other diets, lost weight, and always gained it back. Last April, I read the Atkins book, thought it made sense, and with the blessing of my neurologist (who wanted me to eliminate sugar from my diet because of my severe migraines), I started on Atkins. I **did not** eat any of the recent “Lo-Carb” franken-foods, but instead ate mainly whole, fresh foods, starting walking and riding an exercise bike. Today I weigh 184, and am still losing weight. Congratulations on your success! Like I said before, I think parts of the Atkins diet are really good because anything that encourages an increased consumption of healthy vegetables is great. I’m just sick of the Subway and Friday’s commercials - eat this fat-laden low-carb bacon wrap and you’re sure to lose weight. But I’m glad it worked for you - I know it works for many people but I think the Atkins food police have mad a very bad name for the diet. I had tried the South Beach diet, and not only was I exhausted most of the time, but when I mentioned it to my neurologist, he asked me to go off it because it might make me metabolize my epillepsy medication differently, and my fiance and I are thinking of trying for children sometime soon. Seizures aren’t the best thing for fetuses. But everything’s different for every individual. I’m glad that you found something that worked for you. ---
**Author:** ![gobear](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/8dc957/32.png) [@gobear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gobear)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2004, 4:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-now-boycotting-any-food-product-that-says-anything-about-carbs/238263/84 "2004-04-06T16:52:22Z")
> [@overlyverbose](#): > > After reading Ilsa’s post, I realize that I probably mis-stated the reason vegetables are carbs; however, it appears that, regardless of the simplistic execution of my own argument, they most certainly are. If you have evidence to the contrary, by all means please provide it. So far you’re just spouting. Sexcuse me? You didn’t know what carbs are until I informed you. Yes, plants are made up mostly of carbohydrates, but “made from plants” isn’t the definition of carbohydrate. Vegetables are _composed from carbs_, they are not identical to carbs, as you said. Building blocks are not buildings. ---
**Author:** ![gobear](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/8dc957/32.png) [@gobear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gobear)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2004, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-now-boycotting-any-food-product-that-says-anything-about-carbs/238263/85 "2004-04-06T16:54:28Z")
> [@overlyverbose](#): > > After reading Ilsa’s post, I realize that I probably mis-stated the reason vegetables are carbs; however, it appears that, regardless of the simplistic execution of my own argument, they most certainly are. If you have evidence to the contrary, by all means please provide it. So far you’re just spouting. Sexcuse me? You didn’t know what carbs are until I informed you. Yes, plants are made up mostly of carbohydrates, but “made from plants” isn’t the definition of carbohydrate. Vegetables are _composed from carbs_, they are not identical to carbs, as you said. Bread is made of flour, but bread /= flour. ---
**Author:** ![Anonymous\_Coward](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/94ad74/32.png) [@Anonymous\_Coward](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anonymous_Coward)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2004, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-now-boycotting-any-food-product-that-says-anything-about-carbs/238263/86 "2004-04-06T17:07:43Z")
> [@BiblioCat](#): > > No, I certainly don’t think he’s Christ, but it worked for me. I am not a Diet Nazi, and I don’t go around talking about other’s food choices - I think that’s rude. I usually don’t even tell people how I lost weight; I just vaguely say, “Oh, diet and exercise…” because of the strange and horrified looks I get when I say I’m “doing” Atkins. I just know people think I’m about to keel over from all the bacon and red meat they just “know” I must be eating. And they’re wrong… I eat lots of chicken and fish, and lots of green veggies. Bingo. If you tell people that you cut out processed foods and sugars they won’t bat an eyelash. If you tell them you that you’re on the Atkins diet, you’re suddenly a zero-carb crazed bacon eating machine that can’t touch fruit or veggies. We have the media to thank for that. ---
**Author:** ![overlyverbose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/9dc877/32.png) [@overlyverbose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/overlyverbose)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2004, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-now-boycotting-any-food-product-that-says-anything-about-carbs/238263/87 "2004-04-06T17:37:40Z")
> [@gobear](#): > > Sexcuse me? You didn’t know what carbs are until I informed you. Yes, plants are made up mostly of carbohydrates, but “made from plants” isn’t the definition of carbohydrate. Vegetables are _composed from carbs_, they are not identical to carbs, as you said. > > Bread is made of flour, but bread /= flour. Look, I clearly stated that my definition was overly simplistic. And I am admitting that my original statement wasn’t clear. But please don’t tell me that I didn’t know what carbs were until you informed me. I feel that is an extremely arrogant statement, and also you didn’t inform me about what carbs were. **Ilsa** provided an excellent definition of carbs and a great diagram of the structure of a complex carbohydrate. You’re the carb-knowledge king. Congrats. I shall get thee a crown of bread and spinach. ---
**Author:** ![gobear](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/8dc957/32.png) [@gobear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gobear)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2004, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-now-boycotting-any-food-product-that-says-anything-about-carbs/238263/88 "2004-04-06T17:55:44Z")
> [@overlyverbose](#): > > Look, I clearly stated that my definition was overly simplistic. And I am admitting that my original statement wasn’t clear. But please don’t tell me that I didn’t know what carbs were until you informed me. > I feel that is an extremely arrogant statement, and also you didn’t inform me about what carbs were. **Ilsa** provided an excellent definition of carbs and a great diagram of the structure of a complex carbohydrate. **Ilsa** indeed provided an excellent definition. ---
**Author:** ![ultrafilter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/3d9bf3/32.png) [@ultrafilter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ultrafilter)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2004, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-now-boycotting-any-food-product-that-says-anything-about-carbs/238263/89 "2004-04-06T18:06:38Z")
> [@Anonymous Coward](#): > > Bingo. If you tell people that you cut out processed foods and sugars they won’t bat an eyelash. If you tell them you that you’re on the Atkins diet, you’re suddenly a zero-carb crazed bacon eating machine that can’t touch fruit or veggies. We have the media to thank for that. Just try telling them you’re on a [CKD](http://www.kuro5hin.org/story/2003/8/10/125116/513). People don’t get it. ---
**Author:** ![ENugent](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/4af34b/32.png) [@ENugent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ENugent)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2004, 6:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-now-boycotting-any-food-product-that-says-anything-about-carbs/238263/90 "2004-04-06T18:33:31Z")
> [@overlyverbose](#): > > After reading Ilsa’s post, I realize that I probably mis-stated the reason vegetables are carbs; however, it appears that, regardless of the simplistic execution of my own argument, they most certainly are. If you have evidence to the contrary, by all means please provide it. So far you’re just spouting. The three nutrients that food is made from are carbohydrates, fat, and protein. Most foods, including most vegetables, have all three. If vegetables “are carbs,” where does corn oil come from? Most vegetables contain more calories of digestible carbohydrates than fat or protein, but the absolute quantities of all three are low, because the bulk of most vegetables is indigestible fiber. Atkins dieters reduce (not eliminate) the number of grams of carbohydrates in their diet. Most vegetables are great Atkins food because you don’t eat very many grams of carbohydrate when you eat them. (Of course, the same applies to gravel - maybe I can start a diet craze, too!) 😉 Saying that any food “is” a carb is probably inaccurate (maybe table sugar, I suppose). Foods “contain” carbs. Bread contains a lot; broccoli not so much. Either is edible by an Atkins dieter (past induction), depending on the quantity. ---
**Author:** ![overlyverbose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/9dc877/32.png) [@overlyverbose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/overlyverbose)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2004, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-now-boycotting-any-food-product-that-says-anything-about-carbs/238263/91 "2004-04-06T18:42:31Z")
**ENugent** , a gravel diet sounds excellent - lots of, um, roughage (sp?). Although I’m not sure it’s the kind of roughage that would necessarily be good for the colon, but I could be wrong. I’ll try anything once, though. Maybe I’ll start by sprinkling some gravel on my salad. I think I’d have to ease into that one, so I’ll start by using it as a spice. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![blowero](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/41988e/32.png) [@blowero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blowero)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2004, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-now-boycotting-any-food-product-that-says-anything-about-carbs/238263/92 "2004-04-06T18:54:56Z")
> [@BiblioCat](#): > > I don’t have any actual cites, but a year ago I weighed 250-something (I think I was about 256/257 to be precise). I had tried other diets, lost weight, and always gained it back. Last April, I read the Atkins book, thought it made sense, and with the blessing of my neurologist (who wanted me to eliminate sugar from my diet because of my severe migraines), I started on Atkins. I **did not** eat any of the recent “Lo-Carb” franken-foods, but instead ate mainly whole, fresh foods, starting walking and riding an exercise bike. Today I weigh 184, and am still losing weight. > > … I eat lots of chicken and fish, and lots of green veggies. First, I am sincerely happy for you in your success. But this is kind of my beef (pardon the pun) with Atkins: that stuff is all merely common-sense. It is exactly the same thing that the ADA recommends: whole fresh foods, lots of vegetables and exercise. The carb-counting seems erroneous. And while you have done the diet correctly, I think a lot of people are sidetracked by this unwarranted fixation on carbs, which really isn’t the point. ---
**Author:** ![Anonymous\_Coward](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/94ad74/32.png) [@Anonymous\_Coward](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anonymous_Coward)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2004, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-now-boycotting-any-food-product-that-says-anything-about-carbs/238263/93 "2004-04-06T19:08:08Z")
> [@blowero](#): > > First, I am sincerely happy for you in your success. But this is kind of my beef (pardon the pun) with Atkins: that stuff is all merely common-sense. It is exactly the same thing that the ADA recommends: whole fresh foods, lots of vegetables and exercise. The carb-counting seems erroneous. And while you have done the diet correctly, I think a lot of people are sidetracked by this unwarranted fixation on carbs, which really isn’t the point. You need to count carbs in the Atkins diet because it is a ketogenic diet, which forces your body into ketosis. If you followed the ADA food pyramid you would be eating 6-11 servings of grains a day which would not allow your body to enter ketosis. ---
**Author:** ![CrazyCatLady](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/dfb087/32.png) [@CrazyCatLady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CrazyCatLady)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2004, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-now-boycotting-any-food-product-that-says-anything-about-carbs/238263/94 "2004-04-06T19:09:44Z")
Well, not only do I dread going to work and hearing the latest count on how “bad” my coworkers have been and just exactly how many carbs they’ve eaten today, I loathe the word “carb.” _Loathe_ it. It ranks up there with “lite” and “lo-cal” in my lexicon of stupid words that must be eliminated. Say what you fucking mean, and quit trying to cutesify driving your body into ketosis. What I hate even more, though, is constantly having to hear somebody else’s food diary. If I wanted to know how much carbohydrate you’d eaten, I’d fucking ask, all right? Since I’ve never asked, and never followed up on you telling me about it in excruciating detail, let’s just take that to mean that I don’t give a rat’s ass, hmmkay? No, really, I don’t give a flying fuck how many carbs were in your lunch. No, I don’t agree that it’s the end of the ever-fucking world that you had a couple of spoonfuls of peanut butter to satisfy a craving. What do you want me to do, pull out a cat’o’ninetails and beat you so you never do it again? No, I don’t know how many carbohydrates are in my dinner, or what you’re making for dinner tomorrow, or that piece of candy you’re being bad and eating. What’s more, I don’t care. Do any diet you want, but don’t make me listen to your constant obsession with food. I just don’t want to fucking hear it. ---
**Author:** ![blowero](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/41988e/32.png) [@blowero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blowero)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2004, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-now-boycotting-any-food-product-that-says-anything-about-carbs/238263/95 "2004-04-06T19:11:34Z")
> [@overlyverbose](#): > > I don’t think I’m going to argue this with you - I can see that I’m not going to get anywhere. However, I will point out once again that basically anything you eat (minus dairy & meat) has a plant derivative, which is why it’s called a carb. This has already been refuted, so I won’t repeat it. > [@](#): > > You do realize that regular white bread began as a plant (wheat), right? Gee, ya think? No, I didn’t know that, because, you see, I am from the planet Mars.:rolleyes: > [@](#): > > And just saying that vegetables only contain carbs rather than are carbs is just wrong - vegetables and fruits are made up of more complex carbon compounds than white bread because the flour that makes the bread has had all the other stuff removed from it. But just saying that vegetables are not carbs does not make it any less true that they are, in fact, carbs. I don’t know what this is supposed to be. It’s like you didn’t read my post at all, and are just talking past me. If you want to say “green vegetables are carbs”, knock yourself out. I think it’s ridiculous to do so. Your sidetrack about bread and fruit has nothing to do with it. > [@](#): > > Just because Dr. Atkins says something does not make it gospel. I haven’t read his book, but my understanding was that Dr. Atkins _was_ the person who said green vegetables are carbs. The person I had the argument with was quoting out of some Atkins-clone book. I think you have it exactly backwards here. YOU are arguing the Atkins dogma, and I am telling you you’re wrong. > [@](#): > > If you do happen to have legitimate proof (as in something that comes from a source other than the Atkins Web site), by all means, please prove me wrong. But until you can provide proof, you’re just blowing hot air. I’m sorry, are you disputing that a 2 1/2" biscuit has 26.76 grams of carbohydrates, while a leaf of lettuce has 0.35 grams? What exactly is your point? Who’s blowing the hot air here? ---
**Author:** ![blowero](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/41988e/32.png) [@blowero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blowero)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2004, 7:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-now-boycotting-any-food-product-that-says-anything-about-carbs/238263/96 "2004-04-06T19:19:13Z")
> [@Anonymous Coward](#): > > You need to count carbs in the Atkins diet because it is a ketogenic diet, which forces your body into ketosis. If you followed the ADA food pyramid you would be eating 6-11 servings of grains a day which would not allow your body to enter ketosis. I don’t think you read BiblioCat’s post, or if you did, you didn’t comprehend it at all. ---
**Author:** ![ENugent](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/4af34b/32.png) [@ENugent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ENugent)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2004, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-now-boycotting-any-food-product-that-says-anything-about-carbs/238263/97 "2004-04-06T19:26:06Z")
> [@blowero](#): > > I don’t think you read BiblioCat’s post, or if you did, you didn’t comprehend it at all. Or perhaps you didn’t comprehend either **BiblioCat** ’s post or **Anonymous Coward** ’s. Atkins “done well” is _still_ not the same as the food pyramid, because the food pyramid wants you to eat 6-11 servings per day of grains, and Atkins wants you to eat far less. The fact that they both permit and encourage certain foods (lean meats and veggies) does not make them the same thing. ---
**Author:** ![Anonymous\_Coward](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/94ad74/32.png) [@Anonymous\_Coward](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anonymous_Coward)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2004, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-now-boycotting-any-food-product-that-says-anything-about-carbs/238263/98 "2004-04-06T19:34:42Z")
> [@blowero](#): > > I don’t think you read BiblioCat’s post, or if you did, you didn’t comprehend it at all. Which parts do you think I didn’t comprehend? She didn’t come close to following the ADA recommendations like you suggested. If she followed the Atkins diet like she says she did, she didn’t eat the 6-11 servings of grains a day like the ADA recommends. ---
**Author:** ![overlyverbose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/9dc877/32.png) [@overlyverbose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/overlyverbose)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2004, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-now-boycotting-any-food-product-that-says-anything-about-carbs/238263/99 "2004-04-06T19:41:07Z")
> [@blowero](#): > > I don’t know what this is supposed to be. It’s like you didn’t read my post at all, and are just talking past me. If you want to say “green vegetables are carbs”, knock yourself out. I think it’s ridiculous to do so. Your sidetrack about bread and fruit has nothing to do with it. > > I haven’t read his book, but my understanding was that Dr. Atkins _was_ the person who said green vegetables are carbs. The person I had the argument with was quoting out of some Atkins-clone book. I think you have it exactly backwards here. YOU are arguing the Atkins dogma, and I am telling you you’re wrong. I don’t mind being wrong - it happens, and I admit to my fallacies; quite often I make statements in the heat of the moment without accurate supporting information or make statements that are way too simplistic and pay for it later. As I have already on this thread. However, I really dislike people who seem to feel the need to either A. Ignore me when I admit that I was wrong so they can continue to tell me how wrong I was for their own edification; or B. Continue to argue something that has been done to death. So, did you actually read the rest of this thread? Ya know, the part where I admitted I was wrong? I’ve already agreed that I misstated my argument, so please either read the rest of the thread and stop rubbing my face in the fact that I was wrong or come up with some new information. We’ve been over what is a carb and what isn’t for almost a page now. You’re right, okay? Enjoy your correctness and GET OVER YOURSELF. ---
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2004, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-now-boycotting-any-food-product-that-says-anything-about-carbs/238263/100 "2004-04-06T19:45:42Z")
> [@](#): > > I haven’t read his book, but my understanding was that Dr. Atkins was the person who said green vegetables are carbs. “The more variety in the vegetables you eat, the better. And most vegetables are low on the AGR, so eathing your fill has very little impact on your blood sugar.” — _Atkins for Life_, Robert C. Atkins, MD, p. 39, St Martin’s Press [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-now-boycotting-any-food-product-that-says-anything-about-carbs/238263.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-now-boycotting-any-food-product-that-says-anything-about-carbs/238263.md?page=6)