Thursday, May 23, 2013

Addicted to Carbs

By David Mendosa, Health Guide Wednesday, September 03, 2008
For most of my life I was addicted to carbohydrates. Like almost everyone else. Even after reading Sugar Blues by William Dufty and The Carbohydrate Addict's Diet and other books by Rachael and Richard Heller years ago, I refused to accept that this addiction existed. Gary Taubes finally persuaded ...
9/ 6/08 3:40pm

I am prompted to inquire what people in my circumstances should do in terms of diet. I have both gout and diabetes.

 

A high protein diet will provoke severe gout attacks for me but keep my A1C at the 6.0 level without glucophage medications.  A gout diet, high in carbs, veggies and fruit raises my A1C. I confess I do eat meat and fish regularly but not high purine level meats, organ meats or shell fish.

 

I do take Allopurinol to control my uric acid level but cannot take high doses because of impaired kidney function.

 

Martin

Anonymous
Helen Mueller
9/ 7/08 2:52pm

I have conflicting conditions too, but not as widely opposite as yours.  My problems are celiac, diabetes, weight and the inability to exercise, coupled with the lack of will power to further restrict foods.  And a few other things.  I had a thought while reading your post:  have you considered going vegetarian, without starches?  I have a friend who loves the green things she grows in her garden and successfully controls her diabetes with salads and bits of faux meat products.  Could this give you the control you seek without gout attacks?  Helen

Gina Capone, Health Guide
9/ 6/08 10:56pm

David, I am a carb addict as well. I just recently got myself off so many carbs and into more veggies. I have noticed since eating a bit better i have more energy through the day and my blood sugars aren't as whacky. 

David Mendosa, Health Guide
9/ 6/08 10:58pm

Dear Gina,

 

I'm glad that you mentioned having more energy on a low-carb diet. That's the other thing in addition to better blood glucose levels and weight loss that I forgot to mention.

 

Best regards,

 

David

9/ 9/08 9:43pm

Until I read your article, I never knew about addiction to carbs but I could tell you had looked on my plate!  I was raised with a high carb diet as a child and get so cranky if I think I am deprived of it!  Does that make sense to you?  At the moment, I absolutely crave carbs 100% I admit.  I take it a day at a time, but I am addicted!  It has to be be bread, rice or potato!  IIf I don't, I binge carbs! 

 

Thank you for the reality check and the honesty.  I am still learning I can eat low carbs.

Too Sweet!

9/11/08 12:13pm

I was glad to see your article about low carbing to help control diabetes.  Not too many people support the low carb lifestyle.  I discovered the wonders of a low carb lifestyle about three years ago.  I was surprised that you can still indulge in a higher carb food now and then, i.e., bread, potatoes.  I find that I can't do that at all.  One slip and I am back on the carb addiction trail.

Anonymous
Cheryl
9/15/08 9:16am

I recently saw a speaker talk about low carb diets to control blood sugars. He said that you will feel terrible for about 2 weeks and then the body starts using fat for energy . He said that he knew many long distance cyclists and runners, who followed low carb diets and that you can get endurance from fat. He said our body naturally wants to use fats for energy but when we have a lot of carbs, the body gets rid of it first by using it for energy.

David Mendosa, Health Guide
9/15/08 6:19pm

Dear Cheryl,


That's partly right. When you start a very low-carb diet, you may feel weak, as I wrote at http://www.healthcentral.com/diabetes/c/17/32397/low-carb-weak


But your body then uses protein -- not fat -- for energy.


Best regards,


David



Anonymous
Anonymous
9/16/08 4:39pm

Congratulations skinny man! Can you really hike all day on the amount of food you give as a sample diet? I am thinking of going off Byetta and going back to really low-carb and know I will switch over to burning fat but if my body fat were as low as yours wouldnt I (you) need to eat more of something?

David Mendosa, Health Guide
9/16/08 5:08pm

Thank you. Yes, I can!

 

On Thursday I hiked for 10 hours on just a little fruit yogurt (that somebody gave me) and a couple of cans of sardines. Yesterday I hiked for 6 hours on my usual breakfast of two poached egg whites and then later a couple of cans of sardines. I just don't get hungry on a very low-carb diet.

 

In all honesty, I do need to add that I was nearing exhaustion by the end of my hike on Thursday. It was a bit much for somebody who is 73 years old. I hiked in the Sangre de Cristo Wilderness to Cherry Lake for 12 miles up about 4,000 feet to close to 12,000 feet. Near the end of the hike I thought that my problem might be low blood glucose, so I took some glucose tabs. They didn't help at all. So the problem wasn't a lack of glucose or other food but just that I had pushed myself a little too much.

Anonymous
lene
10/ 1/08 11:10am

I, too, find I eat much less now that I am eating so few carbs. I eat a small meal late in the morning, then have a fairly light supper with my husband and son in the evening. I sometimes have a snack (half an apple, or some cheese or raw veggies) in the afternoon, and sometimes I don't.

 

I went low carb about 18 months ago after being diagnosed with diabetes (T2) and have lost over 30 pounds so far without really trying. I still have weight to lose, but for the first time in my adult life I believe I will gradually lose the weight. Slowly is fine with me, because I am doing it while eating good food that I truly enjoy, and am not hungry all the time.

 

I, too, recommend Gary Taubes' book to all and sundry. Some people find it a bit of a dry read, I know, but it is so substantive that it leaves the reader feeling empowered and educated about diet in a way few books manage to achieve. I've been reading your articles on this site and on your own site for many years now, even before I had diabetes (my mom has it, too, so I've had an interest for quite a while) and I've been very happy to see you making the switch to low carb. You look and sound much healthier!

David Mendosa, Health Guide
10/ 1/08 6:21pm

Dear Lene,

 

Thank you! I am indeed healthier than I have ever been. Just this afternoon I mentioned to a neighbor that this past summer (up until at least today) I have been hiking more than ever before in my life. Even 10-hour hikes are no problem on a very low-carb diet.

 

Best regards,

 

David

Anonymous
windy
10/ 1/08 12:22pm

I also refused to consider that I was addicted to carbs for my whole life, while I struggled constantly with cravings and gained more and more weight. Finally. I've accepted the fact that eating fewer carbs leaves me with few cravings, and am losing weight - a lot of weight. Am feeling really good, but had to do some grieving for the loss of my "comforter" -- carbs. It's well worth the period of grieving.

Anonymous
Frank
4/21/11 9:12pm

I took the quiz(at the end of this article) on how many carbs I should eat a day.  Based on my age(66) ,  ht of 5'10 and moderate activity it gave an answer of 322grams.  I don't think you would recommend that amount.   I actually am at about 175 not taking any fiber into account. 

David Mendosa, Health Guide
4/22/11 10:42am

Dear Frank,

 

Thank you so very much for your comment and for bringing that awful quiz to my attention. I have contacted HealthCentral management, which agrees that the quiz doesn't make any since. By the end of the day today I expect it to be removed. Meanwhile, please try to reduce the amount of carbohydrates you consume, particularly starches from grains and potatoes, as well as table sugar and high-fructose corn syrup.

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By David Mendosa, Health Guide— Last Modified: 06/16/12, First Published: 09/03/08