The MeatHeads in the "diet & fitness” Section are telling me my HIGH CARB Vegetarian diet is bad for me. Is there any truth to the claim?

Anonymous

There is a difference between eating Top Ramen with Saltine crackers and eating a lentil and potato soup. You didn't specify what kind of carbs you are eating and we are not clairvoyant.

Janet

High carb is okay if you are working it off. but you need so much MORE than carbs. Protein you know about. But you need more than glycoprotein. Vitamins allow chemical reactions TO take place in your body. Carbs rarely have much vitamins. Minerals work with vitamins. Fiber is necessary for digestive health, and to avoid colon cancer. The problem with carbs is that while they ARE a great source of energy, they are also very fattening. Sugars, starches ... corn, potatoes, pasta, rice, etc. Weight loss happens when we burn off more calories than we eat. And the more carbs we eat, the more we MUST burn off those extra calories. The best weight loss diets have protein, dairy, whole grains, fruit, vegetables. Each meal 1/4 protein, 1/4 carbs, 1/2 vegetables. But daily calorie intake will be about 600 calories UNDER how many calories it takes to maintain our current weight. You do not need to eat vegetarian. In fact the more we restrict the variety of what we eat, the MORE likely our diet will not give us all that we need. Unless we become nutritional experts and pre-plan our menu.