QuestionQUESTION: Hi Laurie,
Again the computer won't let me follow up. So I have to ask a new question.
I have 2.
1. Is there a difference in the complex carbs and simple sugars? As to which one if either is any better or worse for you?
2. Another question I had was one that you brought up. You mentioned in one of your answers to me that ALL flour is made with wheat. So what then, if any, is the difference between wheat flour and white flour?
I know today is Sunday. If you don't get back to me right away, its not a problem.
Joyce
ANSWER: Hi again Joyce :)
Simple sugars and complex carbs have the same calories in them. And it's not really the carb versus sugar alone that is problematic: carbs come in foods that provide fiber and B vitamins and other nutrients. Sugar (like the white stuff added to tea and coffee and cereal and candy) usually provides only calories and no nutrition. And if you eat a lot of sugar you can gain weight without having the advantage of any more nutritional intake.
Wheat flour implies "whole wheat". The whole grain provides fiber and minerals in the germ and the bran. White flour implies the grain has been processed and no longer contains these nutrients. Most 'white bread' nowadays is enriched (the first ingredient will say "enriched white flour") to add back the nutrients taken out. Some people think the original product is still better than refined nice, light and fluffy bread with manufactured nutrients added back in. I don't think it's the downfall of American nutrition; I have white bread myself once in a while!
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QUESTION: Thank you, Laurie,
you are just so wonderful to answer my questions like this.
I found a problem.
In your answers to me, at
http://www.allexperts.com/user.cgi?m=6&catID=939&expID=108729&qID=4910670
you state
Vegetable oils can be saturated (palm and coconut oil) but most of them are not.
Polyunsaturates are best for lowering LDL (Bad cholesterol)
and not lowering HDL (good cholesterol.
These are canola oil and olive oil. Certain nuts, like walnuts, are also good for you because of the type of oil they contain.
then in
http://www.allexperts.com/user.cgi?m=6&catID=939&expID=108729&qID=4911019
you say
ANSWER: Saturated fats are the worst for heart disease.
Polyunsaturated fats have been shown to reduce LDL (bad cholesterol) levels. But they also may reduce HDL (good cholesterol levels).
So.. did I missunderstand something? One answer says that Poylyunsats reduce the bad cholesterol but not good
and the other answer says the polyunsats lower bad but can also lower the good cholesterol..
ANSWER: yes! You are sooo sharp to pick that up after all these questions and answers :)
I wrote "Polyunsaturates" by mistake in the first answer you noted: It's monounsaturates (olive, canola and peanut oils) that lower the good without lowering the bad!
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QUESTION: How long did it take you to learn all this stuff! I feel like I'm back in high school. lol
Oh I went to the site you gave me "throwawayyourfatclothes..." and found a pic of you. You're very pretty.
Ok, almost done. You said to keep the fat to a limit of 7% of calories. So since you're better at math than I could ever dream of, would it be ok, if I just figured 7% of whatever food we eat? If I remember it would work out the same wouldn't it? Or would it? Its been a long time since high school.
Ok, now from everything you've taught me,
Saturated's are bad for you
Polyunsaturated's are not good
and monounstaturaed's ARE good
Am I right or do I have to study more?
AnswerHi Joyce,
Well, I went to school for 6 years to study nutrition, and we have to continue our education with a number of hours each year... so it's an ongoing process.
Limiting to 7% was for saturated fats; fat calories should be less than 30%. You can find all foods to be each less than 30%, but it also averages out: fruits have zero, and then something like peanut butter will be much higher, or oil will be up to 100%!
I would not discourage using polyunsaturates; just that monounsaturates are more preferable. There are still oils (like those used for 'buttery spreads') that are difficult to find made of monos. Also, monounsaturates are only good to be used as part of the 30% of calories... it's not like "the more the better".
Keep up the good studies...you are learning a lot.
you'll find more information if you look at sites like the American Heart Association (.org)
