Choice of daily carb

(Amanda Graham) #1

I typically limit my carbs to incidentals–and stay below 20 grams per day with vegetables and nuts etc. but there are times when I miss popcorn…is there a difference if I eat my 20 grams of carbs from popcorn with salt and butter or green beans with salt and butter? other then the obvious nutritional value of green beans vs popped corn;)

#2

The technical answer is no, it does not matter…as your body will not treat glucose from a Brussels sprout any different than it would from a popped kernel.

In a different thread, there was discussion whether or not other foods, like sprouted grain bread would be ok, and sticking to the 20 g net cab limit. While the agreement was that it is technically ok, there is a food craving monster that could potentially be awaken from its slumber.

Assess your craving and food addiction limit. Some foods have the ability to flip you into uncontrolled binge. Not because you are “bad”… But, we have hormonal mechanisms within us to do that. For me, I love fruit. And I find it plausible that I crave it because from a survival perspective, my body wants me to binge, to get ready for the long fruitless winter ahead.

Don’t fall prey to “gateway drug” carby foods…that’s what I will end this message with.

#3

The Glycemic Index (GI) of popcorn is about 72 whereas the GI of green beans is 15, so this means that the same amount of carbohydrate from each food would have a different effect on how quickly blood glucose rises and how much insulin rises in response.

Adding butter to popcorn will lower the overall GI of the meal because fat will cause it to be digested and released more slowly, but still substantially higher than any non-starchy vegetables.

That doesn’t mean you can’t have your popcorn, just that there is a higher chance that eating it will knock you out of ketosis.

A lot of people are very sensitive to anyone posting about “how to cheat”, but I will say that depleting muscle glycogen before eating carbs and then later is one way to encourage the body to burn them as fuel or refill the glycogen reserves; the biggest problem with this is that it really only works for people with otherwise normal metabolisms and most people that turn to keto are trying to fix something that’s metabolically broken.

I know that I’ve tried to add carbs back here and there, for one occasion or another, but it has always ended in a bad experience for me personally.

#4

This happened to me recently. I had 1/2 piece of thick, wheat bread slathered in butter. Indeed, I ended up eating way too much bread which kicked me out of ketosis. It seems that I need to keep my carbs below 20g and be very mindful of which ones I choose to avoid cravings/binging.

(E.C.) #5

“Gateway drug carby foods” is such a good description.

Yesterday I was tempted by a marshmallow. But then I reminded myself that each marshmallow is 5g of carb. And also reminded myself that I know full well,no one ever opens a bag of marshmallows and eats “just one marshmallow” :joy: I would have OD’d within minutes :laughing:

#6

Yeah. If I bring a jar of Nutella home, by next week you will see me in a back alley dumpster covered in Twinkie wrappers.

(E.C.) #7

I’ve made the “Sugar Free Mom” version of Nutella, and it’s kinda amazing… Especially when you use it to make Ferrero Rocher rip-offs with it (the recipes for both are on her website!) :slight_smile::ok_hand:t2:

(Kathy Meyer) #8

I would want to know how much that popcorn would spike my insulin. If it’s insulinogenic response was relatively low, then maybe it would be OK under 20 carbs. But considering how I would probably want more than a small serving, and it would cause cravings for more carbs, I think I would probably pass. I get carbs in green vegetables, but I don’t want more than one serving – that’s usually the key for me.

(Guardian of the bacon) #9

That’s a visual I might pay to see.

(E.C.) #10

Second that. Corn is higher GI.

Consider a lower GI snack like chick-pea “chips” perhaps? There’s some good exchange options available… So at least your BGL/insulin won’t rise as quickly.

Something crunchy but low GI might be the way to go.

(E.C.) #11

From memory chickpea GI is about 10 vs corn’s 55.

I love making toasty chickpeas and eating them like popcorn, personally! :wink: Salted and scrummy!

#12

Yikes. Not for me. I think they are 15 grams net carb for just 1/4 cup. I’d rather go for cheese crisps made from 100% cheese, or macadamia nuts, or purse bacon :slight_smile:

(Larry Lustig) #13

You do know that 20 grams of carbs from popcorn lets you eat slightly under a single ounce of popcorn?

(Stickin' with mammoth) #14

My two personal rules for daily carbs are A. Extremely low glycemic and B. Highest amount of fiber possible.

Other than the extra heavy whipping cream in my morning cup, that is. Mmmmmm.

(Alex Dipego) #15

Here’s the question, why do you miss popcorn?

Here’s another, why ketogenicly?

Is this for diabetes? Weight loss? Health? All these questions matter because they determine your popcorn question. What I mean is are you needing keto for health or just choosing it to control your lifestyle? I don’t need to eat keto, but I know if I don’t I’ll eventually become diabetic as it runs in m family and feel how I react to sugars.

If you don’t need to be keto, a single outing of popcorn isn’t going to ruin you. Even if you need keto it won’t ruin you. Listen to how you feel after that popcorn, did you like it? Out of ketosis? Maybe, but falling back in is easy. What’s important is your overall health and that includes the relationship you have with food. If you feel restricted you may need to look at what food means to you and why you eat. Is it socially you eat? Actual hunger? Or for health.

I’ll say this, I bought chocolate because I missed the taste and had a square. Then had another then another and then I threw the bar away because I still need work on my control and I knew if I finished that bar I’d feel it in my knees the next day and it would suck. I knew because I’ve done it before. I’m working still on my relations with certain foods, but one thing is for sure. After a year of keto my cravings went down, and I feel in better control and my food is enjoyable even without the treats I enjoyed for 20 years.

(Amanda Graham) #16

Thanks for all of your input. I’ve always craved salty snacks…giving up cookies and sweets has been easy…chips…a little more difficult. Popcorn has always been a favourite of mine but more for the melted butter and salt then then then actual popped corn. When I was eating “healthy” I would make popcorn with lemon juice, dill, and salt, now that butter is back :heart: I thought it could possibly count as my 20 grams—20 of popcorn would be about 4 cups so maybe I’ll indulge in a bacon and popcorn only day lol.

(Adam L) #17

How about pork rinds as an alternative salty snack ? I just found a couple of different brands at my local Asian grocers & they are awesome, basically zero carb, salty, fatty, yum.