[Hoi Polloi]

I've always liked eating beans, legumes, lentils, split peas etc. because they are a low fat, inexpensive source of protein. Recently a friend of mine who has gone on a very radical protein-only diet and insists all plant foods are poison told me the worst thing I can eat are beans. I know some high protein diets, especially vegetarian diets say beans have to be treated as a carbohydrate, so what should I consider them to be?

[DocSanae]

Well for one thing, you need at least 100g, preferably 130g carbohydrates daily to keep your brain cells working--these cells can use only glucose as energy.
That said, even if you are on a protein only diet, the thing is, they have carbs in them too, though in low amounts
Beans are veggies, and veggies have both carbs and protein in them, so if you are going to count every little thing, you'll have to count it at both. That said, if your body is happy and healthy with your present food balance, follow your pouch, don't fret about what others say. Besides, whatever that works for them, may very well not work for you, if things were really all that simple, why is surgery the ultimate solution for so many people?

[bela]

What doc said. I eat lentils and/or beans almost everyday. My pouch loves them and it helps the meat stay moist. I do not count the beans as protein intake though, it's just a side dish for me. I do not count carbs at all. Maybe one day I will, if I stall for a long time? I don't know. So far, I'm steadily losing so I'm okay and only count my water and protein (and make sure I take my vitamins every day).

[BreeChick]

When we were living on the island in australia meat was NOT a very available choice. beans,tofu, were and they are complex carbs meaning they have BOTH carbs and protein.

Definitely what doc said on the "what works for THEM will not work for us!"

I find post op that whenever I have a new friend..and even sometimes the ones I've known for a long time..they always get on this whole bandwagon of "let's do a diet together" and it's NOT a thing to do with friends. They are just looking for support but we really cannot vary in what works for US. We are NOT normies and never will be.

beans, legumes, dahl (split peas) tofu, etc....good complex protein to mix with MEAT.

vegetarian based diets in my OWN opinion and from having to eat that way post op with no other choices...and I know it is hard to someone who hasn't lived in our situation to understand that fish was an expensive option on the island..vegetarian is NOT a good choice to stay healthy long term.

But again that is my OWN opinion on that subject and I will say I have had a LOT of people in my life who don't get that and try and force me on that bandwagon in our family too. I was raised vegetarian btw so I know quite a bit about that type of food plan.

[Weigh2GoSteph]

Originally Posted by DocSanae

Well for one thing, you need at least 100g, preferably 130g carbohydrates daily to keep your brain cells working--these cells can use only glucose as energy.
That said, even if you are on a protein only diet, the thing is, they have carbs in them too, though in low amounts
Beans are veggies, and veggies have both carbs and protein in them, so if you are going to count every little thing, you'll have to count it at both. That said, if your body is happy and healthy with your present food balance, follow your pouch, don't fret about what others say. Besides, whatever that works for them, may very well not work for you, if things were really all that simple, why is surgery the ultimate solution for so many people?

Every time I read something that says you need to eat 130g carbs per day... it reminds me that I don't need to stress out so much over what my doc and my nut say. They don't want me to have more than 15g of carbs per day. That's insane. I have more than that in just my protein shake made with fat free milk!!

Thanks doc for reminding me that I don't need to feel guilty about the carbs. I don't think I ever make it to the 130g, but it's definitely way above 15g.

(My check up is next week... so I've already started the whole stressing out thing again. I have GOT to stop doing that!)

[Nejy]

Any suggestions on how to get up to 130g carbs a day? What to eat? Seems im possible and will likely bring too many calories with it!

[BreeChick]

Nejy, doing the complex proteins is the key NOT eating it up with carby only foods. Too many times a lot seem to read what doc posts about the levels needed for carbs and start going wild on that end. We still need to eat PROTEIN first..the next choice, complex carbs to keep the RATIO of protein to carbs fairly equal, then vegs and then and only then fruits if you can tolerate 'em.

and early posties under that 6 mos mark..it's gonna be tough to get that level in just as it is for the protein too.

Gotta feed the brain, muscles and organs well people!

[Thor]

I love the beans too, they don't make me as gassy as they used to. My wife appreciates that

Thor

[DocSanae]

Okay, I know just about everybody gets riled up when the word C.A.R.B. comes up.
There's a very BIG misconception that carbs ONLY mean starches/sugars. NOT. While starch belongs in the carbohydrate group, the carbohydrate group includes cellulose and glycogen.
Veggies like carrots, beets, broccoli, cauliflower, etc have carbohydrates in them, too, in fact just about all veggies have carbohydrates and protein. 100g tofu has around 2g carb as well as about 5g protein. This is what I mean about complex carbs, and total carb intake. Add up all the little carbs in the foods you get in, and likely, they will add up to quite some, even without your trying, and enough for your brain to function. Add just a wee bit of starch based foods, and it probably won't be that much of a hassle getting in around 100g total carbohydrate, without compromising your pouch diet plan.

The deet on the balance of carbohydrates is, 50-70% of the total caloric intake, but also, keep the sugars within 10% of the total caloric intake.

[Hoi Polloi]

Thanks Doc, this makes me feel better about the beans I'm eating. I eat tofu as well because it's such a good source of protein. I didn't want to give them up because they are comfort foods for me too.