Arguing with my endo's PA

gary.keith · #1 (**permalink**) 11-05-2009, 04:04 PM

I keep trying to tell my endo's PA that the salads I eat every day for lunch do have a significant amount of carbs in them. And she keeps telling me there's no way any kind of salad has any carbs in it, significant or otherwise.

I eat a salad made with three ounces of mixed baby greens (2g net carbs), a dozen grape tomatoes (6g net carbs), a cup of sliced red onions (13g net carbs), a cup of broccoli florets (4g net carbs) and some Walden Farms dressing (no carbs).

That's a total of 25 grams of net carbs. More than half the net carbs (13g) come from the red onion. Do red onions really have that many carbs? I want to be sure of my facts before I tell the PA to mind her own business!

Joeprep4820 · #2 (**permalink**) 11-05-2009, 04:09 PM

That does sound like a lot, but that also sounds like you are eating a lot of onion as well. Wouldn't want to be the person working next to you after 1!

poodlebone · #3 (**permalink**) 11-05-2009, 04:10 PM

I just looked up onions in the Calorie King database and it says that 1 cup of sliced onions has 12g carb, 2g fiber. It does not have a separate listing for red onions, just a general "onion" choice. Red onions could be slightly higher in carbs but I don't know for sure.

I like red onions but I'm not sure I could handle an entire cup of them in my salad!

Granny Shanny · #4 (**permalink**) 11-05-2009, 04:11 PM

Per CalorieKing, they're darn close - this sez 11.6g.

CalorieKing - Calorie Counter - Calories in Vegetables, Fresh: Onions, all types, raw, edible portion (be sure to set the serving size to 1 cup, sliced)

And don't be surprised at what happens if you reheat cooked onions! Aarrgghh!

fgummett · #5 (**permalink**) 11-05-2009, 04:15 PM

Absolutely your salad has carbs... you've already done the math. Ask her how a glass of OJ compares to a cola in terms of BG effect.

But fruit and veg are supposed to be good for us... so more must mean even gooder

Why do you think it is called "caramelizing" when you cook down onions till they brown?

You stick to yer guns Gary

And of course I'm not saying to cut out salads... just to recognise the carb content and manage accordingly.

musique913 · #6 (**permalink**) 11-05-2009, 04:17 PM

I can't imagine eating a cup of onions on a salad! Your breath!

gary.keith · #7 (**permalink**) 11-05-2009, 04:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Joeprep4820

That does sound like a lot, but that also sounds like you are eating a lot of onion as well. Wouldn't want to be the person working next to you after 1!

I'm one of those weirdos you occasionally see in the bathroom brushing his teeth after a meal!

Quote:

Originally Posted by poodlebone

I just looked up onions in the Calorie King database and it says that 1 cup of sliced onions has 12g carb, 2g fiber.

I like red onions but I'm not sure I could handle an entire cup of them in my salad!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Granny Shanny

Per CalorieKing, they're darn close - this sez 11.6g.

And don't be surprised at what happens if you reheat cooked onions! Aarrgghh!

I do love onions! I found a site that lists red onions. They have slightly more carbs and fiber than a white or yellow onion.

Shanny, what's going to happen if I reheat cooked onions?

ADDED: Thanks, Frank. I always appreciate your support!

Joeprep4820 · #8 (**permalink**) 11-05-2009, 04:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fgummett

Absolutely your salad has carbs... you've already done the math. Ask her how a glass of OJ compares to a cola in terms of BG effect.

But fruit and veg are supposed to be good for us... so more must mean even gooder

Why do you think it is called "caramelizing" when you cook down onions till they brown?

You stick to yer guns Gary

And of course I'm not saying to cut out salads... just to recognise the carb content and manage accordingly.

I drink OJ when I have a hypo, and my constant hypos through college and high school ended with me drinking lots of it, which I attribute to me hardly getting sick through those years (lots of Vitamin C).

Josselyn · #9 (**permalink**) 11-05-2009, 04:39 PM

Gary, the onions carmelize and turn to sugar.

I believe the 12 grams only covers them while raw.

Granny Shanny · #10 (**permalink**) 11-05-2009, 04:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gary.keith

Shanny, what's going to happen if I reheat cooked onions?

They'll just zap your glucose worse than ever . . . Frank's reference to caramelized onions is right on target - the more they're cooked, the more sugar available.

Joeprep4820 · #11 (**permalink**) 11-05-2009, 04:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Granny Shanny

They'll just zap your glucose worse than ever . . . Frank's reference to caramelized onions is right on target - the more they're cooked, the more sugar available.

Sadly, they are more delicious when fried.

Granny Shanny · #12 (**permalink**) 11-05-2009, 04:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Joeprep4820

Sadly, they are more delicious when fried.

And especially when fried with peppers, beef strips, etc., and wrapped in a hot tortilla - à la fajitas . . .!!!

fgummett · #13 (**permalink**) 11-05-2009, 04:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Joeprep4820

I drink OJ when I have a hypo...

Exactly my point, but somehow (even in your idea about Vitamin C) the massive sugar content concentrated (by removing all the fibre etc...) in a glass of OJ gets forgotten in the quest for a healthy drink... volume for volume, OJ and cola are just about equal in terms of rapid-acting sugar.

This I believe, is one of the fundamental changes needed to address our growing health problems... in much the same way as the Endo's PA fails to recognise the carbs because (I'm assuming here) salad is automatically considered "healthy".

Our society's idea of "healthy" needs a shake-up... consider a "healthy" breakfast, as seen on TV: OJ, cereal with fat-reduced milk, toast/bagel/muffin with margarine and jam, coffee with creamer... or for the really health conscious, a low-fat yogurt (HFCS instead of fat) with a banana. All those refined/concentrated carbs at a time of day which many of us find is exactly when we have the least tolerance for any carbs.

gary.keith · #14 (**permalink**) 11-05-2009, 05:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Granny Shanny

And especially when fried with peppers, beef strips, etc., and wrapped in a hot tortilla - à la fajitas . . .!!!

Thanks for crippling my willpower!

And this after I did so well today. Kept my BG in the 100-110 range with absolutely no PP bolusing. You have single handedly forced me to eat another package of Reese's Peanut Butter cups after dinner tonight!

Joeprep4820 · #15 (**permalink**) 11-05-2009, 05:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fgummett

Exactly my point, but somehow (even in your idea about Vitamin C) the massive sugar content concentrated (by removing all the fibre etc...) in a glass of OJ gets forgotten in the quest for a healthy drink... volume for volume, OJ and cola are just about equal in terms of rapid-acting sugar.

This I believe, is one of the fundamental changes needed to address our growing health problems... in much the same way as the Endo's PA fails to recognise the carbs because (I'm assuming here) salad is automatically considered "healthy".

Our society's idea of "healthy" needs a shake-up... consider a "healthy" breakfast, as seen on TV: OJ, cereal with fat-reduced milk, toast/bagel/muffin with margarine and jam, coffee with creamer... or for the really health conscious, a low-fat yogurt (HFCS instead of fat) with a banana. All those refined/concentrated carbs at a time of day which many of us find is exactly when we have the least tolerance for any carbs.

OJ is good for you, and it does contain sugar. The two are not mutually exclusive. The problem is that people drink way more than a serving size. OJ is much healthier than soda, and any doctor would agree with me, as would any nutritionist.