Tag: Carbs vs fat

According to the USDA, acceptable macronutrient distribution ranges suggest that adults consume between 45–65% of their daily calories from carbohydrates and 20–35% from fat. However, the debate over which macronutrient is 'better' for health, weight loss, and performance has persisted for decades.

According to a major study published in *Cell Metabolism*, restricting dietary fat led to greater body fat loss than cutting the same number of calories from carbohydrates, challenging the popular belief that carbs are the enemy. This complex topic, which is worse for weight loss, carbs or fat, is less about which nutrient to demonize and more about understanding energy balance.

The human body stores a vast reserve of energy as fat, providing more than twice the calories per gram compared to carbohydrates. This dense fuel source can power everything from rest to long-duration, low-to-moderate intensity exercise. But is it always a good idea to burn fat for energy?

According to nutritional data, a typical plain croissant contains more calories per 100 grams than a plain bagel, with a higher fat content being the key differentiator. This significant contrast is essential for anyone trying to understand what is more fattening, a bagel or a croissant, and how to make a more informed dietary choice.

According to the World Health Organization, both carbohydrates and fats are essential macronutrients for the human body [WHO]. The central question for many remains: Is it healthier to eat carbs or fat? The answer is more nuanced than a simple either/or choice, demanding a deeper look into the quality and balance of each.

According to the World Health Organization, overnutrition, resulting from an excessive intake of calories from macronutrients like carbs and fat, is a major contributor to rising obesity and chronic diseases globally. The question of whether it is better to have too many carbs or too much fat is complex, with the answer depending heavily on the type and quantity of the excess intake.

According to one randomized controlled trial, a high-carbohydrate, low-fat diet led to greater increases in muscle mass and strength in resistance-trained men compared to a high-fat, low-carb diet. This highlights a crucial debate for anyone training: what's better for muscle, fat or carbs, and how do they both play a role?

Fact: A single gram of fat contains 9 calories, more than double the 4 calories found in a gram of carbohydrate. This simple nutritional fact often confuses people, but the question of whether carbohydrates provide more energy than fat is not as straightforward as it seems, involving both the density and speed of energy release.

Despite widespread belief that a single food group is to blame, research indicates that no one macronutrient causes the most weight gain on its own. It's a surplus of calories, not a single macro, that leads to fat storage over time.

A typical 2-tablespoon serving of commercial hummus contains a balance of both carbohydrates and fat, proving it cannot be categorized as exclusively one or the other. The answer lies in its core ingredients, where chickpeas provide complex carbs and protein, while tahini and olive oil supply healthy fats.