Weight Loss Information

Caution! Watch Out For The Net Carb Trap!


As a low carb dieter, you have probably been bombarded with all sorts of new food terminology. One of the phrases you've probably heard time and time again is "net carbs." Net carbs is the new term food producers are using to describe the amount of carbohydrates in food that have a significant impact on blood sugar levels.

Food producers use a relatively simple formula to determine net carbs. They take the total amount of carbohydrates and then subtract the amount of carbohydrates that have a "negligible" effect on blood sugar.

For instance, let's say a food producer makes a candy bar that contains 20 grams of carbohydrates. Two grams of those carbohydrates are in the form of fiber. Fifteen grams are in the form of various sugar alcohols. That makes a total of 17 grams of carbohydrates that have a "negligible" effect on blood sugar. Subtract 17 from 20 and you have your total amount of "net carbs"--three.

While the advent of "net carb" labels may seem like a godsend as a low carb dieter, it is important to realize that these labels are somewhat deceptive.

To begin with, different types of "negligible" carbohydrates have different effects on blood sugar levels.

Whereas fiber may have a truly negligible effect on blood sugar levels, sugar alcohols are an entirely different story.

According to experts, sugar alcohols affect blood sugar levels at a slower and less complete rate than normal sugars do-- and also in a different manner from person to person. Some diabetics claim that they feel an immediate sugar rush after consuming small amounts of sugar alcohol while others report no change whatsoever.

Whatever the case is for you, it is probably better to ignore the "net carb" labels on products--and instead go straight to the nutritional information panel. Figure out exactly why the product is "low carb."

If there are no sugar alcohols, you can eat the product without thinking twice; if the product has a significant amount of sugar alcohol, you should either skip it entirely or count each gram of the sugar alcohol as 1/4 to 1/3 of a gram of carbohydrates. If you follow this approach to assessing "net carbs," you will avoid unnecessary cravings and seemingly inexplicable weight-loss stalls.

Benji Paras runs http://www.list-of-low-carb-food.com, specializing in the benefits of the low-carb lifestyle. The site contains a treasure trove of information for losing weight, and includes a list of low carb foods along with informative articles and the latest low-carb headlines.


MORE RESOURCES:

Weight Loss Hypnosis: Lose Weight While Sleeping
CBS 4, FL - 14 hours ago
MIAMI (CBS4) ― Snooze and loose: that's right! There is a way to lose weight while you sleep and now, people say it's taking all the work out of dieting. ...


Weight Loss
TheStorygroup.com, GA - 7 hours ago
Try Our Wide Selection of Weight Loss Programs, Diet Pills or Fat Burner Plans Now! Don't underestimate low level of depression. ...


PEERtrainer Launches 'Tip Of The Day' Weight Loss Coaching Newsletter
PR Web (press release), WA - 10 hours ago
Subjects covered include weight loss, nutrition, fitness, preventive health and motivation. New York, New York (PRWEB) November 22, 2008 -- PEERtrainer has ...


Health Newstrack

Weight-loss surgery bodes well for pregnancy
Los Angeles Times, CA - Nov 19, 2008
Now researchers have found that obese women who undergo weight-loss surgery before becoming pregnant are less likely to have pregnancy-related health ...
Weight-loss surgery helps with pregnancy: study Reuters
Some Pregnancy-Related Complications Minimized for Women Who Have ... MarketWatch
Go for pre-pregnancy weight loss surgery Times of India
TheMedGuru - U.S. News & World Report
all 58 news articles


LA Weight Loss Announces Closing of Eau Claire Facility
WQOW TV News 18, Eau Claire - Nov 21, 2008
LA Weight Loss just announced its closing in Eau Claire next Wednesday. When News 18 contacted the corporate offices, they sent us this statement: "We wish ...


Weight Loss Blog: Getting Started
TheDenverChannel.com, CO - Nov 20, 2008
I keep hearing Oprah Winfrey in my head saying if there was a magic pill to weight loss, she'd have it. If the woman who can afford personal trainers and ...


Weight loss can cause excess, flabby skin
Tulsa World, OK - Nov 21, 2008
Dear Reader: First, I would like to congratulate your granddaughter on her astonishing weight loss. Skin is very stretchy and often reshapes as weight is ...


Weight Loss in Progress
ireport - 17 hours ago
I have slowed the weight loss down, but have lost 60 lbs since the 3rd week of June. My goal: To lose a total of 120 lbs to get to my ideal weight, ...


Weight Loss Surgery Helps Obese Women Have Healthier Babies
New York Times, United States - Nov 19, 2008
By RONI CARYN RABIN Women who become pregnant after weight-loss surgery have easier pregnancies and healthier babies than do obese women who become pregnant ...


That Happened!

Weight-loss surgery bodes well for pregnancy
That Happened!, New York - Nov 20, 2008
New York - Researchers have found that weight-loss surgery bodes well for pregnancy. They found that women who had weight loss surgery before becoming ...

Weight-Loss - Google News

home | site map
© 2006