Effective Carbohydrate Count (GROSS CARBS)

Start with: Total Carbohydrates
Subtract: Dietary Fiber
Subtract: Sugar Alcohols
Subtract: Hydrogenated Starch Hydrolysate
Subtract: Glycerine

The balance equals: Effective Carb Count (NET CARBS)

Explanation:

Let's talk about “sugar alcohols” first. Sugar alcohols are also known as polyols. Sugar alcohols are sugar molecules with hydroxy, or alcohol, groups attached. Sugar alcohols have many of the characteristics of carbohydrates such as bulking and sweetening, but provide fewer calories, and do not impact blood glucose as sugar does. (This definition is taken from the Atkins Center.)

We know that not all carbohydrates behave the same way in the body. While most carbohydrates such as sugars and starches are digested by the body and turned into blood sugar, other carbohydrates such as glycerine and sugar alcohols behave differently. These carbohydrates do not in any significant way impact insulin or blood sugar levels. However, many health organizations have not yet focused on this important biochemical difference and treat all carbohydrates the same.

The nutritional information on low carb food products is intended to help consumers understand how products are formulated to provide them with the knowledge necessary to successfully follow a controlled carbohydrate nutritional approach. Low carb products are specifically formulated to minimize the impact of carbohydrates on ones' blood sugar. Elevated blood sugars and the resulting excessive insulin production can inhibit weight loss, weight management and increase the risk of diabetes and heart disease.

We need to provide accurate information to consumers who buy low carb products and to others for whom blood sugar levels are an important health issue. Atkins believes consumers would benefit tremendously by understanding the relative importance of the impact different types of carbohydrates have on blood sugar and that this information should be presented on the Nutrition Facts panel. The “Net Carbs” are the only carbs you need to count when doing Atkins.

By keeping a tally of your net carb consumption, you can move through the four phases of Atkins with confidence.

We feel it is important at this point in the discussion to ask our members to take note that there IS controversy over whether sugar alcohols should be counted or not when it comes to figuring net carbs in a particular “low carb” food. We are adding the following link to another one of our FAQ's because we feel it is important to give complete information to our members. Ultimately, when all is said and done, YOU need to be the judge of whether sugar alcohols will impact your body or not – or, in other words, whether you should “count them or not”. Please go back and read this link when you finish this article: