One way to attain lower carbohydrate values on a product is through the method of carbohydrate counting used to value the product. Many labels list ‘total carbohydrates', then subtract certain items from the total to arrive at ‘net', ‘effective' or ‘useable' carbohydrate value. This net value is often the highlighted value on the front of the food pack.
The ‘net' carbohydrate content often results from subtracting grams of fiber from the total carbohydrates. Manufacturers reason that fiber, while technically a carbohydrate, is not absorbed by the body, so shouldn't be counted as a carbohydrate.
As for sugar alcohols, such as the sugar substitutes maltitol and mannitol, manufacturers say that while these also are technically carbohydrates and a source of calories (though fewer than sugar), they have a negligible effect on blood sugar, so also shouldn't count as carbohydrates.
Some dietary experts prefer to include sugar alcohols as carbohydrates, since they are absorbed, but would subtract fiber, which is not absorbed.
Since labels usually list both total carbohydrates and carbohydrates from fiber and sugar alcohols, a person could perform their own calculations, based on which line of thinking makes the most sense to them.
Are low carbohydrate weight loss diets simply low in calories?
While thousands of Americans say they've reduced weight through carbohydrate reduction or restriction, nutrition experts remain divided over these weight loss diets. Critics contend that dieters who have lost weight did so not because they cut carbohydrates but because they trimmed total calories.
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