net carbs or sugar??? need your input

Ok so I have been looking at everything I eat :-) When it comes to carbs and sugar should I be choosing by net carbs or sugar grams?

For instance something had 10 grams of sugar but only 1 net carb. Is this ok???

I never concerned myself with carb counts - net, total or whatever. Beyond meeting basic protein minima, I focused more on overall nutrition of the balance of the diet than on macro splits - carbs and fats are going to be low no matter what you do if the calories are in line for significant weight loss. Sugars and simple carbs I minimized, though had no specific number goal. Intrinsic sugars - those that are naturally occurring in our fruits and vegetables - are less of a concern than those added in processing and packaging. As with carbohydrates in general, trying to keep to a specific number can negatively impact the overall nutritional profile - it's easy to hit some random number if one loads up on artificial frankenfoods and cut out the things that our bodies really need.

Do not make the mistake of going down the net road for carbs. Carbs are carbs. All of them count.

sugar is a carb. Net carbs often refer to what are known as "sugar alcohols",who've supposedly leave the body without being absorbed. Some ppl do absorb them, just like sugar.

10 gems of sugar is too much in an item, period.

I do not use net carbs, however I was always told by dietitians that net carbs are the total carbs minus the insoluble fiber. I don't see how something with 10g of sugar could only have 1g of net carbs...

For example - something has 20g total carbs, 5g fiber, 5g sugar... Then the net carbs would be 15g (20-5).

http://healthyeating.sfgate.com/difference-between-grams-car bohydrates-net-carbohydrates-2378.html

I try to keep sugars low, but maybe not as low as I should - I aim for less than 5g per serving and carbs at less than 8% of daily recommended serving. Recently I have been following a strict low carb plan to get some regain off before a family wedding. I look at total carbs and total sugars, but mostly focus on dense protein -- then there's no room for a lot of carbs!! ;)

Hope this helps!!

Meg~

Net carbs are just marketing crap. Sugar is sugar is sugar.

I personally do count net carbs, always have since I was diagnosed as Type 2 diabetic. As a previous response said, net carbs are simply the total carbs minus fiber. Any sugar in the carb count will be in the net carbs, and net carbs can never be less than what the sugar carbs are. That being said, sugar alcohols are always listed as a separate carb entry.

For example, this is from a bar of Lily's sugar free chocolate:

If counting net carbs, you deduct the 12g of fiber, that leaves you 10g net carbs. However, as a diabetic, I don't count the erythritol (which is a sugar alcohol) as it is the only sugar alcohol that does not affect blood sugar by converting to glucose, so I would deduct it as well, for a final net carb count of 4g per serving.

Many people here at OH do not use net carbs and count them all. I believe it is personal preference, and whatever works for you.

I also eat ketogenic, and keep my net carbs under 20g per day, so I never have carb issues.

EDITED TO ADD: (My overall concern is always how the carbs are going to affect my blood sugar. I pay less attention to total carbs and more to the Glycemic Index/Glycemic Load of carbs.)

CATHY - my sister, who is a non-WLSer (but could sure benefit, from it), Insulin dependent Diabetic, follows a diet similar to what you describe (except for when she takes EXTRA insulin, so she can eat 6 cups of REAL banana pudding, but I'm no judge )...

I have tried to sub sugar alcohols, for real sugar...took me several times to realize what the culprit, for making me SICK SICK SICK was...

So glad there is SOMETHING, for EVERYONE, and you found something, that works for you

Erythritol is the only sugar alcohol that doesn't have gastric side effects (in the general population). Maltitol and Sorbitol are both the terrible ones that give you the runs. I've been a diabetic for 21 years, so I've tried them all to one effect or another!

My husband, bless him, once bought a bag of sugar-free Hershey's candies because he had a toothache but wanted something sweet. He ate the whole bag and then spent the whole work day trapped in the bathroom.

Though I can say that Erythritol does not bother him (since surgery he's converted to HaloTop icecream which has it).

Oh, dear Lord, Gina! I can't imagine the amount of carbs in banana pudding...and omg the sugars! It's funny, I searched for years for an artificial sweetener that I could stand in my coffee. Every single one I tried tasted horrible to me, until I found erythritol and xylitol. I don't use xylitol because it still has too many carbs for me, but erythritol is the only thing I can use in hot beverages that tastes good. Thank goodness it never caused me any problems, or I wouldn't be able to drink my coffee...AND I NEED MY COFFEE!! lol

I never actually ate Lily's chocolate, just used it as an example (but I hear it's delicious). I rarely eat fruit, because most of it is so darned high in carbs, and on keto, there are really only a few berries that meet the criteria. I love bananas...LOVE THEM, but haven't had one in a month of Sundays.

Your sister sounds like my late grandmother, who was also an insulin dependent Type 2 diabetic. Every time she ate a piece of cake, and I'd scold her, she'd say "The doctor said I can once in a while!" I'd say..."Once in a while doesn't mean ONCE A DAY!!" LOL

I did so much research about carbs, etc., because I was bound and determined NOT to be my grandma, and never to take insulin. Thanks to my efforts and this surgery, I never will (fingers crossed). I don't take anything for my diabetes anymore, and my blood sugar stays between 95-105 most of the time. Another HUGE NSV for having this surgery!!