Net carbs?

Hey! Can someone help me figure out net carbs? I know they are carbs-fiber, but I am about a week into the low-carb, pre-op diet and I'm struggling somewhat. I'm eating a lot of cheese and other protein, but I went through my nutrtional paperwork from the surgeon this weekend and it mentioned Atkins protein bars.  I went to the store and everything has really high carb #s. I only get 40 carbs or less a day and eating a bar with 15 or 20 is just too many! The Atkins Morning Peanut Butter Crisp bar I bought says it has 2 g Carbs (according to Atkins).  The NG says 15 carbs and 5 g fiber. So how many "real" carbs does it have? is there an easy way to figure this out?  Help please!!! Thanks so much-- Melinda :)

Melinda, The terms 'low carb' and 'net carbs' have NO legal definition according to the FDA.  These terms were created by food manufacturers to sell their food products.  Many people buy these 'low carb' foods thinking they are healthier but more often than not, these foods are higher in fat (sometimes unhealthy saturated fat) and calories.  Additionally, 'low carb' foods that are high in fat can cause digestive problems; also they replace the carbohydrate with other sweeteners such as sorbitol or malitol which can have a laxative effect if consumed in larger quantities. Althouth 'net carbs' are not a legal term, food manufacturers derive this number by taking the total carbohydrate minus fiber, glycerin and sugar alcohols to show a reduced amount of carbohydrate on the food label.  Their theory is that fiber, glycerin and sugar alcohols (all are forms of carbohydrates) don't raise blood sugar so they shouldn't be tallied when counting carbs.  However, in reality glycerin and sugar alcohols can raise blood sugar to some extent and they do contribute calories.  Here is how to determine what is defined as a carbohydrate:  1 medium piece of fruit (size of tennis ball); 1 slice of bread; 1/2 cup pasta, rice or noodles; 1 1/2 cup cooked vegetables; 3 cups of leafy vegetables.  Each carbohydrate serving = 15 grams of carb.  Look at 'Total Carbohydrate' on the Nutrition Facts panel and this is the true amount of carb in that item. It appears that your doctor has you on a low carb diet.  In reality it doesn't matter if you eat your calories from carb, protein or fat; it is the TOTAL number of calories that you eat and expend that determines actual weight loss.  There is no magic to a low protein diet since carbs usually provide > 50% of a person's total caloric intake; if you severely restrict carbs, you have just taken away a significant amount of calories, leading to a reduced caloric intake and wah lah, weight loss.  There are many other pitfalls to following a low carb diet, but I think that the above should help answer your question about carbs.   Best of luck, Melania Behrens, MA, RD eNutritionCare.com

Thanks, Melania!