Question:
Count total carbs or just 'net' carbs?

For those who count carbs, can someone tell me if when we count our carbs for the day, we should count the 'net' carbs or the total of carbs? I'm 11 months post and I still don't have this figured out! For example, when I eat an Atkins protein bar, that ups my carb count for the day to about 50, but if I only count the net carbs, then my carb count is only 30 - quite a difference! Can someone explain this to me and if sugar alcohol should be counted as well? My carb source is mostly fruit, veggies and nuts. I stay completely away from white and refined carbs. I went to the Atkins website, but they only say a carb count range for the day and not whether it's net or all carbs. Thanks in advance!    — Yolanda J. (posted on September 24, 2003)

September 24, 2003
You need to count Net Carbs, those are Carbs that effect your blood sugar...so for example, if you have a cookie and it has 30 carbs, but only 3 net carbs, you count the 3 net carbs. You can also take away any alcohol sugars and fiber grams to your carb intake...look at www.atkins.com and it should explain it in more detail.
   — missmollyk

September 24, 2003
Here is a link to the article I found on Atkins.com. It kind of explains Net Carbs http://atkins.com/Archive/2002/10/9-819097.html
   — drjakata

September 24, 2003
Ok..so what about carbs vs sugar? If a protein bar has 12g carbs but 1g sugar..which do we count!?!
   — kathy B.

September 24, 2003
Sugar should be included in the carb count. Effective carbs are TOTAL CARBS - FIBER - SUGAR ALCOHOLS. Anything else affects your blood sugar and should be included. So if your bar has 21 g total carbs, 9 g fiber, and 10 g of sugar alcohols (or glycerin like the Atkins bars), the equation would be: <p>21 - 9 - 10 = 2 g effective carbs. <p>That's the number you count.
   — ctyst

September 24, 2003
One cautionary note, though: Even if you don't "count" sugar alcohols (meaning you're subtracting them from carbs), they can sure make some people dump, and they can cause others to crave sugar (real or otherwise) relentlessly. If you find this to be true for you, the "net carb" calculus (can we say, "new math"?) might not help you to identify stuff you really need to avoid or minimize in your diet. I can see why fiber is subtracted from carbs, I guess (fiber being a good thing for our bodies), but as for sugar alcohols, what nutritional benefit do they provide us? JMHCO (just my humble cranky opinion).
   — Suzy C.

September 24, 2003
Sorru but I have to disagree with some of you but you should count all carbs. You can technically subtract the fiber but that's it. Unless you are diabetic, blood sugar level is not the issue. It's the sugar or any other kind of carb going in us that puts on the lbs and that's all we non-diabetics care about. People can chose to only count net carbs but they are just kidding themselves. It's the same with sugar alcohol. Only if you are diabetic can you subtract sugar alcohol as a diabetics body uses them totally different. Me, I chose to be realistic about all of the carbs I eat.
   — zoedogcbr

September 26, 2003
Ok I am on a different plan than many of you. However, I limit refined sugars etc, but eat fruit and veggies with carbs every day. I personally do not tolerate sugar alcohols , dealing with flatulance and cramps and diahrhea are just not worth it. i personally feel calories still count whether you are eating them from fats, sugars, carbs,proteins, alcohols etc. sugar alcohol products tend to be very high in calories if you read the whole label. I decided I would rather have a cup of strawberries at 45 calories than a stupid candy bar w/ malitol or sorbitol at 200+ calories. I also want to look at nutritional intake. vitamins = good, protein= good, fiber =great , sugar free candy = empty calories. a piece of chicken breast or tuna with some fruit or veggies has a lot of flavor , protein vitamins etc. an atkins bar is ok if I am in a big hurry and cant eat better, but I save it for those situations. Atkins bars have a ton of fat too.
   — **willow**