net carbs VS total carbs

splindley
splindley Posts: 4 Member
edited November 2024 in Food and Nutrition
Those of you that stick to a very low carb diet, which do you count? And what's the difference?

Replies

  • JodehFoster
    JodehFoster Posts: 419 Member
    I count all carbs.

    Net is Total carbs minus the carbs from fiber..."basically" leaving you w/ carbs from sugar & whatnot. I still count fiber, carbs are carbs IMO & counting Net only, feels like an excuse for cheating to me.
  • Need2Exerc1se
    Need2Exerc1se Posts: 13,575 Member
    Insoluble fiber and resistance starch are not absorbed. They pass through the gut unabsorbed, so you didn't actually consume those carbs or calories. Soluble fiber is partially absorbed. I searched once but could not find exactly how much is absorbed. The opinions varied, and it's possible that the amount varies from food to food. Sugar alcohols are also carbs that are totally or partially not absorbed. This is what is used to sweeten Atkins low carb bars and treats.

    If you are following Atkins, you would subtract fiber and sugar alcohols.
  • Need2Exerc1se
    Need2Exerc1se Posts: 13,575 Member
    If you look at the calories on the package of whole grains, you may notice that they don't add up if you calculate it yourself based on protien, fat and total carbs. This is because all calories from fiber are usually not included, since they are not absorbed.
  • peter56765
    peter56765 Posts: 352 Member
    The argument for excluding fiber is that it doesn't get digested so the carbs do not affect your blood sugar. Makes sense to me.

    In a similar vein, there are a class of carbs called sugar alcohols that are only partially digested. They are very sweet and occur naturally in food so technically they are not an artificial sweetener, however food manufacturers do add them to foods so they can make the claim that they are sugar free. Some people subtract both fiber and sugar alcohols when calculating net carbs.
  • JodehFoster
    JodehFoster Posts: 419 Member
    For me...the thing with fiber, if I don't know or am not convinced it will "pass-through", I'd rather just count it. Removes guesswork.

    It all makes sense though.
  • yarwell
    yarwell Posts: 10,477 Member
    Most of the rest of the world measures and reports carbohydrate s on the label, with fibre a separate thing. So the question doesn't arise for non-Americans.

    It's always fun to watch though.
  • MoiAussi93
    MoiAussi93 Posts: 1,948 Member
    I count net carbs. The fiber, at least most of it, isn't absorbed. And the way I look at it, all the blood sugar issues that carbs cause are not due to the fiber...fiber actually mitigates the harm... so there is no reason to restrict fiber.
  • Need2Exerc1se
    Need2Exerc1se Posts: 13,575 Member
    yarwell wrote: »
    Most of the rest of the world measures and reports carbohydrate s on the label, with fibre a separate thing. So the question doesn't arise for non-Americans.

    It's always fun to watch though.

    I'm not sure I understand. In America fiber is usually (always?) a separate thing too. Do you mean that outside the US they don't include fiber in the total carbs?
  • JPW1990
    JPW1990 Posts: 2,424 Member
    Need2Exerc1se wrote: »
    yarwell wrote: »
    Most of the rest of the world measures and reports carbohydrate s on the label, with fibre a separate thing. So the question doesn't arise for non-Americans.

    It's always fun to watch though.

    I'm not sure I understand. In America fiber is usually (always?) a separate thing too. Do you mean that outside the US they don't include fiber in the total carbs?

    This exactly. If a label in the US says:
    Total Carbs 15
    Dietary Fiber 5
    Sugar 8

    The label in the UK will say:
    Dietary Fiber 5

    Other assorted info

    Total Carbs 10
    Sugar 8

    Net carbs is basically using the same numbers used outside the US, and something people especially have to be aware of if they live outside the US, but are using MFP's default USDA info for basic ingredients when they track. Similarly in the US but tracking an imported food, but that's not as common.
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