Carbs

kimthrasher
kimthrasher Posts: 18 Member
edited November 2024 in Health and Weight Loss
When MFP lists the carbs, it this the net carbs? Isn't net carbs figured by subtracting the fiber from the carbs? I'm trying to lower my carb intake, but I'm not sure if the totals are MFP are correct (net carbs).

Replies

  • Yi5hedr3
    Yi5hedr3 Posts: 2,696 Member
    Net carbs are bogus, because you should only really deduct insoluble fiber, not soluble, and most foods do not break that down on the label.
  • seska422
    seska422 Posts: 3,217 Member
    edited February 2016
    The carbs are correct if they include all of the carbs as stated on the nutrition label and that generally means that they don't show net carbs.

    US nutrition labels don't specify net carbs and manufacturers are allowed to put all of the carbs, just the net carbs, or carbs with only half of the fiber subtracted because some is soluble and some isn't soluble. That means that you can't just subtract the fiber from total carbs to get net carbs because it might have already been partially or completely subtracted.

    Most of the MFP listings are done by users so you may run across some that say they are net carbs. This generally means that they didn't accurately enter the nutritional information shown on the box.

    If you want to customize how your foods show carbs, my suggestion is that you enter everything into My Foods yourself and don't share with the database. That way, it's how you want it and can't be edited by another user.
  • ottermotorcycle
    ottermotorcycle Posts: 654 Member
    I must say, I really don't think "net carbs" is a useful way of thinking of your carbohydrate intake. Is the impression that carbs are bad and should be low? Maybe instead you should measure your sugar intake, which in excess is "bad" carbs, and simply make sure you get enough fiber.
  • yarwell
    yarwell Posts: 10,477 Member
    Mostly they are US style "Total carbohydrate" which includes fiber ie definitely not "net carbs". As they are user entered and also from other countries there will be data entries that are net carbs or indeed just "carbohyydrate" like we have in the UK, so I'm afraid you have to cross check.
  • callsitlikeiseeit
    callsitlikeiseeit Posts: 8,626 Member
    unless you have a medical condition necessitating it, there is no reason to be on a low carb diet.
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