Net carbs on MFP

RainyDayBrunette

I looked around and couldn't find an answer, so sorry if it's been asked a million times.

To get net carbs, I will subtract my fiber.... but what do I do with the sugar? For example, if my carb total is 40, fiber is 10, and sugar is 5.... what are the net carbs? 30 plus 5?

Thanks in advance

ETA: If it matters, I have premium. Tx!

tayusuki

You take the total carb amount and subtract fiber!! No changes for sugar.

JTyler2016

The sugar listing is kind of pointless for most people,

Sugars are just a type of carbohydrate and are included in the total carbohydrate listings on the label. To get net carbs, just subtract the fiber from the total carbohydrates.

On some labels you may also see the term Sugar Alcohols, for these you subtract half the grams of sugar alcohols from the total carbohydrate count, since sugar alcohols affect blood glucose half as much as ordinary carbohydrates.

For example, a food item containing 25g total carbohydrate and 12g of sugar alcohols should be counted as 19g carbohydrate (25 – 6 = 19) and then subtract any fiber from that number.

That is how I was taught to count carbs at least.

Gallowmere1984

Pretty much what was posted above. An argument can be made for subtracting Arabitol and Erythritol entirely as well, since they have a near zero food energy (0.2 and 0.223, respectively), which is actually lower than most soluble fibers. However, that can get hairy when consuming something that has more than one type of sugar alcohol in it, unless the label actually breaks them down, which is rare.

ProCoffeenator

I didn't know that about sugar alcohols!! So you subtract half the amount?

RainyDayBrunette

Thanks all!

So the sugars listed separate from carbs on MFP diary are sugar alcohols?

Phrick

MarieFromOz wrote: »

Thanks all!

So the sugars listed separate from carbs on MFP diary are sugar alcohols?

nope. Sugars listed separate from carbs are part of the total carb count (already listed) that they separate out (for confusion's sake? For scaring people? I don't know but it sure works). Sugar alcohols are not accounted for by MFP in any way.

RainyDayBrunette

Phrick wrote: »

MarieFromOz wrote: »

Thanks all!

So the sugars listed separate from carbs on MFP diary are sugar alcohols?

nope. Sugars listed separate from carbs are part of the total carb count (already listed) that they separate out (for confusion's sake? For scaring people? I don't know but it sure works). Sugar alcohols are not accounted for by MFP in any way.

Ahhh... alright thanks! I was trying to understand why they were listed separate. I see it is for confusions sake.

Still... sugar and fiber added together do not equal the carbs listed... making it even more confusing.

I will just continue subtracting just fiber and ignore sugar. I'm trying to stay at 20-30 carbs a day. I don't want to go too low either.

Phrick

MarieFromOz wrote: »

Phrick wrote: »

MarieFromOz wrote: »

Thanks all!

So the sugars listed separate from carbs on MFP diary are sugar alcohols?

nope. Sugars listed separate from carbs are part of the total carb count (already listed) that they separate out (for confusion's sake? For scaring people? I don't know but it sure works). Sugar alcohols are not accounted for by MFP in any way.

Ahhh... alright thanks! I was trying to understand why they were listed separate. I see it is for confusions sake.

Still... sugar and fiber added together do not equal the carbs listed... making it even more confusing.

I will just continue subtracting just fiber and ignore sugar. I'm trying to stay at 20-30 carbs a day. I don't want to go too low either.

that's because there is more to carbs that just sugar and fiber. Sugar and fiber make up the bulk of it but not all - so just adding the sugar total and the fiber won't equal the whole amount.

RainyDayBrunette

Phrick wrote: »

MarieFromOz wrote: »

Phrick wrote: »

MarieFromOz wrote: »

Thanks all!

So the sugars listed separate from carbs on MFP diary are sugar alcohols?

nope. Sugars listed separate from carbs are part of the total carb count (already listed) that they separate out (for confusion's sake? For scaring people? I don't know but it sure works). Sugar alcohols are not accounted for by MFP in any way.

Ahhh... alright thanks! I was trying to understand why they were listed separate. I see it is for confusions sake.

Still... sugar and fiber added together do not equal the carbs listed... making it even more confusing.

I will just continue subtracting just fiber and ignore sugar. I'm trying to stay at 20-30 carbs a day. I don't want to go too low either.

that's because there is more to carbs that just sugar and fiber. Sugar and fiber make up the bulk of it but not all - so just adding the sugar total and the fiber won't equal the whole amount.

I would like to know what the others are. I haven't ever separated them in such a way. Very interesting. Thank you!

Phrick

starch is the other part - carbs are made up of starch, sugar and fiber

RainyDayBrunette

I view starch as sugar because of the metabolic breakdown... so this makes sense!