Net Carbs? Atkins?

yummummum
yummummum Posts: 257
edited October 3 in Food and Nutrition
Can someone explain net carbs to me? I read here that it is your total carbs minus your fiber.

If you are doing Atkins is the 20 g of carbs per day during induction, total carbs or net carbs?

Thanks.
«1

Replies

  • SueInAz
    SueInAz Posts: 6,592 Member
    Atkins counts net carbs during all phases. Fiber doesn't impact your blood sugar like other carbs, so you don't count it. That means you can eat lots of nice, green veggies, which should be 12 - 15 grams of that 20.
  • Atkins is horribly bad for you! Don't follow it!

    Normally weight loss causes cholesterol to fall but for about one-third of Atkins dieters, everything goes in the wrong direction, and their cholesterol levels sometimes go through the roof. They also lose calcium, as researchers have found with urine tests. Over the long run, the concern is that that could lead to osteoporosis--elevated cholesterol levels may lead you to life threatening-heart disease!

    ANY DIET THAT ELIMINATES A FOOD GROUP IS UNHEALTHY! You need to eat a variety of all foods! carbs, fats, and protein!
  • Grokette
    Grokette Posts: 3,330 Member
    Atkins is horribly bad for you! Don't follow it!

    Normally weight loss causes cholesterol to fall but for about one-third of Atkins dieters, everything goes in the wrong direction, and their cholesterol levels sometimes go through the roof. - FALSE

    They also lose calcium, as researchers have found with urine tests. Over the long run, the concern is that that could lead to osteoporosis--elevated cholesterol levels may lead you to life threatening-heart disease! - FALSE

    ANY DIET THAT ELIMINATES A FOOD GROUP IS UNHEALTHY! You need to eat a variety of all foods! carbs, fats, and protein! - FALSE

    You have no idea as to what you are talking about. Please consider educating yourself. Everything you mentioned is FALSE.
  • Atkins is horribly bad for you! Don't follow it!

    Normally weight loss causes cholesterol to fall but for about one-third of Atkins dieters, everything goes in the wrong direction, and their cholesterol levels sometimes go through the roof. - FALSE

    They also lose calcium, as researchers have found with urine tests. Over the long run, the concern is that that could lead to osteoporosis--elevated cholesterol levels may lead you to life threatening-heart disease! - FALSE

    ANY DIET THAT ELIMINATES A FOOD GROUP IS UNHEALTHY! You need to eat a variety of all foods! carbs, fats, and protein! - FALSE

    You have no idea as to what you are talking about. Please consider educating yourself. Everything you mentioned is FALSE.

    I'm in school for dietetics and been in the health and fitness world for 5 yrs! Eat mostly carbs from fruits and vegetables and very little meat and I am perfectly healthy and STILL losing weight! YOU need to re-educate yourself!
  • glenr79
    glenr79 Posts: 283 Member
    I really don't think Atkins is a good idea for you... 50% of your diet is supposed to be from carbohydrates. Yes you are supposed to cut simple carbs out. But you s hould eat lots of fiber, I know you mentioned that.. which is good... but you should eat about 230g of fruit, vegetables, and 100% whole grains. You get most of your energy from carbohydrates and your vitamins and nutrients. If you do decide to cut your carbs way down, make you are taking a good multi-vitamin so you are not lacking on your nutrients and vitamins, if you don't, you will gain your weight back twice as fast once you quit this diet.
  • Atkins is horribly bad for you! Don't follow it!

    Normally weight loss causes cholesterol to fall but for about one-third of Atkins dieters, everything goes in the wrong direction, and their cholesterol levels sometimes go through the roof. - FALSE

    They also lose calcium, as researchers have found with urine tests. Over the long run, the concern is that that could lead to osteoporosis--elevated cholesterol levels may lead you to life threatening-heart disease! - FALSE

    ANY DIET THAT ELIMINATES A FOOD GROUP IS UNHEALTHY! You need to eat a variety of all foods! carbs, fats, and protein! - FALSE

    You have no idea as to what you are talking about. Please consider educating yourself. Everything you mentioned is FALSE.

    I'm in school for dietetics and been in the health and fitness world for 5 yrs! Eat mostly carbs from fruits and vegetables and very little meat and I am perfectly healthy and STILL losing weight! YOU need to re-educate yourself!

    Joo need to re-educate yerself on Atkins. Atkin no stoopid man. Joo cannot show Karg one clinical trial where da cholesterol did not improve when dey who stick to Atkin's did it according to da Doktor Atkins.

    Joo shuld know dat lack of dietary cholesterol only triggers da liver to produce more cholesterol from carbs. Dat cholesterol be a non-essential nutrient, means da body just make it if you no eat it anyway. Guess wut da body make it from? Da carbs.

    Mebbe Karg help wit u education wit dis aktual clinical trial of da Atkins by Stanford. Dey got dieticians dere to.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eREuZEdMAVo&feature=player_embedded#!
  • SRH7
    SRH7 Posts: 2,037 Member
    Bump!
  • Lisa_222
    Lisa_222 Posts: 301 Member
    The trouble with Atkins is that there are some people who decide they can eat forty pieces of bacon and still be ok. This is what leads to the misconceptions. Honestly, a healthy diet that's low in carbs is good for you, as long as it still contains all the food groups and is not crazy high in saturated fats and calories. It's especially healthy for diabetics. The trouble is, many people take it to the extremes.
  • ANY DIET THAT ELIMINATES A FOOD GROUP IS UNHEALTHY! You need to eat a variety of all foods! carbs, fats, and protein!

    Karg jus notice dis part.

    Dis proof joo no nuthin bout Atkin, Atkin's eat many vegetables a day. Is not eliminated. Atkins also reintroduce back carbs slowly after induktion. You are not educated on Atkins. Atkins do not eat KFC, dey end up eating lots of fresh lean meats and vegs and lots of healthy fat.

    Dis be unhealthy for nobody.
  • Atkins is horribly bad for you! Don't follow it!

    Normally weight loss causes cholesterol to fall but for about one-third of Atkins dieters, everything goes in the wrong direction, and their cholesterol levels sometimes go through the roof. - FALSE

    They also lose calcium, as researchers have found with urine tests. Over the long run, the concern is that that could lead to osteoporosis--elevated cholesterol levels may lead you to life threatening-heart disease! - FALSE

    ANY DIET THAT ELIMINATES A FOOD GROUP IS UNHEALTHY! You need to eat a variety of all foods! carbs, fats, and protein! - FALSE

    You have no idea as to what you are talking about. Please consider educating yourself. Everything you mentioned is FALSE.

    I'm in school for dietetics and been in the health and fitness world for 5 yrs! Eat mostly carbs from fruits and vegetables and very little meat and I am perfectly healthy and STILL losing weight! YOU need to re-educate yourself!

    Joo need to re-educate yerself on Atkins. Atkin no stoopid man. Joo cannot show Karg one clinical trial where da cholesterol did not improve when dey who stick to Atkin's did it according to da Doktor Atkins.

    Joo shuld know dat lack of dietary cholesterol only triggers da liver to produce more cholesterol from carbs. Dat cholesterol be a non-essential nutrient, means da body just make it if you no eat it anyway. Guess wut da body make it from? Da carbs.

    Mebbe Karg help wit u education wit dis aktual clinical trial of da Atkins by Stanford. Dey got dieticians dere to.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eREuZEdMAVo&feature=player_embedded#!

    I would respond to you but I don't even know what the hell your saying!
  • Atkins is horribly bad for you! Don't follow it!

    Normally weight loss causes cholesterol to fall but for about one-third of Atkins dieters, everything goes in the wrong direction, and their cholesterol levels sometimes go through the roof. - FALSE

    They also lose calcium, as researchers have found with urine tests. Over the long run, the concern is that that could lead to osteoporosis--elevated cholesterol levels may lead you to life threatening-heart disease! - FALSE

    ANY DIET THAT ELIMINATES A FOOD GROUP IS UNHEALTHY! You need to eat a variety of all foods! carbs, fats, and protein! - FALSE

    You have no idea as to what you are talking about. Please consider educating yourself. Everything you mentioned is FALSE.

    I'm in school for dietetics and been in the health and fitness world for 5 yrs! Eat mostly carbs from fruits and vegetables and very little meat and I am perfectly healthy and STILL losing weight! YOU need to re-educate yourself!

    Joo need to re-educate yerself on Atkins. Atkin no stoopid man. Joo cannot show Karg one clinical trial where da cholesterol did not improve when dey who stick to Atkin's did it according to da Doktor Atkins.

    Joo shuld know dat lack of dietary cholesterol only triggers da liver to produce more cholesterol from carbs. Dat cholesterol be a non-essential nutrient, means da body just make it if you no eat it anyway. Guess wut da body make it from? Da carbs.

    Mebbe Karg help wit u education wit dis aktual clinical trial of da Atkins by Stanford. Dey got dieticians dere to.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eREuZEdMAVo&feature=player_embedded#!

    I would respond to you but I don't even know what the hell your saying!

    Dat fair. Karg does speak at da grade 2 lebel.
  • Mmmary212
    Mmmary212 Posts: 410 Member
    The trouble with Atkins is that there are some people who decide they can eat forty pieces of bacon and still be ok. This is what leads to the misconceptions. Honestly, a healthy diet that's low in carbs is good for you, as long as it still contains all the food groups and is not crazy high in saturated fats and calories. It's especially healthy for diabetics. The trouble is, many people take it to the extremes.

    :::confused::: I happen to love my "Pound of Bacon Saturday". Bacon is not making people fat. grains and sugars make people fat and produce high cholesterol and heart diseases. One more time...all together now: Eating fat is not what is making people fat.

    I eat meat and fat 90% of my diet....occasionally do I actually eat a vegetable and a fruit. And thats the way, uh huh, uh huh, I like it, uh huh uh huh...
  • Atkins is horribly bad for you! Don't follow it!

    Normally weight loss causes cholesterol to fall but for about one-third of Atkins dieters, everything goes in the wrong direction, and their cholesterol levels sometimes go through the roof. - FALSE

    They also lose calcium, as researchers have found with urine tests. Over the long run, the concern is that that could lead to osteoporosis--elevated cholesterol levels may lead you to life threatening-heart disease! - FALSE

    ANY DIET THAT ELIMINATES A FOOD GROUP IS UNHEALTHY! You need to eat a variety of all foods! carbs, fats, and protein! - FALSE

    You have no idea as to what you are talking about. Please consider educating yourself. Everything you mentioned is FALSE.

    I'm in school for dietetics and been in the health and fitness world for 5 yrs! Eat mostly carbs from fruits and vegetables and very little meat and I am perfectly healthy and STILL losing weight! YOU need to re-educate yourself!

    Joo need to re-educate yerself on Atkins. Atkin no stoopid man. Joo cannot show Karg one clinical trial where da cholesterol did not improve when dey who stick to Atkin's did it according to da Doktor Atkins.

    Joo shuld know dat lack of dietary cholesterol only triggers da liver to produce more cholesterol from carbs. Dat cholesterol be a non-essential nutrient, means da body just make it if you no eat it anyway. Guess wut da body make it from? Da carbs.

    Mebbe Karg help wit u education wit dis aktual clinical trial of da Atkins by Stanford. Dey got dieticians dere to.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eREuZEdMAVo&feature=player_embedded#!

    I would respond to you but I don't even know what the hell your saying!

    Dat fair. Karg does speak at da grade 2 lebel.

    HA! you got that right! you talk on a pre-school "lebel"!
  • neil3125
    neil3125 Posts: 39 Member
    i'm sure that i'm just stating points that you guys already know, but what makes the atkins diet interesting is that by depriving the body of carbohydrates, you drive the body into a starvation state - generating blood glucose from protien and energy from fat stores instead of from dietary carbs - i.e. ketogenesis.

    as it turns out, most people who follow a very low carb diet end up eating a very small number of calories - i've seen this in several papers. so some people argue that weight loss on an ultra low carb diet has less to do with the mechanism i mentioned, and more to do with the caloric deficit that people on atkins tend to run.

    not sure what it does to the lipid profile though, except VLDLs and chylomicrons tend to go up on an atkins diet (as they are a direct reflection of dietary fat intake)
  • LowCarbForLife
    LowCarbForLife Posts: 82 Member
    Atkins is horribly bad for you! Don't follow it!

    Normally weight loss causes cholesterol to fall but for about one-third of Atkins dieters, everything goes in the wrong direction, and their cholesterol levels sometimes go through the roof. They also lose calcium, as researchers have found with urine tests. Over the long run, the concern is that that could lead to osteoporosis--elevated cholesterol levels may lead you to life threatening-heart disease!

    ANY DIET THAT ELIMINATES A FOOD GROUP IS UNHEALTHY! You need to eat a variety of all foods! carbs, fats, and protein!

    Please go stick your head back in the sand. You have absolutely no idea what you are blabbering about. Atkins does not eliminate any food group unless you are unable to understand the meaning of the word "low" in low carb.

    Neither of the claims you make about low carb diets are true.
  • LowCarbForLife
    LowCarbForLife Posts: 82 Member
    i'm sure that i'm just stating points that you guys already know, but what makes the atkins diet interesting is that by depriving the body of carbohydrates, you drive the body into a starvation state - generating blood glucose from protien and energy from fat stores instead of from dietary carbs - i.e. ketogenesis.

    as it turns out, most people who follow a very low carb diet end up eating a very small number of calories - i've seen this in several papers. so some people argue that weight loss on an ultra low carb diet has less to do with the mechanism i mentioned, and more to do with the caloric deficit that people on atkins tend to run.

    not sure what it does to the lipid profile though, except VLDLs and chylomicrons tend to go up on an atkins diet (as they are a direct reflection of dietary fat intake)

    That is not true. First, starvation mode is a myth. Please cite sources for you claim that low carb diets have significantly lower calorie intake than other diets. They do have a caloric deficit just like any other diet people are using to lose weight but not significantly below other diets.
  • LowCarbForLife
    LowCarbForLife Posts: 82 Member
    Atkins is horribly bad for you! Don't follow it!

    Normally weight loss causes cholesterol to fall but for about one-third of Atkins dieters, everything goes in the wrong direction, and their cholesterol levels sometimes go through the roof. - FALSE

    They also lose calcium, as researchers have found with urine tests. Over the long run, the concern is that that could lead to osteoporosis--elevated cholesterol levels may lead you to life threatening-heart disease! - FALSE

    ANY DIET THAT ELIMINATES A FOOD GROUP IS UNHEALTHY! You need to eat a variety of all foods! carbs, fats, and protein! - FALSE

    You have no idea as to what you are talking about. Please consider educating yourself. Everything you mentioned is FALSE.

    I'm in school for dietetics and been in the health and fitness world for 5 yrs! Eat mostly carbs from fruits and vegetables and very little meat and I am perfectly healthy and STILL losing weight! YOU need to re-educate yourself!

    Well of course you are the model for every other person on the planet so what works for you will work for everyone! </sarcasm>

    Seriously, you need to consider another line of work as I fear you are just going to be another ignorant dietitian out spreading misinformation once you graduate.
  • HMonsterX
    HMonsterX Posts: 3,000 Member
    Alamo > Karg

    :P
  • AlyRoseNYC
    AlyRoseNYC Posts: 1,075 Member
    Net carbs = Total Carbs - Fiber

    When doing induction on Atkins, you count net carbs. Some people prefer to count total carbs (not net) as per Dr. Atkins last book before passing away. The most recent book (which was not written by him) says net carbs. That's what I follow.
  • blackelvis3030
    blackelvis3030 Posts: 3 Member
    "Atkins is horribly bad for you! Don't follow it!"

    Do you have any links to studies, or research citations that back up your claim?
  • The American Society of Bariatric Physicians (ASBP) recommends the following formula with regards to fiber and sugar alcohols:
    If there is more than 5 grams per serving, subtract half the grams of fiber/sugar alcohol to get net carbs. For example, a food with 20 grams of carbohydrates, 8 grams of fiber and 6 grams of sugar alcohol would have 13 grams of net carbs. [20 -(8 x 1/2) - (6 x 1/2) = 20 - 4 - 3 = 13)
  • neil3125
    neil3125 Posts: 39 Member
    i'm sure that i'm just stating points that you guys already know, but what makes the atkins diet interesting is that by depriving the body of carbohydrates, you drive the body into a starvation state - generating blood glucose from protien and energy from fat stores instead of from dietary carbs - i.e. ketogenesis.

    as it turns out, most people who follow a very low carb diet end up eating a very small number of calories - i've seen this in several papers. so some people argue that weight loss on an ultra low carb diet has less to do with the mechanism i mentioned, and more to do with the caloric deficit that people on atkins tend to run.

    not sure what it does to the lipid profile though, except VLDLs and chylomicrons tend to go up on an atkins diet (as they are a direct reflection of dietary fat intake)

    That is not true. First, starvation mode is a myth. Please cite sources for you claim that low carb diets have significantly lower calorie intake than other diets. They do have a caloric deficit just like any other diet people are using to lose weight but not significantly below other diets.

    Just to clarify, I was not talking about "starvation mode" in the sense that people use the term on this message board. I was talking about a physiologic starvation state. That is what is so cool about the atkins diet, is it mimics a starvation state despite food consuption. (lack of carbs -- > decreased insulin production -- > blood glucose generated from protein (gluconeogenesis), and fatty acids mobilized for energy production (which generates ketones). This is also what happens in a starvation state. I don't mean this as a criticism of the atkins diet, just commenting on the purported physiology of how it works. I'll see if I can find the articles I was thinking of; but they were not criticizing atkins either - they just pointed out that the mechanism of weight loss on a low carb diet probably has more to do with calorie deficit than with a ketogenic state.
  • LowCarbForLife
    LowCarbForLife Posts: 82 Member
    i'm sure that i'm just stating points that you guys already know, but what makes the atkins diet interesting is that by depriving the body of carbohydrates, you drive the body into a starvation state - generating blood glucose from protien and energy from fat stores instead of from dietary carbs - i.e. ketogenesis.

    as it turns out, most people who follow a very low carb diet end up eating a very small number of calories - i've seen this in several papers. so some people argue that weight loss on an ultra low carb diet has less to do with the mechanism i mentioned, and more to do with the caloric deficit that people on atkins tend to run.

    not sure what it does to the lipid profile though, except VLDLs and chylomicrons tend to go up on an atkins diet (as they are a direct reflection of dietary fat intake)

    That is not true. First, starvation mode is a myth. Please cite sources for you claim that low carb diets have significantly lower calorie intake than other diets. They do have a caloric deficit just like any other diet people are using to lose weight but not significantly below other diets.

    Just to clarify, I was not talking about "starvation mode" in the sense that people use the term on this message board. I was talking about a physiologic starvation state. That is what is so cool about the atkins diet, is it mimics a starvation state despite food consuption. (lack of carbs -- > decreased insulin production -- > blood glucose generated from protein (gluconeogenesis), and fatty acids mobilized for energy production (which generates ketones). This is also what happens in a starvation state. I don't mean this as a criticism of the atkins diet, just commenting on the purported physiology of how it works. I'll see if I can find the articles I was thinking of; but they were not criticizing atkins either - they just pointed out that the mechanism of weight loss on a low carb diet probably has more to do with calorie deficit than with a ketogenic state.

    I'm sorry for responding the way I did then which was a bit defensive. There are many MFP people who for whatever reason feel the need just jump into any forum thread that relates to Atkins or low carb in order to show their ignorance or to spread misinformation about these types of diets. You clearly did neither of those things.
  • Iheartsushi
    Iheartsushi Posts: 150 Member
    Ha ha..to answer your question...it's net carbs. (Carbs minus Fiber)
  • LowCarbForLife
    LowCarbForLife Posts: 82 Member
    ANY DIET THAT ELIMINATES A FOOD GROUP IS UNHEALTHY! You need to eat a variety of all foods! carbs, fats, and protein!

    Karg jus notice dis part.

    Dis proof joo no nuthin bout Atkin, Atkin's eat many vegetables a day. Is not eliminated. Atkins also reintroduce back carbs slowly after induktion. You are not educated on Atkins. Atkins do not eat KFC, dey end up eating lots of fresh lean meats and vegs and lots of healthy fat.

    Dis be unhealthy for nobody.

    You actually seem to know what you're talking about and more people would probably take you seriously if you dropped the caveman lingo. </$.02>
  • HMonsterX
    HMonsterX Posts: 3,000 Member
    But then he'd be just like everyone else, which kinda defeats his objective!
  • LowCarbForLife
    LowCarbForLife Posts: 82 Member
    But then he'd be just like everyone else, which kinda defeats his objective!
    I think I understand that he does it to get attention, I was just pointing out one of the negative consequences he may not have considered.
  • Grokette
    Grokette Posts: 3,330 Member
    Atkins is horribly bad for you! Don't follow it!

    Normally weight loss causes cholesterol to fall but for about one-third of Atkins dieters, everything goes in the wrong direction, and their cholesterol levels sometimes go through the roof. - FALSE

    They also lose calcium, as researchers have found with urine tests. Over the long run, the concern is that that could lead to osteoporosis--elevated cholesterol levels may lead you to life threatening-heart disease! - FALSE

    ANY DIET THAT ELIMINATES A FOOD GROUP IS UNHEALTHY! You need to eat a variety of all foods! carbs, fats, and protein! - FALSE

    You have no idea as to what you are talking about. Please consider educating yourself. Everything you mentioned is FALSE.

    I'm in school for dietetics and been in the health and fitness world for 5 yrs! Eat mostly carbs from fruits and vegetables and very little meat and I am perfectly healthy and STILL losing weight! YOU need to re-educate yourself!

    What do you think you eat on Atkins, your big toe????

    Umm with Atkins you climb the carb ladder and you eat everything...........it is no different than an elimination diet a doctor or dietician will put someone on to figure out if you have food allergies or not.

    In a nutshell with Atkins you start out in Phase 1 with Proteins, fats and green leafy vegetables...........this is for 2 weeks.

    Phase 2 you start adding in higher carb vegetables, fruit, nuts, seeds, dairy, alcohol. grains and starchier vegetables.

    Phase 3 you are about to enter maintenance

    Phase 4 is life time maintenance where you are eating a level of carbs that is built for you (generic you) individually.




    There is no way you can convince me that eating a salad, then a steak or a chicken breast, shrimp or other protein source along with more vegetables is unhealthy.................

    That is the Atkins plan.

    As I said, you have no idea as what you are talking about. You can't eat any cleaner than what I mentioned above.
  • Grokette
    Grokette Posts: 3,330 Member
    Atkins is horribly bad for you! Don't follow it!

    Normally weight loss causes cholesterol to fall but for about one-third of Atkins dieters, everything goes in the wrong direction, and their cholesterol levels sometimes go through the roof. They also lose calcium, as researchers have found with urine tests. Over the long run, the concern is that that could lead to osteoporosis--elevated cholesterol levels may lead you to life threatening-heart disease!

    ANY DIET THAT ELIMINATES A FOOD GROUP IS UNHEALTHY! You need to eat a variety of all foods! carbs, fats, and protein!

    OH, and you are not ELIMINATING carbs, you are CONTROLLING carbs.
  • Grokette
    Grokette Posts: 3,330 Member
    ANY DIET THAT ELIMINATES A FOOD GROUP IS UNHEALTHY! You need to eat a variety of all foods! carbs, fats, and protein!

    Karg jus notice dis part.

    Dis proof joo no nuthin bout Atkin, Atkin's eat many vegetables a day. Is not eliminated. Atkins also reintroduce back carbs slowly after induktion. You are not educated on Atkins. Atkins do not eat KFC, dey end up eating lots of fresh lean meats and vegs and lots of healthy fat.

    Dis be unhealthy for nobody.


    :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :tongue:
This discussion has been closed.