Low Carb Diets, How Do You Figure The Amount Of Carbs?

How do you calculate the carbohydrates in food? I know that you have to back out the fiber from the total, and also the sugar alchohol. But most of the nutritional information on packages says, ’sugars’ not ’sugar alchohol’. Is it the same thing?

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4 Responses to “Low Carb Diets, How Do You Figure The Amount Of Carbs?”

Methusel on July 3rd, 2009 at 9:02 pm

It could drive you crazy if you try to calculate the amount of carbs in the foods you are eating, especially if you start worrying about subtleties like the ones you describe. If you must do it, you can probably just rely on the ‘Carbohydrate’ values listed in the nutritional breakdown. For the purposes of measuring your daily intake it really isn’t going to make a big enough difference whether you include the fiber or not.
But I would suggest that it’s not necessary (although this does of course depend on what your objectives are and what type of low carb diet you are following.)
My advice would be that the healthiest and most effective way to follow a low carb diet is simply to avoid pasta, bread, cereal, rice and potatoes, as well as, obviously, other processed foods that are sweet or stodgy.
If you eat plenty of vegetables, fruit and salad, but avoid these other foods you will be on a low carb diet by definition and can stop worrying about how much carbs you are eating. Avoiding these foods alone puts you into the low carb zone. You just need to make sure you eat plenty of meat and healthy fats (nuts, avocado, coconut, oily fish, olive oil etc) so that you feel satisfied at mealtimes.
This is the most healthy approach because fruit, veg and salad are nutritionally very dense, whereas the starchy foods you should avoid contain relatively little goodness. By ensuring that the carbs you do get are from these nutritionally dense sources you can go on a low carb diet without affecting your health.
If you do find yourself wanting to calculate the amount of carbs in foods that do not come in a packet, the Nutrition Data site will help you do that as long as you know the weight of what you have eaten – link below. Use the search boxes top right….
Panterka on July 4th, 2009 at 3:14 am

Don’t count them, you’ll go crazy. Just remember that there are lots of carbs in sugar containing stuff, anything coming from the bakery, bananas and potatoes. Stay away from those, that’s all you need to know.
Judy on July 4th, 2009 at 8:33 am

Remember that people are dying of heart attacks from this low carb diet. Watch the animal fat intake.
shicara on July 4th, 2009 at 10:15 am

i live this website
calorieking.com.au
im on it alll the time as it lists calories, fat, sugar..etc.

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