What's the deal with "Net Carbs" ? - Health and Fitness Forum

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What's the deal with "Net Carbs" ?

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10-27-2008 , 05:54 PM

DMMx69

old hand

Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 1,680

I have heard some talk of this.
On a protein bar I bought today, it reads:

Total Carbs: 34
Non-Impact Carbs: 28
Net Carbs: 6

Under the Nutrition Facts:
Total Carbs: 34g
Dietary Fiber: 1g
Sugars: 4g
Sugar Alcohols: 27g

So, what does all this mean? How does this impact:
A) someone on an Atkins-like diet?
B) someone who simply wants to keep their carbs low?

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10-27-2008 , 06:02 PM

thirddan

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Join Date: Nov 2003 Posts: 11,695

everything i've seen has net carbs = total carbs - fiber...

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10-27-2008 , 06:06 PM

skunkworks

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It's just some voodoo magic where they're saying that sugar alcohols don't count as net carbs. Which is true by the rules.

They are absorbed and converted into energy just like regular sugars, but apparently they don't spike your blood sugar as high.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sugar_alcohol has a table with a nice calorie/gram table.

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10-27-2008 , 07:10 PM

Scary_Tiger

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Quote:

So, what does all this mean? How does this impact:
A) someone on an Atkins-like diet?

It doesn't impact them at all as they wouldn't be eating this.

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B) someone who simply wants to keep their carbs low?

Maybe it tricks them into eating more calories than they meant to. But not if they're smart and realize it's a marketing ploy to sell high carb bars to people trying to avoid carbs.

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10-27-2008 , 07:19 PM

Thremp

banned

Join Date: Nov 2005 Posts: 36,452

For some reason I thought sugar alcohol had like 5.25 cals per gram. Can someone explain why I would think this?

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10-27-2008 , 07:31 PM

DMMx69

old hand

Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 1,680

I asked this in another thread and never got a good answer:

Are there any (good) bars that are both high in protein, and low in carbs (not net carbs)?

Something like:
Protein >25
Carbs < 10

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10-27-2008 , 08:49 PM

skunkworks

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Join Date: Sep 2003 Posts: 7,374

Finding a good protein bar is like a holy grail. Part of it I think is because some carbs are required to keep the bar firm with good texture and have a good shelf life. I finally gave up on finding a good tasting protein bar and have resigned myself to having to make my own. Which I'm too lazy to do.

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10-27-2008 , 09:54 PM

ZonaAlumn

old hand

Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 1,764

I wanted to know the same things about Atkins bars.

IIRC

19g protein
8g fat (4 sat)
15 g carb (1 sugar and 2 net carbs whateva that means

And tastes delicious, but is this nutrition breakdown good?

Last edited by ZonaAlumn; 10-27-2008 at 10:00 PM.

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10-27-2008 , 09:56 PM

Thremp

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Join Date: Nov 2005 Posts: 36,452

A "good" protein bar would probably taste like shoe leather.

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10-27-2008 , 10:05 PM

#10

theblackkeys

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beef jerky

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10-28-2008 , 09:58 AM

#11

DMMx69

old hand

Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 1,680

Quote:

Originally Posted by theblackkeys

beef jerky

just had this for breakfast.

3 servings = 240 calories, 45g p, 3g f, 9g carbs. and it tasts better than shoe leather.

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10-28-2008 , 12:12 PM

#12

n4rf

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Quote:

Originally Posted by Thremp

A "good" protein bar would probably taste like shoe leather.

http://www.bodybuilding.com/store/vpx/zero.html

And about sugar alcohols, it's weird how the work because not all of them are absorbed into your blood stream but some are. That's why if you eat too many, expect to be on the ****ter.

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10-28-2008 , 12:13 PM

#13

n4rf

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Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 12,722

Quote:

Originally Posted by DMMx69

just had this for breakfast.

3 servings = 240 calories, 45g p, 3g f, 9g carbs. and it tasts better than shoe leather.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sodium_nitrite

I love beef jerky just as much as the next guy, but unless you're making your own...

Last edited by n4rf; 10-28-2008 at 12:40 PM. Reason: FIXED LINK

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10-28-2008 , 12:19 PM

#14

DMMx69

old hand

Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 1,680

I assume you meant to link this: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sodium_nitrite ?

The Jack Link's beef jerky I consumed has that, but no NaNO3.

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10-28-2008 , 12:27 PM

#15

Scary_Tiger

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Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 21,487

Counterpoint.

Jumping to conclusions from epidemiological studies just seems fruitless. Same goes for studies on rats.

I'm off to have some bacon and eggs.

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10-28-2008 , 12:40 PM

#16

n4rf

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Quote:

Originally Posted by DMMx69

I assume you meant to link this: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sodium_nitrite ?

The Jack Link's beef jerky I consumed has that, but no NaNO3.

lol yes...

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