Modern Disciple Magazine for Men (MDM4M), published in Canada 
NOVEMBER 2004
NOVEMBER 2004
YOUR HEALTH
Net Carbs, Low Carbs and the Fall of The Roman Empire
by Jeff Consiglio
Let's pretend I sold you a used car.I told you the car was in perfect condition, other than a slight tendency to burn oil. So you bought the car in good faith and went on your merry way. But within a few days of ownership you discovered defects I didn't tell you about. Turns out the car needs a new exhaust pipe, brake job, and oh yeah…the heater doesn't work either.
So you call me up and proceed to list the defects you've discovered. You tell me you're not happy with the way I represented the vehicle to you, and ask why I failed to tell you about the exhaust pipe, brakes and heater.
Imagine I reply, "The car has only one "net defect." Non engine related defects, things like brakes, exhaust pipes and heaters aren't included in the net defect count.
Would you accept such an argument? Of course not. You'd probably be ready to beat me over the head with my net defects.
But a similar argument is used by the makers of low-carb food products. According to them, some carbs don't count. They tell us "net-carbs" are the only carbs we need to concern ourselves with.
But what are net-carbs, and are they any more special than regular carbs?
"Net carbs is equal to the total carbohydrates minus fiber, sugar alcohols and glycerine which all have a minimal impact on blood sugar." - Net-Carbs, as defined on a carton of Blue Bunny "Carb Freedom" Ice Cream
We're told net carbs are what's left after they disregard the fiber, sugar alcohols and glycerine contained in a food. They're still in there, but aren't counted as part of net carbs.
But what about these 3 ingredients? Are they really free of carbohydrates and calories?
1. Fiber - Ok, score one for the food processors. Fiber is a legitimate deduction from the total carb count. Although fiber is legally classified as a carbohydrate, it really isn't. Fiber contributes practically nothing toward overall carb and caloric intake. Therefore a product that lists a total of 10 grams of carbs per serving, but has 3 grams of fiber per serving…really has just 7 grams of carbs per serving. Fair enough.
2. Sugar alchohols - Once again, I refer to a carton of "low carb " sugar free" ice cream; Listed in this product's ingredients are a bunch of words ending with the letters OL. Stuff like sorbitol, lactitol and maltitiol. If you see an ingredient ending in OL, it's probably a sugar alcohol. Sugar alchohols are technically neither alchohols, sugars or carbohydrates. But they do contain carbohydrates and calories. The food processors tell us they "don't count" because they have minimal impact on the fat storage hormone insulin. But that's not 100% true. And even if it were, it's irrelevant because sugar alcohols do contribute to total carbohydrate and caloric intake. And despite the propaganda of various low carb gurus, calories do count.
3. Glycerine - Synthetic glycerine is used by the food processors for a variety of reasons in their so-called low carb products. Synthetic glycerine helps makes your low carb goodies taste sweet and gives them decent texture. It also gives you gas. Or if you're really lucky…diarrhea. All at no extra charge! There are all kinds of cool things you can do with synthetic glycerine. You can use it to make glue, adhesives, resins, de-foaming agents and soap. By the way, glycerine also contains calories.
There you have it. Food processors whip up sweet tasting, Frankenfoods by replacing ordinary sugar with a bunch of chemicals. Most of which do contain carbohydrates and calories. Then they use verbal trickery and catch phrases, like "net carbs" to hide the actual carb and caloric content of their products.
"The labeling laws for carbohydrates are not very clear. There are a lot of loopholes that companies have found to get around the science." - Dale Schoeller, professor of nutritional sciences at the University of Wisconsin, Madison.
Speaking of labels, let's analyze the label on that carton of Carb Freedom Ice Cream SEE PAGE 2 ---->
All articles in MDM4M are © the author or, if no author given, © the publisher.
Opinions and views are solely those of the writer and do not necessarily represent the opinions of MDM4M.
Opinions and views are solely those of the writer and do not necessarily represent the opinions of MDM4M.