Net Carbs...Beware!

What is a net carb? Why should you know? What is the real nutritional impact on your body?

These are questions that are becoming more prevalent as clever marketing becomes more evident in the multi-billion dollar diet food industry. It is also clear to me that there is a lot of confusion around the topic of net carbs and I will attempt to clarify them for you here and why you should be aware of the true impact on your body.

The net carb craze began with Atkins and the "no carb" eating phenomenon that took place when everyone stopped eating carbs and starting claiming they were losing weight. They could eat protein and fats and were amazed that weight came off. The disappointment came when people gained even more weight back once off this ridiculous diet and started to get elevated LDL levels along with reduced energy and other health problems. Once the craze began to die down, the food industry came out with another clever marketing term...net carbs.

This clever term is just he total amount of carbohydrates in a product minus the amount of fiber, glycerine and sugar alcohols. This is why it is called net carbs. The thinking is that human beings do not absorb fiber, glycerine and sugar alcohols like other carbs in the blood stream, therefore, there is no impact on the blood sugar like regular carbohydrates. This, however, may not be totally true.

Fiber is a key element and nutrient in promoting good health. However, it is not counted as a calorie by the body because it is not absorbed into the blood stream. Sugar alcohols (sorbitol, xylitol, malitol, mannitol) are not either sugars or alcohols but carbohydrates. The claim is that they are not absorbed in the blood stream, however, there have been recent studies showing that they pass through the intestine with some absorption by the body. Glycerine is used by nutrition bar companies to lubricate the bars and make them more digestible. It has also been used in making soaps, inks and antifreeze. Also in these "net carb" products are hydrogenated starches that have been genetically altered and used to provide sweetness in the product.

What does this mean for the consumer? It means that manufacturers are attempting to lure consumers into thinking that consuming these products will have no effect on blood sugar and therefore, will promote weight loss and better health. This is just not true. Sugar alcohols are placed in the products at levels close to regular sugars and have been proven to irritate the small intestine due to the body's inability to digest them and recognize them as a food product. Hydrogenated starches go through a similar process as hydrogenated oils and have been proven to be harmful to humans on many levels. People with diabetes and intestinal problems may see more effects on their health than most, however, most people if consumed at the levels that they are to lose weight, will eventually, in my opinion develop complications.

Therefore, it is simple. Eat a balanced diet with fiber, unsaturated fats, lean proteins and complex carbohydrates along with regular exercise and live longer. If you want to lose weight, eat less, move more and fuel your body with food that is real. Remember, it is not the manufacturer that is concerned with your health, they are just trying to sell a product. It is your responsibility to know what is going into your body and how that will impact your life!