Hi. While I was on vacation I stopped into a very nice health food store in Mountain Home, Arkansas to see if I could find some flax cereal that I've seen mentioned here. They didn't have what I wanted, but the owner showed me several types that he had on hand. They were rather high in carbs and I mentioned this to him. He took a look at the numbers and said, "Well, you subtract the fiber and the sugar amounts, and then you're left with 7 carbs per serving."

I've been subtracting the fiber from the carb count of various things but I didn't realize that you should also subtract the sugar count. Is this what everyone else does? Have I been cheating myself?

No, you can't subtract the sugar carbs. Those are the ones you want to avoid. If he was talking about sugar alcohols then you've entered a different debate, they can have an effect on your blood glucose just like real sugar so you have to use them with caution, if at all.

I have understood you may subtract the fiber but NOT the sugar. Have you looked at some of the bars they sell as low carb. When you read the break downs the are loaded. But will say 3 carbs ect. They must mean per bite.

Lynn
6/6/03
163/153/145
38/33.12/39.5 5'8"

Right. That's what I thought -- the sugar counts! I am glucose intolorant and have to be very careful how much sugar of any kind I take in. I felt leary about the cereal so I didn't buy it. Thanks so much for confirming my original impression.

I too have a question about subtracting the fiber. I'm just starting using FITDAY.COM and when I put in everything they don't do much with the fiber, does everyone else just subtract it and ignore what FITDAY is says is your carb count for the day?

Joy,
278.8/266.2/250

Hi Joy,

When I look at the back of a package and check out the number of carbs per serving I note the number of grams of fiber that contribute to that total. To get the actual carb count I subtract the fiber from the carb total. Thus, if the total carbs equals 10 per serving, and fiber contributes 4 grams to that total, I subtract the fiber for an actual carb count of 6 grams per serving. I do the same with FITDAY.

Actually, I don't worry too much about being exact in the count. As long as I stay within the alloted total carbs I've allowed myself for any given day I'm satisfied. So far it seems to be working out okay. I don't lose weight easily, but I am losing it.

I hope I've helped a little.

This is the same thing I do with FitDay. I don't subtract anything for sugar alcohols (now that I've finally figured out just what those are!) but I subtract for the fiber.

Aderyn