Sugar vs Sugar Alcohol - Carbs Vs Net Carbs

[Ivy]

Hi Everyone. I have a couple of questions to ask. First I started - 3-27-06. Weight loss so far is 7 pounds. I also have a thyroid disorder that I am on medication for. (just to give some history)

Since I started Atkins, I have been very careful not to exceed 20 grams of carbs per day. Most often I only seem to put away 11-15 carbs per day.

During my store trips looking for new and different foods. I found A lot of foods having carbs, But they then talk about NET Carbs. I will give an example.

I found a hard candy Baskin Robbins Sugar Free Smooth & Creamy hard candy.

The package reads 0 Net carbs per serving. The Nutrition Facts state. 15G of carbs per serving, However its made with Sugar Alcohols 15G. Giving the per serving of 0 Net carbs. I am confused. Is Sugar Alcohols okay on atkins? Help!

Ivy

[Elizellen]

Re: Sugar vs Sugar Alcohol - Carbs Vs Net Carbs

It all depends on your body!!

Some people find they get an explosive 'bathroom effect' from some if not all sugar alcohols, so if you decide to indulge do make sure you are near a bathroom!!

I have steered clear of all those 'fake sweets' as I wanted to lose my sweet tooth and be able to live life without craving sweets. After not even using my '3 servings' of sweetener for many months I really dont feel the 'need' for that sort of 'treat' in my daily menus.

Here are links to a couple of useful threads about them in the FAQ forum:

What are sugar alcohols?
http://www.atkinsdietbulletinboard.c...ead.php?t=6780

Sugar alcohols : to count or not to count?
http://www.atkinsdietbulletinboard.c...ead.php?t=6731

And from the 14-day forum some information on what continuing to eat artificially sweetened foods can do to us.
http://www.atkinsdietbulletinboard.c...ead.php?t=5922
Here is a quote from the first post there but it might be enlightening to read the whole thread to see what others said about the information in the links given here

For some folks artificial sweeteners and regular sugar can trigger something called the "cephalic phase insulin response". Basically, the sweet taste alone will cause you to release insulin. The insulin will grab any bit of sugar you might have floating around in your blood. When you blood sugar dips below a certain point, it triggers your brain to feel hunger or cravings.

This results in a vicious cycle: the more you eat or drink of the artificial sweetener the more insulin you'll release so the hungrier you'll feel and the more you'll want/need to eat. That's why some people can't stop drinking can after can of diet soda: satisfying their sweet tooth only makes them want more. This can happen with any artificial sweetener.

http://bestlowcarbs.com/article1082.html
http://www.extique.com/askrob5-3.htm

This is why the ADBB moderators and old-timers strongly advise everyone to kill that sweet tooth during Induction. Starve that sweet tooth and you'll be in control of the food, rather than the food be in control of you.

AS well as the 'should I or should I not' question which only you can decide for yourself you would need to make sure that every ingredient in the bar or sweet/candy was listed on the 'allowed list' for whatever stage of Atkins you are on. So if on induction you would not be able to include foods with soy, wheat, starches, fruit, nuts etc in them.

Hope this helps