Low Carb Controversy
Why Are There More Carbs in My Bar?
Originally Published in our Online Newsletter
DISCLAIMER: I understand that the author is not a licensed
health care professional and will not have examined me or discussed my health
condition with me. I also understand that the author did not intend this information
to be medical advice. I do acknowledge that any and all information I read in the
following article is not intended to be a substitute for medical advice from a
health care professional. I do agree to consult with a licensed health care
professional before beginning any diet, exercise, or supplement program to verify
that I am in good health and that any suggestions will not cause me harm. I will
read all labels for any product that I might use, and if I experience any unusual
symptoms after following any suggestion, I will immediately stop taking the product(s) and call a licensed
health care professional. I hereby release Affordable Supplements, Inc. and the
author of this article from any liability related to any information that I read.
Why Are There More Carbs in My Bar?
Suddenly, your favorite low carb bar
has more carbs listed on the label -
making you wonder - "Why did they
change it?" Believe me, we've been
answering a few of these questions
lately.
They really haven't changed your bars -
but the FDA has changed labeling
requirements. Sure, some manufacturers
have changed their formulas a little -
but most have just changed the name
of their bar - or the wrapper around
it. For example, Universal's popular
"Doctor's Diet Low Carb Bars" are now
called "CarbRite" Bars. Labrada's
"Low Carb Lean Body Bars" are now called
"CarbWatcher's". The list will continue
to grow. So what made the carb count
go up? Here goes...
Until now, glycerine and other "low-glycemic"
substances have not been included in the
carbohydrate total. Now, that has to change,
but not without protest - and there is a valid
argument. The following is from an article
posted on the Cornell University website:
(complete reference below)
"The carbohydrate count presented in the Nutrition
Facts on food labels is designed to help you
figure out how many calories (=fuel) you eat
and absorb in a day. Carbohydrates you eat but
don't break down and absorb do not become fuel
for your body. That is why polydextrose and
glycerine should be omitted from the total
carbohydrate count. Furthermore, since polydextrose
and glycerine can't be fully broken down and
absorbed, only a small amount of glucose is
released into the blood stream. This is why
the wrapper states that "they produce only a
negligible amount of glucose in the body."
And many new labels - while now accounting
for the "new" carbs - tell you that very
fact. Glycerine not only helps make your
"low carb" bar moist, but it also produces
"a negligible amount of glucose". And if you
follow the glycemic index for your carb intake,
you know what a big difference this is! Basically,
the difference between adding fat to your body
and not.
Overall, the debate is heated and there are
many changes still to come. My suggestion is -
if you like a bar - don't change just because the
label does. You're still getting the same bar with
new labeling requirements. For further reading
check out all of the links below:
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