Help from a low carb expert!

Question

I'm looking for someone who knows the science behind the low carb foods.

I know that that a "net carb" is total carbs - dietary fiber. And usually thats fine on normal foods because its only a like 5 carbs - 2 fiber...and that seems normal. But I was browsing some actual low carb products, and this doesn't make sense to me.

How can they make FRUIT low carb. It sounds like what they did is take the fruit and pump it full of fiber, so therefor you'd end up with 40 carbs - 30 grams of fiber. So if thats the logic does that mean if I sprinkle fiber sure on my strawberries it'd be the same thing?

I'm being a bit sarcastic but I don't quite understand how it works. If anyone knows could you explain it? Thanks! :P

Answer 1

Don't know if this is the answer you want, but I have been on and off the zero carb diet for 25 years.  (I know...I shouldn't go on and off, but it works for me, lost 14 pounds last month).  The fiber thing....idk.  In order for your body to become a fat burning machine instead of a carb burning machine involves a chemical change in your body.  You must totally cut off carbs, within about 5 days your body realizes it won't be getting any more "fuel" and starts eating at your body - fat first.  You can't cheat or you'll go back to day one every time you cheat and you'll have wasted the time and have to wait 5 days again to lose weight. Good luck !!!

Answer 2

The Atkins book is loaded with all kinds of science info on their theory.  I do recall that there is a difference in the type of sugars used, but I don't recall quite how it all works.  I do remember that fruit is a no-no on the Atkins diet initially.  I know I didn't help much, but I have been on low carb diets and they have been successful for me.

Answer 3

My biochemist son would do a far better job of explaining this.

This would be a VERY layman explanation.

Fiber is not really carb related.

"Fiber" is actually the indigestable portion of your diet which lends to the solids of discharge.

Carbohydrates are are more the compounds which the body converts to blood sugars (energy source). Carb intake which is in excfess of the requirement is converted to fat for later use. There are many empty sources of carb.s but the biggest and most damaging is sugar. Refined sugar and high fructose corn syrup being the biggest offenders. Fruit is also a large source of carbs but at least they are natural sugars and not refined. They would contain useful food product and also offer a level of dietary fiber which is not present with refined sugars.

The starches in wheat flour and potatoes are also a huge source of carbs. Again, refined flour and bleached foods keep the carbs but eliminate the good food value which is why a normal carb diet is so much better with whole grains.

The method of making fruit low carb is not all that tough, DO NOT SWEETEN.

In order to really figure out where the carbs come from look at the ingredients.

If you see high fructose corn syrup there is your source. Canned fruit is always in a sugar syrup. A food as good as yogurt is often adunterated with fruit and jelly adding unnecessary carbs.

In general berries are better than other fruits (strawberries, blackberries,

rasberries etc ) without sugar being added.

If you need sweetness, and berries are a bit tart, try a product like Splenda which has the sweetness without much of the junk.

The real key to keeping a low carb diet working is to watch out for added sugar.

I got an Iced tea out of a vending machine last week. This product had 56 grams of carbs in a 20 oz bottle, Please, I'll take it straight Thank You.

SO sprinkle fibre on your berries but not the sugar and life is good.

BTW- maintaining a low carb diet will result in the fat being utilized to take the place of the missing carbs. The trace of the conversion is keytones being relaesed into the blood stream (keytosis). They end up being flushed. You will be able to tell by using keytone strips. If there are keytones in the urine you are losing fat and the lack of carbs are doing their thing.