Subtract fibers and Subtract Sugar Alcohol?

Hi All,
I'm starting again on Low carbing in a week. I posted earlier
about any new ways of counting carbs. I am confused about this
subtraction of fibers and the sutraction of Sugar alcohol. What is
sugar alcohol and does it go under different names and how does it
lower your carbs? and I the same question about fibers...... Thanks
in advance!

Happy Holidays!

Tony

"TonyD" wrote in message
om
Hi All,
I'm starting again on Low carbing in a week. I posted earlier
about any new ways of counting carbs. I am confused about this
subtraction of fibers and the sutraction of Sugar alcohol. What is
sugar alcohol and does it go under different names and how does it
lower your carbs? and I the same question about fibers...... Thanks
in advance!


To answer your question:
Sugar alcohols are artificial sweeteners of a particular kind (long
chain molecules, I think). Since everything not protien or fat is
technically a carbohydrate, so too are fiber and sugar alcohols. But.
Fiber is not absorbed and used for energy by the body. Therefore we can
subtract it from the total to get the 'net' carb amount. This is the
amount that will actually effect your blood sugar (make it go up when
you absorb carbs for energy). Sugar alcohols are also carbs, and also
aren't absorbed by the body--- but wait, sometimes they are. It varies
with the individual. The only way to tell if sugar alcohol is a problem
for you is to test it on yourself and note any changes. If you get the
munchies and/or your blood sugar rises or your weight stalls, then you
need to count it. If you seem to lose weight on it, then you don't. Be
aware that too much sugar alcohol has a laxitive effect-- you can get
painful gas, cramps and loose bowels.

Now, if you are just starting out you should wait on testing sugar
alcohols til you get very comfortable with what you can and can't eat
and are in control of your weight loss and food choices. Once you feel
you are on top of the situation, then would be the best time to start
experimenting (my opinion it's best to wait six months).

Good luck
--
revek
This memory brought to you by a brain cell that might have cured cancer
instead.--Steve Coltrin