
The issue with the net carbs concept is that sugar alcohols are generalized into one category when they are all very different. The available research even suggests that they have unpredictable effects on blood sugar, and it’s generally considered that they do raise blood sugar. Many of these sugar alcohols have been studied in research but not extensively. There are many different types of sugar alcohols, and they each affect the body differently. Make sure you read the ingredients list to see how many grams of fiber that food contains.Įver wonder how your local grocery store can carry “sugar-free” candies? Chances are these products contain sugar alcohol to provide the sweetness of sugar with fewer calories. Good sources of fiber include whole grains, fruits, vegetables, beans, nuts and seeds.ĭon’t just trust a “net carb” label on a food. The American Heart Association recommends that adults consume 25–30 grams of total fiber per day as way to promote overall wellness and a healthy heart. It is also responsible for helping to lower cholesterol. Soluble fiber is also not absorbed by the body, but it dissolves to become a gummy substance that helps to regulate blood sugar by slowing the absorption of glucose.Insoluble fiber is not absorbed or broken down by the body, and it aids in removing waste from the intestinal tract while providing bulk and softness to stools to prevent constipation.There are two types of fiber that have different roles. This means that it has little to no impact on blood sugar levels and why it is subtracted from the total grams of carbs. This is the theory behind monitoring blood sugar levels for weight management purposes, but it is difficult to determine the blood sugar levels that will lead to fat storage because everyone’s carbohydrate needs are unique.įiber is a type of carb that isn’t fully broken down during digestion and therefore does not provide energy (or calories). Since insulin helps your body use and store glucose, it’s believed that if you can keep insulin levels low, it will help your body burn fat instead of storing it. Since you have a limited capacity to store glucose as glycogen, much of the unused glucose will likely be stored as fat. Your body then has to decide to use glucose for energy or store it as glycogen (a starch) or fat. Carbs are more readily broken down compared with fats and protein.Īll carbs are converted into glucose (a sugar) during digestion and then flood the bloodstream.

While protein and fat aid in a variety of processes such as cell structure, function and maintenance, the main role of carbs is to provide the body with fuel. All macronutrients (think: protein, fat, carbohydrates) give the body energy to fuel it through all sorts of activity, from a serene nap to a heart-pounding mile run.
