Protein Bars - Carb question?

[ladydoc442]

I like to use protein bars as a mid-afteroon meal supplement, since I go to the gym right after work every day. I purchased some Atkins Advantage protein bars. The label shows 21g carbs per serving, with 7g fiber, 0g sugar, but the label claims 2g "net carbs" (7g fiber and 12g glycerin). Are their "net carbs" different from the ECC count (carb minus fiber) on the PP plan? Going by the PP calculation, the bar would have 14 ECC. Which figure should I go by? I don't want to take in extra "hidden" carbs.

Your input is very much appreciated. Thank you so much!!

[Viking Dan]

According to Atkins fiber and sugar alcohol have minimal effect on blood sugar and aren't counted. I'm not sure what the Eades' stance on sugar alcohols are...but I'm sure one of these nice people will know.

[Gabriel Guzman]

I like to use protein bars as a mid-afteroon meal supplement, since I go to the gym right after work every day. I purchased some Atkins Advantage protein bars. The label shows 21g carbs per serving, with 7g fiber, 0g sugar, but the label claims 2g "net carbs" (7g fiber and 12g glycerin). Are their "net carbs" different from the ECC count (carb minus fiber) on the PP plan? Going by the PP calculation, the bar would have 14 ECC. Which figure should I go by? I don't want to take in extra "hidden" carbs.

Your input is very much appreciated. Thank you so much!!

In essence, their 'net carbs' definition is the same as Protein Power's 'ECC', which is the toal carbohydate minus fiber. We tend to stay away from sugar alcohols because first of all, not all of them go truly without being absorbed, and second because little has been done with respect to their effect on human metabolism. Glycerin, which could also come up with the name 'glycerol' tends to increase water retention in some people, whereas other sugar alcohol tend to affect their diggestive system. People sensitive to sugar alcohols should consider that in their calculation of ECC from commercial 'low-carb' products.

[Knipfty]

I would like to add that instead of the "energy" bar, keep it simply. I grab sunflower seeds in the afternoon. They're low in ECC (lots of fiber) and have some really good nutrients to boot. If you get them with the shells still on, it takes a long time to eat them as well.

Enjoy

[Belfrybat]

Dr. Mary Dan Eades, in one of her blogs, discusses sugar alcohols and recommends counting between 1/3 to 1/2 of the carbs depending on the type of SA. I don't know if this would apply to glycerin or not, but I count 1/3 just to be on the safe side. For the bar you are eating, that would raise the ECC to 6, which is certainly within PP's range of 7 - 10 per meal or snack.

[avnndd]

I would be interested in that also, BC, especially now that Atkins bars don't have maltitol/sorbitol/lactitol in them...they actually taste pretty good!

[ladydoc442]

Thank you all for your input. I think I'll go back to my string cheese & berries for my PM snack - that should be enough to fuel my workout and hold me until dinnertime.

You've all been a big help!!

[Belfrybat]

I would be interested in that also, BC, especially now that Atkins bars don't have maltitol/sorbitol/lactitol in them...they actually taste pretty good!

I haven't tried the new protein bars, but the new Endulge bars are beyond good, and primarily sweetened with glycerin, although there is some malitol in the chocolate coating, it isn't enough to bother me. They are so good I'm really having to be disciplined (and we both know how good I am at that!). Thankfully they are expensive enough that eating more than one a day isn't an option. I've tried to find the nutrition data on glycerin, but no luck so far. Does anyone know a source for the data?

[Relief]

I don't have a source for the info you asked for BC but I do know that glycerine is really YMMV kinda thing. Fran McCulloch in one of her cookboobks mentioned that her son--a Type I diabetic--has a high blood sugar surge when he eats a bar with glycerine. other diabetics have reported similar problems. I personally fall asleep after I eat one--a sure sign that I have over carbed. Others seem to have no problems with them sooo......If they cause a stall then I would be concerned.

[Viking Dan]

Dr. Mary Dan Eades, in one of her blogs, discusses sugar alcohols and recommends counting between 1/3 to 1/2 of the carbs depending on the type of SA.

1/2 seems in the ballpark as products saying they have 2 grams of sugar alcohols list 5 calories/serving.

There goes my sugar free gum. *sigh* :(

[Gaelen]

1/2 seems in the ballpark as products saying they have 2 grams of sugar alcohols list 5 calories/serving. There goes my sugar free gum. *sigh* :(

Dan--unless you've got a pack a day (and I mean one of those 25-piece mega packs) SF gum-chewing habit, I wouldn't sweat it. We all try to keep a close eye on carbs in the early stages of the program, but the reality is that unless you're on some sort of medically analyzed liquid diet, you can't really be that exact. A piece or two of SF gum over the course of the day isn't going to derail your plan as long as you respect the 'all things in moderation' rule.

[Always]

We tell people to count 1/2 of the SA's if they are diabetic and 1/3 if they are not. But everyone is different and SA's affect everyone differently. I can't eat Maltitol period and yet many of our customers have no problem with it whatsoever. Go figure!

[Viking Dan]

Dan--unless you've got a pack a day (and I mean one of those 25-piece mega packs) SF gum-chewing habit, I wouldn't sweat it.

Seeing as I gave up smoking five weeks ago, I actually do have a pack(of gum) a day habit---at least. :eek:

[gitfiddle]

... the new Endulge bars are beyond good, and primarily sweetened with glycerin, although there is some malitol in the chocolate coating, it isn't enough to bother me. They are so good I'm really having to be disciplined...
BC, they must have reformulated them. They were so tasty I was having first one a day, then slipping in another one later. I finally quit them entirely (regretfully) because they were causing cravings for anything sweet.

Just thought I share that with you in case you didn't see my posts at the time. It took me a while to realize, even though I had been told by others to avoid the 'tols. This formula might be different, but I'm not going to go back there.

[Gaelen]

Seeing as I gave up smoking five weeks ago, I actually do have a pack(of gum) a day habit---at least. :eek:

Man...good on you for kicking the smokes, and if it takes a pack a day of sugar free gum to get through it short term, well, all I can say is that it will be worth it, and it won't cost you THAT many carbs. Hang tough--well, okay, as tough as you can hang with a pack of Trident constantly at the ready. ;)

Seriously...way to go!

Also, for those of you who want a more make-my-own approach to Protein Bars, check out the new 'Trail Foods' thread in the Breakfast and Meals-to-go forum. There are low carb protein 'trail cookies' and journeycakes that fit the bill, are shelf stable, and would make a perfect, ingredient controlled snack to have on hand at the office and/or gym. And as the person who created the journeycake recipe--they are NOT hard to make.

[gitfiddle]

Man...good on you for kicking the smokes, and if it takes a pack a day of sugar free gum to get through it short term, well, all I can say is that it will be worth it...
Absolutely! There's no such thing as a perfect program--just tailored to our needs. It is so great that you quit, Dan! Good luck! :)

[Viking Dan]

Man...good on you for kicking the smokes, and if it takes a pack a day of sugar free gum to get through it short term, well, all I can say is that it will be worth it, and it won't cost you THAT many carbs. Hang tough--well, okay, as tough as you can hang with a pack of Trident constantly at the ready. ;)


(http://www.cspinet.org/new/sorbitol_pr.html) Consumer Group Petitions FDA to Require "Diarrhea" Notice on Foods that Contain Sorbitol (http://www.cspinet.org/new/sorbitol_pr.html)

Studies over the past fifteen years have proven that sorbitol can cause gastrointestinal symptoms, ranging from mild discomfort to severe diarrhea, when adults consume between 10 and 50 grams of the additive.

OK. Trident is out.

Off the top of your collective heads, anyone know a sugarless gum without sorbitol?

Or will all sugar alcohols do this?

[LisaS]

why do you want to avoid sorbitol ? because of the article or because you are actually having symptoms on the amount you are consuming?

[Viking Dan]

Yeah. I hadn't realized it could do that when I switched to gum.

[Gaelen]

Dan, unless you're actually having symptoms, I wouldn't necessarily avoid sorbitol. But there IS a sugar free, stevia and peppermint gum on the counter at the health food section of my local Wegmans. I'm sure it's available nationally; I'll check it out for you next time I'm there.

BTW, in my case all sugar alcohols cause GI distress. I can handle a couple pieces of Trident, but that's it.

[Viking Dan]

Dan, unless you're actually having symptoms, I wouldn't necessarily avoid sorbitol.

I may have had some symptoms eating a pack of it...:(