What Are Net Carbs And How to Calculate Them
Following a low carb diet is not all about counting carbs in your diet, but checking the fiber content of your food items too. A very common side effect of low carb diet is constipation 🙁 as there is very less fiber in low carb foods especially the non-vegetarian ones and if you are a vegetarian or vegan doing a low carb diet then as it is it’s very difficult to maintain the balance between appropriate calories intake and carb content. So the savior here proves to be the fiber in the foods. Those who do low carb check Net Carbs in a food item. Now, what is this Net Carb?
What Are Net Carbs And How to Calculate Them
Net Carbs represent the total carbohydrate content of the food minus the fiber content. These are the carbs that don’t directly impact the blood sugar level. Foods with low Net Carbs are less likely to interfere with weight loss. To check the approximate number of Net Carb grams we need to look at the information provided on a food label (grams of total carbohydrates minus grams of fiber).
But why only fiber?
Although Fiber is a carbohydrate, since it isn’t digested, it doesn’t matter in the total carbohydrate we eat. It affects blood glucose in a positive way by slowing the impact of the other ingested carbs and as fiber isn’t digested in the small intestine and so isn’t broken down into glucose and absorbed into the blood thus doesn’t trouble the already troubled dieters. 😉 So the concept of net carbs is that not all carbohydrates affect the body in the same manner.
How to Calculate Net Carbs?
To make things easy let me explain. A 1-cup serving of cooked broccoli provides 11.2 grams of total carbohydrate and 5.1 grams of fiber so the net carb of it will be 6.1 grams.
List of commonly used vegetables with Less than 5 Net Carbs
These serving sizes of vegetables have up to 5 grams of net carbs (carb minus the fiber).
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1 cup raw red bell peppers (5 net carbs) |
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Some spices and Net Carbs
Herb/Spice | Serving Size | Net Carbs(gm) |
Basil | 1tsp | 0.0 |
Coriander | 1tsp | 0.0 |
Garlic | 1tsp | 0.9 |
Ginger | 1 clove | 0.8 |
Oregano | 1tsp | 0.0 |
Pepper | 1tsp | 0.0 |
Rosemary | 1tsp | 0.0 |
Sage | 1tsp | 0.0 |
Net Carbs In Dairy
Diabetics take into account sugar alcohols also and reduce that too for Net Carbs. (Though I don’t do it as I fear getting too many carbs in doing that 🙂 )
For more details, check the below links –
“http://onlylowcarb.com/gramcount4.htm”
“http://lowcarbdiets.about.com/od/whattoeat/a/whatveg.htm”
“http://www.atkins.com/AtkinsDotCom/media/Master/Programs/2013-carb-counter-(1).pdf”
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Wowww kanan such an informative article. You should become low carb diet guru 😀
Though I am not following this diet completely I am trying to incorporate this in day to day life.
I am really amazed how much study you have done with this diet. What a determination 🙂
Thanks Rupali. 🙂
Most of yummy foods have high doses of net carbs in comparison with other foods.. Super article it is.. 🙂
Thank you Anjalee for the like and yes we need to understand the fact that you mentioned— and to reduce carbs eat more of fiber— specially those who are vegetarians.
Awwwww…..kananjii….tnks 4 enligtng me again wit ur post…tnks a lot
You are welcome Haritha stay tuned. 🙂
Really such an amazing post Kanan
You are a professional writer
So much knowledge full post
It’s Useful post for me
Thanks so much for sharing
Bookmarking it..so much gyaan u have on carbs..:)
Thanks Vandana 🙂
just read this today.. such an eye opener.
Thanks Swati, Hope it helps you to stay strong with your Ketogenic diet.
Wow yummy foods have high doses of net carbs in comparison with other foods.. Awesome article, Thank you so much for sharing this wonderful article.