The truth about low-carb foods...

iVillage Member
Registered: 04-30-2003
The truth about low-carb foods...
24
Thu, 05-13-2004 - 2:38pm

THE TRUTH ABOUT LOW-CARB FOODS
CR Investigates. Low-carbohydrate products might be sabotaging your diet and cheating you out of nutrition. Plus, taste tests. Low-carb bread, pasta, beer, and ice cream.


This is in the Consumer Reports magazine. Darn it, I thought I could get it online, but I can't. I will post more tomorrow/tonight, when I read the article at home. I figured it'd be good for those on the low-carb diets.


Sorry for the "teaser". lol





my pet!

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iVillage Member
Registered: 12-04-2003
Thu, 05-13-2004 - 3:26pm

You have to buy their membership to get the reports online.

iVillage Member
Registered: 04-30-2003
Thu, 05-13-2004 - 4:30pm
I know. I didn't realize that. And well, we have the zine at home, so I'll read it and summarize what I can. Or if I'm REALLY bored, maybe I'll just scan it in and post it. =)

~Cher




my pet!

iVillage Member
Registered: 10-17-2003
Thu, 05-13-2004 - 7:57pm
Y'know, those low-carb foods, like Atkins, etc. (the ones that have their own section at the grocery store) SCARE ME.

If you look at the labels - and I am an avid label reader - you'll notice that many of them are full of chemicals and additives. A couple of my friends who are on Atkins say that certain of the speciality low-carb products give them terrible gastrointestinal problems.

So maybe they help with the weight loss - but at what price?

iVillage Member
Registered: 04-30-2003
Fri, 05-14-2004 - 12:25am

The Truths:


* "low-carb" labels are meaningless
* not alllow-carb foods are equal
* Low-carb then is not low-carb now
* low-carb junk food is still junk


The Information:


The original low carb diets worked because they were monotonous and low in calories, today's low carb comfort food is neither.


A one ounce Carborite chocolate crisp bar contains 120 calories, Keto's Rocky Road has 270 calories, double that of normal ice cream.


"If low-carb food is high in calories, we're going to get fat on it". That's why consumers need to know the truth about low-carb labeling....


Net carbs can mean almost anything. It is not regulated yet, but will be in a year or so by the FDA.


on the Atkins diet, at one point, you are allowed 40g of carbs. Here's a low down of 40g of comfort carbs....


* Michelob Ultra Beer - 3g
* Atkins Crunchers Chips - 8g
* Atkins Endulge Vanilla Ice Cream - 6g
* Carborite Chocolate Chip cookies - 6g
* Entenmann's Carb-counting Cake - 9g
* Russel Stover Pecan Delight Candies - 8g
Total Carbs: 40g
Total Calories: 1440 (that's the shocker of the story)


(Cher's comment: I have a feeling, so far, that this is about the junk food and the calories)


Then: Atkins restricted break,pasta, rice, sweetened soft drinks, potato chips, cookies, and even fruits. Now: with all the low-carb food on the market, you are eating more of that.


Interesting piece of information. On a year long study. Low carb dieters lost weight faster and more in the first 6 months than low fat dieters. at the end of the year, there was no difference. Also, low-carbers tend to eat LESS food, so in actuality, the diet works because you're taking in fewer calories than expended. They tracked calories, and they said on average, the low carbers ate 189 less calories a day, than the low fat dieters. That is more than enough to account fro the average 8.5 extra pounds that they shed.


In the end, you can lose weight on any diet, as long as it reduces the numbers of calories consumbed below those expended. Be it low-carb, low-fat, or what not.


how to avoid the pitfalls of a low carb diet:


Eat whole foods whenever possible (a better diet has fruits, vegges and whole grains NOT mannitol), read the calorie count on the nutrition facts




my pet!

iVillage Member
Registered: 04-02-2004
Fri, 05-14-2004 - 5:37am
I have found, that when it comes to processed food in general, not only is it expensive, but there is always some draw back. I live on protein bars when I am traveling, but besides that, i just stay away from all that packaged process food. Eating that stuff will never help with long term goals. You are better off, just trying to fit the real thing into your diet. It is possible.
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-19-2003
Fri, 05-14-2004 - 6:56am
It really is 'eye-opening' when you start to read those labels closely! Yep...they're (processed foods) convenient, and sometimes tasty BUT at what cost?
So our cooking time has to increase a little bit, but don't you find more satisfaction from the food when it's ready?
=== Spring Into Summer ===

cl-vi_islandgirl
co cl @Getting Fit In Your 30's
http://messageboards.ivillage.com/iv-fbfitthirty

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iVillage Member
Registered: 01-02-2004
Fri, 05-14-2004 - 7:44am
The gastrointestinal problems come from the sugar alcohols. You read the labels, they say "has a laxative effect in some people." Most don't affect me. But I don't eat too much of that atkins stuff anyway. I stick to mostly naturally low carb foods. Meats/veggies, etc. The only low carb prepared stuff I eat is russel stover's candy (to get me through those tuff times) and the carb free whipped cream. BUt all they did to that was sweeten it with splenda instead of sugar. Oh, same with the yogurt.. which I LOVE!
iVillage Member
Registered: 01-02-2004
Fri, 05-14-2004 - 8:05am
Well, Cher...

Thanks for that article, but there's one thing that just simply can't be entirely true on that. How many calories does say a large piece of prime rib have in it? I don't know off hand. Let me look it up. OK... SHOCKER: a 12 oz piece of prime rib has 1432 calories approximately. And when I do this diet, I swear, the more prime rib I eat (or meat in general), the more weight I lose. AND, my cholesterol levels (the bad ones) dropped and the good ones went up. My Dr. even called me himself with my results. Wanted to know "how I was doing it.." Anyway, I do believe there is some merit to the rate and way certain foods are metabolized. I think this diet works for me because I really watch how many of those pre-packeged "Low carb" foods I eat. I eat a lot of veggies and meat (go back and read my journals) and I NEVER count calories. When I eat MORE meat (which means higher calories) I lose more quickly. Right now, I am happy with my slow and steady weight loss (about a pound to a pound and a half a week) because I know I will keep it off. Also, I believe that you DO lose weight doing low carb because you have the ability to stay fuller longer on low carb. Now, when I eat something with carbs in it (one night I had 3 tacos) I was SOOOO hungry when I woke up the next morning. If I eat a piece of cheese or some peanut butter before I go to bed, that helps my blood sugar levels stay fairly level and I don't wake up hungry. SO, there is some merit to the low carb dieting, but I think as mentioned earlier, I think I go by the "old definition" of low carb. I even have my mom doing it. She's been losing a half pound here and there very slowly and is tickled pink (almost 5 total). We both eat fish, chicken, steak, cheese, veggies. And she eats Atkins low carb muffins when she's having a "bread" craving. BUt remember, that's a little lower carb also because of the fiber you get in it. I don't get enough fiber except from the veggies so I supplement. And of course my staple sugar free jellos and carb control yogurts. Can't live without those (though a 4 pack of yogurt has lasted me till yesterday. and I bought those when I first started..lol)

YIKES.. I've just babbled on and on and ... bottom line, I eat the healthy, naturally low carb foods for the most part. I attribute that to my success. And I've always kept my weight off too. The only time I grab that pre-packaged stuff is to get me through the rough times or when I dont' have time (atkin's shakes). It helps.

iVillage Member
Registered: 01-02-2004
Fri, 05-14-2004 - 8:09am
I find myself cooking almost every night now. It's definitely the healthiest way (not to mention the most affordable way). And it tastes a HECK of a lot better. Last night I made a "quick pig's in a blanket" which was pretty much layering all the ingerdiants of pigs in a blanket in a 9x13 pan and baking for 1.5 hours at 350. Anyone want the recipe? It was YUMMY and I just cut back on the rice for the low carb.
iVillage Member
Registered: 12-04-2003
Fri, 05-14-2004 - 12:49pm

Ohmigosh.

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