The Effective Carbohydrate Count or ECC, are carbs that are used by your body. The rest, which are fiber, are passed through.

So, we subtract the fiber from the carbs to get the usable carb count.

For example, 100 grams - about 3 1/2 oz. - of raw spinach has 3.5 carbs and 2.7 grams of fiber. The ECC of the spinach would be .8 grams. This is the number you use to calculate your daily carb intake.

Karen