I found a bar here in Canada made by Ross Chocolate. They claim to have 3.3 carbs per bar (milk chocolate) and 1.1 carbs per bar (dark chocolate) After my initial OD of them I heard that they might contain up to 20 hidden carbs. I still have a few in my cupboard, but have been successful in avoiding them. I'm trying to talk my husband into leaving them be, but I don't REALLY understand the reason why there would be more carbs then stated on the package.

They are sweetened w/ maltitol.

Any help would be appreciated. PLEASE HURRY!!!! They are calling me this moment from the kitchen!!

Much thanks for your time,

Joy

Hi Joy!

This link on sugar alcohols and other artificial sweeteners may help explain things more:http://www.lowcarb.ca/tips/tips006.html

There are 2 types of substance in the bars that lead to tricky accounting. The malitol is a sugar alcohol that the body has a hard time digesting, one of the reasons thhat overindulging in the will lead to gastro-intestinal upset and a lot of bathroom time.
For some minority of people, like me, the sugar alcohol can cause a release of insulin.
The other substance is glycerine, some people will also have a blood sugar reation for this stuff. I have problems with eating the bars and such things, so I avoid them. If they don't cause you a carb reatioin or stalls, you can probably eat them moderately without a problem. They are still basically a junk food and shouldn't become more than a treat for that reason. Your mileage may vary, you need to find out what works, or doesn't work, on you. Nyah Levi

Hi there Joy,

I'm typing as fast as I can!

The hidden carbs situation is all about that pesky maltitol - aka one of the sugar alcohols.
According to Dr A, sugar alcohols have no effect on the blood sugar. Unfortunately, for some folk products with sugar alcohols cause definite stalls. They are a definitely a YMMV (your mileage may vary) thing.

If you go to "Low Carb Tips" on the orange bar at the top of your screen, you'll find more information about sugar alcohols.

With any luck, you'll be one of the lucky folk who is not affected by the sugar alcohols. Oh, don't think I mentioned they can also have a nasty laxative effect...

HTH!

Rosebud

how do you all calculate the low carb chocolates (carbolite, atkins chocolate bars, etc.) in fitday? what do you put for the carb count?

Lisa

for fitday, I think you have to enter the stats of the food (cals, fat, carbs, etc) in as a 'specialty item'. I've never done it, but I'm pretty sure that's how fitday works.
N.

Thank you all so much!

I have decided that I would eat them only in strict moderation and as a treat for hard work done & smart food choices!

I am down another pound this morning and am THRILLED with how this is going!!

Thank you all for your quick reply's and advice!

Joy