Is there a downside to eating many low-carb food products?
Low-carb food products have only been on the market a short time, so it’s too soon to tell what the potential pitfalls may be. We do know, however, that these food products can be high in fat and calories, and some can cause digestive symptoms. When food companies make low-carb products — for example, low-carbohydrate candy bars — they often replace the carbohydrates with substances such as the sweeteners sorbitol or maltitol. Sorbitol and maltitol can act as laxatives when consumed in large quantities and may cause diarrhea, cramping or other digestive discomfort. What’s the difference between the terms total carbohydrates and net carbohydrates? The FDA calculates total carbohydrates by subtracting grams of protein, fat, water and ash — a scientific term for the nonburnable part of a food that includes minerals such as calcium and phosphates — from the total weight of the food. The resulting number is listed on the food label as “total carbohydrates.” Net carbohydrates — a term n
