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Remember when you are shopping for foods with 0 grams of carbohydrates or low carbohydrates  there is a difference between Sugar Free, Light Sugar Free and Low Sugar.  A product marked "Sugar Free"  will generally have 0 grams of Sugar and will  be made with either a sugar substitute, i.e., Aspartame or Splenda or a sugar alcohol such as Lactitol or Maltitol and have 0 grams of carbohydrates.  A product that says "Sugar Free Light" may have  0 grams of sugar but still have carbohydrates.  Low Sugar  is just that, lower in the number of sugar grams but still has some carbohydrates.

CARBOHYDRATE CONSCIOUS DIETERS:  when looking for 0 grams of carbohydrates or low carbohydrates please read the nutrition facts labels carefully.

 
AN EXAMPLE OF A "SUGAR FREE" CHOCOLATE CANDY LABEL :
NUTRITION FACTS
Serving size  5 PIECES
Servings per container  2
Amount Per Serving
Calories 180 Calories from Fat 130 %
Total Fat  14 g

Saturated Fat 7g

Cholesterol 5 mg

Sodium 10 mg

Total Carbohydrate 23 g

Dietary Fiber 3 g

Sugars 0 g

Lactitol 19 g

Maltitol g

Protein 2 g

            

Buyer Beware: When reading nutrition labels look for partially hydrogenated and hydrogenated fats; If it is listed in the ingredients of the food you want to buy, limit or don't buy, instead look for an acceptable alternative...
LOW FAT DIETERS:  Just because the nutrition facts label says the food has "NO SUGAR" does not mean it doesn't have Carbohydrates, Saturated Fat , Cholesterol, or Calories.
Lowfat Weekly "Low Carb" Best Liked Candy Picks
How to figure out the number of carbohydrates in your candy or Low Carbohydrate snack Bars:
 
 Take the number of sugar alcohols
+Fiber grams & add together
-Total from the total carbohydrates
= number of carbohydrates you are consuming per serving
 
Hershey's Chocolate Candy With Almonds Sugar Free Serving Size 5 pieces >Total Carbohydrate 23 g Dietary Fiber 3 g + 19 Lactitol g = 22 - 23 -22=  1g total countable Carbohydrate  
Hershey's Dark Chocolate Candy Sugar Free Serving Size 5 pieces >Total Carbohydrate 24 g Dietary Fiber 3 g + 19 Lactitol g = 22 24 -22=  2g countable total Carbohydrate  
Russell Stover Coconut Miniatures Covered With A Milk Chocolatey Coating Sugar Free Serving Size 5 pieces >Total Carbohydrate 21 g Dietary Fiber 2 g + 18 Maltitol g = 20 21 -20 = 1g total countable Carbohydrate  
Russell Stover Butter Nut Toffee Sticks Sugar Free Serving Size 4 pieces >Total Carbohydrate 23 g Dietary Fiber  <1 g + 22 Maltitol g = 23 23 -23 =  0g total Carbohydrate  
Judy's Candy Company Vanilla Caramels  Sugar Free Serving Size 1 piece >Total Carbohydrate 12 g  Dietary Fiber  0 g + 11.5g Sugar Alcohol  = 11.5  12-11.5=  .5g total Carbohydrate  
Sugar Alcohol such as Maltitol and Lactitol are sugar substitutes and are slowly metabolized carbohydrates that causes generally a smaller rise in our blood glucose levels.

                                                                                                               

Nutrition  Facts
  Calories 2,000 2,500
Total Fat Less than 65g 80g
  Sat Fat Less than 20 g 25g
Cholesterol Less than 300mg 300mg
Sodium Less than 2,400mg 2,400mg
Total Carbohydrate   300g 375g
Dietary Fiber   25g 30g
 
Calories per gram:
  Fat (9) Carbohydrate (4) Protein (4)
       

The Daily-recommended amount for Total Fat, Saturated Fat, Cholesterol, Sodium, Total Carbohydrate, and Dietary Fiber listed below in the first column is a Daily Value based on a 2,000 calorie diet, in the second column is a Daily Value based on a 2,500 calorie diet. This Daily Value "will not " be the same for everyone. It depends on your weight and height. Also, it will depend on if you are trying to lose weight or maintain weight. Generally, Females unless you are a very active person-- you will not intake as many calories as in the chart below. If you ever wondered about your fiber content and how much your fiber intake should be, here is a good rule of thumb. According to The American Dietetic Association, we should consume a "variety" of dietary fibers and in adequate amounts to be about 10 to 13g per 1,000 calories. Here is another way to figure it, about 1g of fiber for every 100 calories. If you are trying to lose weight you are probably consuming fewer calories, such as 1,200 –1,400 calories per day, if this is the case you want to try to at least get 15g of fiber per day. It is not recommended to eat less than 1,000 calories when trying to lose weight according to the health experts -- you won't get enough nutrients under this amount.

 

1- 800- Diabetes American Diabetes Association  American Dietetic Association

www.diabetes.org