BOSTON -- The latest buzzword from the low-carbohydrate diet craze is one that could have dieters scratching their heads -- net carbs.
Crane operator Randy Delgado has been successful with a low-carb, high-protein diet until recently.
"I'm struggling with losing the weight, burning the extra fat off," he said.
Delgado's nutritionist said that's because he's been loading up on too many processed low-carb products, many of them promoting low "net carbs or "effective carbs."
"I question the accuracy in this labeling," said Delgado.
In fact, a new
Consumer Reports investigation found that net carb claims "have vastly outstripped the scientific evidence."
"The net carb labeling states that you can deduct the total grams of fiber and sugar alcohols from the total carbs, leaving a net worth of carbs," said Joanne Keaveney, a nutritionist at Harvard Vanguard Medical Associates.
Manufacturers say that by replacing traditional carbs, like sugar and fiber, with processed carbs means they don't get absorbed by the body, but the jury is out regarding accuracy.
"All those sugar alcohols are going somewhere in the body. Some are being digested. Aha, they are still there!" said Keaveney.
You could be eating more pound-creating carbs than you think.
More than 900 low-carb products have flooded the market over the last five years. At the Low Fat, No Fat restaurant in Watertown, Mass., you can buy everything from low-carb pizzas to ice cream to pasta.
"You can get a low-carb wrap with some protein and vegetable, and you've got a nice low-carb tortilla, which before you didn't get," said restaurant owner Chris Pappas.
Pappas acknowledged that the labeling can be confusing.
"Fibers, carbs and sugar alcohols still do affect the body, just less than whole-grain sugars and fibers," said Pappas.
And there's another side affect to some of these products. The added chemicals can be hard on the stomach and high in calories.
"You have to watch fat, increase fiber and stop replacing good foods with some of these foods. A calorie is a calorie, and some of these products have a lot -- from 200 to 700 calories," Keaveney said.
So Delgado is taking that advice. He's shelving the low-carb processed products and going back to natural foods -- "turkey, fruits, salad, chicken, the American vegetable garden way," said Delgado.
There's no agreed upon scientific definition of low carb or net carb. Nutritionists stress there's nothing wrong with eating low-carb products, as long as you remember the best diet includes fruit, vegetables, lean meats, and some carbs.
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