Question for Atkins/South Beach/low-carb DUers

[eyesroll]

At the store today, I noticed they now had special low-carb peanut butter (from the makers of Skippy). According to the label, each 2 tbsp serving had 5 carbs total -- 2 fiber, one sugar; three net. OK. It also had an ingredient list a mile long with additives and artificial flavorings.

I looked at regular, natural peanut butter for comparison. (I do prefer natural to sweetened/processed peanut butter.) Ingredients: Peanuts, salt. 6 total carbs -- 2 fiber, one sugar; four net. Same serving size.

My question -- how strict are these diets regarding carb counting? Does this single carb gram difference make up for all of those chemicals? Or is this just marketing?

I understand special products when there's a big difference -- low-carb bread, for instance. But this seems kind of like overkill. Is it?

On edit: To clarify, I'm not doing low-carb (although I'd best cut down on the processed sugar and crap). I'm just curious, and also hoping my dad's not letting himself get ripped off (he's on South Beach). The low-carb stuff costs a lot more than the standard stuff.

[MissMillie]

1. Well, one thing is for sure

with ingredients like peanuts and salt, it's not likely that you'll get a LOWER carb peanut butter anywhere else.

South Beach is not so strict with carb-counting, but it does suggest you avoid processed foods that contain added sugar.... looks like you'd be ok w/ this peanut butter.

[nini]

2. I don't buy that stuff..

I stick to unprocessed foods so you know there's no hidden stuff in them.

If I was you I'd buy the natural stuff with no additives. That way you know you're just getting peanuts. Cashew butter will have less carbs than the peanut ones.

all I know this diet works well for me and I'm feeling better and getter leaner quickly. Will be back to my old foxy self soon! ha

[Maddy McCall]

3. During induction, you want to stay at <20 carbs/day

When I was in induction, the only carbs I ate were in fresh veggies, which has very few carbs.

The single carb doesn't make a difference. I didn't eat processed carbs at all, though...like I said, my carbs came from veggies.

Side effect: the best skin I have ever had in my life.

[mn9driver]

4. Yeah. Everyone wants to bill their product as "low carb"

these days. I'd stay with the regular peanut butter-the natural brands with no added sugar are fine, as long as you don't eat too many servings.

[Lydia Leftcoast]

5. Even better

some natural food stores will let you grind your own peanut butter. That's the best kind, pure peanuts, and you can buy whatever quantity you want!

A spoonful of peanut butter is a much more low carb snack for the midafternoon blahs than a bagel or some other standard fare.

[supernova]

6. Get organic peanut butter

if you want to eat peanut butter. It separates but it doesn't have any added salt or sugar, you get the fat, protein and fiber.

My question -- how strict are these diets regarding carb counting? Does this single carb gram difference make up for all of those chemicals? Or is this just marketing?

When you get down to miniscule carb counting, it's a toss up. It just depends on how many carbs you allow yourself during the day and how you wish to spend them.

As an Atkins follower, I have become much more aware of how I react to certain carbs. If I eat a particular carb and I still feel hungry afterwards (despite having eaten a regular serving calorie-wise), then I know I probably shouldn't keep it in my eating plan.

For some people that one carb can make a difference between feeling sated and wanting to eat something else. :shrug:

edit: I'm currently working my way through a jar of almond butter. :9

edit 2: You can follow a low-carb eating plan without buying buying ANY of the new trendy, "low-carb" convenience foods. In fact it's better if you don't. I buy the shakes and protein bars for convenience sake mostly.

[GOPisEvil]

7. Organic, all-natural peanut butter rules!

Ingredients: Peanuts, salt.

Gotta love it! :7

[supernova]

8. Yummy!

My little niece is at the stage where she eats PB and crackers for an afternoon snack.

I can't resist eating them with her. :D

[GOPisEvil]

9. Mmmmmm....PB and crackers...

...I would have to add some jelly to that too. :9

[supernova]

10. Mmm, jelly!

:9

Which kinds do you like?

[GOPisEvil]

12. Grape, strawberry and peach preserves.

They grow peaches close to here. OMG - the peach preserves are to die for. Mmmmmmmm...Fredericksburg peaches! :9 They also have some awesome German food in that little town.

[nini]

13. Oh these comments really help the Atkins dieters..!!!

Now all I can think about is jelly and jam.


:evilgrin:

[supernova]

14. THere are some low-carb

jams and jellies when you get closer to your goal weight. It's really hard though to contain myself to just a single serving. x(

Peach and apricot are my favorites. :9

[nini]

18. Dang - that sounds so good right now.

PBJ sandwich,

I go to lunch in a few minutes.. I better go right to the chicken!

:-)

[GOPisEvil]

15. Sorry. Now you know why I couldn't stay on Atkins.

I loves me some jelly! :9

[supernova]

16. Must be jelly

'cause jam don't shake like that!"

:D

[GOPisEvil]

17. LOL!

Imagine my shock when I learned a "jelly roll" really was! Cool jazz lingo with a sexual overtone? :o

[supernova]

21. I gained a whole new appreciation of jazz

with that one.

Did you happen to listen to NPR saturday? I think? It's about a song that a woman sang proclaiming all about how she makes the best pies anywhere.

And she ain't talking 'bout pastry. ;-)

[GOPisEvil]

22. Wow...I missed that.

Next you'll tell me there's some weird sexual imagery with ZZTop's "Pearl Necklace".

:D

[supernova]

25. LOL!

You got me! *blush* :*

[nini]

19. oh me too...

which is why I'm on this stinking diet! :-)

I'll survive... luckily I love salads..

[GOPisEvil]

20. I bought stuff to make salads a while back.

Funny thing is: I don't mind them when I eat out, but at home, I think they're boring. :shrug:

[supernova]

23. Anybody else hate lettuce?

I just can't get excited about it.

I made a salad on Monday with nothing but celery, roma tomatoes, marinated mushrooms, bell pepper, cucumber and onion... oh and marinated artichokes.

Lettuce is not that exciting to me.

[GOPisEvil]

24. Lettuce has to be the most unexciting veggie on the planet.

*yawn*

[nini]

27. that's sounds good.

oh hell, I'm going to lunch NOW!!

:-)

[nini]

26. I know what you mean.. I have to make sure I get those extras

like chopped celery, etc.. and the right kinds of lettuce - green leaf, red leaf, romaine etc.

Plus I sometimes put a little grated cheese in there to perk it up - I love that. yum


the dressing makes a big difference too so I make my own.

[Kathy in Cambridge]

29. I LOVE almond butter

:P

Nut butters are great for you-full of vitamins. I like to eat almond butter on a piece of celery or low-carb bread. Yum!

[hlthe2b]

11. Its a rip off IMO-- I saw that too.... 3 grams effective carbs versus 4

and loaded with additives.... It contains sucralose=splenda and not a readily absorbed sugar or aspartime, so it would be allowed but..... It seems to me that the more "sweetened" foods you eat-- even if sweetened with substitutes that don't technically raise your blood sugar-- the longer it will take to kick the sugar cravings, IMO. I am happy with just a teaspoon or two of natural unsweeted peanut butter, but given my sensitivity to sweet things, I'd guess that new splenda PB would have me scooping in out by the tablespoon...

If you are just starting, beware all these new sugar-substitute products (e.g., the candies, ice creams, etc) that contain sugar alcohols and splenda. These are great for folks who've been low-carbing awhile and offer a way to cautiously reintroduce some previously missed "treats" back into the diet. But, they have lots of calories and probably should be reserved for use after you've been successful eliminating sugar/refined carbs from the diet. Many people report that even consuming artifically sweetened low cal or no cal prouducts makes them crave additional sweet things and consume more as a result.... I think I am one of those...

[populistmom]

28. I only eat natural, organic peanut butter

I've been doing the whole "low carb" thing for over a year with great results, but regardless of that, I don't put the fake hydrogenated crap in the body that is found in the processed peanut butters. I'm trying with difficulty to get other family members to follow my lead.

[FlaGranny]

30. I doubt 1 g of carbs makes a lot of difference,

but the only peanut butter I buy is the natural kind, preferably freshly ground, and salt free. It's great.

I get the fresh ground kind especially because it has no hydrogenated fat like the rest does.

[Dogmudgeon]

31. Fiber and Other Carbs

Fiber is a carbohydrate. But your body can't metabolize fiber. So you subtract the grams of fiber from the rest of the carb count. This is usually called "Net Carbs".

Numbers that don't add up are common -- the FDA says that a food packager only has to give figures in one-gram increments, but most food scientists use a decimal as well. There are several such tables on-line; I think that the FDA keeps a master list accurate to within 1/100th of a gram.

Sugar Alcohols (Glycerol, Mannitol, Sorbitol) are also carbohydrates -- sort of. In some people, they inhibit ketosis, which is beneficial in a low-carb diet. In other people, they don't. They can also cause diarrhea and intense gas. Sugar alcohols are not wierd synthetic chemicals, they occur naturally, but you shouldn't count on using them a whole lot.

Just keep the ketone indicator sticks turning color. Even a mild color change means that the diet's metabolic process is working. Just don't eat a huge amount of food and you'll do fine!

--bkl
Contrary to popular opinion, eating crow is not low-carb.

[geniph]

32. South Beach doesn't count carbs

and you're allowed a tablespoon or two of "natural" peanut butters (ones not containing sugar or added fats) a day.

I'm sold on South Beach, it's a REALLY healthy way to eat. You do not count carbs, but you do pay attention to what KIND of carbs you eat. On South Beach, the low-carb heavily processed peanut butter would be a no-no. You can eat Adams Natural Peanut Butter, but in limited amounts.