Hello all, first time posting here! I’ve decided to indulge in the occasional bowl of cereal for breakfast and have been researching different keto-leaning options when I came across a quandary: most options have 12-14 g of carbs with no sugar, but one option had 7 g carbs which included 4 g of sugar. So my question is: between the two, which is the lesser evil?
12g carbs, no sugar
OR…
7g carbs, with 4g sugar
12 carbs no sugar OR 7 carbs w/ 4g sugar?
Shinita
#2
(I try not to write that almost no carb would be the best…)
Well it’s individual… My body is way more allowing if it’s starch, not sugar - but if I eat fatty protein right after sugar, they feel okay too, not ideal but no big problems arise. But it really should be natural sugar, not added though I know, not everyone comes from long term no added sugar lifestyle or want to change it on keto… But it’s still not very logical to eat added sugar in keto. Maybe if it’s a tiny bit in condiments, for convenience…
I would rather eat not sugar added starch myself (not cereal, I never considered it food, it’s not a traditional thing in my country) as I know it works better and I am against added sugar anyway but each to their own.
PaulL
(You've tried everything else; why not try bacon?)
#3
Most people go with the lower carb count, but “sugar” on a nutrition label generally means sucrose, and a molecule of sucrose consists of a molecule of glucose bonded to a molecule of fructose. The body handles the glucose just as it does the glucose from any other carbohydrate, but the fructose must be handled by the liver.
The metabolic pathway the liver uses is the same one that also handles ethanol and branched-chain amino acids. This pathway can only handle so much before it starts generating fat droplets (the process is called de novo lipogenesis) that can lead to fatty liver disease and insulin resistance of the liver. If you wish to subject your liver to that, the choice is yours.
Bear in mind, however, that one serving of either of your choices amounts to 1/3 to 1/2 your daily carb allowance. In the U.S., manufacturers are allowed to choose the serving size on the nutrition label to make the sugar content look good. If your actual serving size is larger than the small amount most manufacturers put on the label, you have to account for that, and your 1/3-1/2 could easily become your entire carb allowance, or more.
amwassil
(Michael - When reality fails to meet expectations, the problem is not reality.)
#4
Neither. Base your meals around fat and protein foods, not carbs.
ctviggen
(Bob M)
#6
I’d say if the original poster can eat this and it’s helpful to him/her for some reason, more power to them. I’d have to look more at the labels to decide which one.
I know someone who still has cereal most days for breakfast (though he’s thin).
For me, I’d probably have one bowl, say “that was good”, then have another, and another…and the box would be gone. 
Thank you! I hadn’t considered the individual aspect of it. I try to keep sugar and even most sugar substitutes out of my diet. My carb intake is so low that I can afford an indulgence like this now and then as long as I’m not going overboard. As I said I’m sugar averse, but the 5g-7g carb difference between the two options is pretty substantial, hence the question.
Thank you!! This is the type of advice I was hoping to get here. I’m well aware of the carb allowance and I’ve factored that into my decision. What I wanted to know was in reference to the source of the carbs and which has the less adverse effect. Sounds like a higher carb count w/o sugar is preferable to a lower one that includes sugar. I appreciate your reply!
Thanks captain obvious. For a second there I forgot why I don’t post on threads…because people tend to miss the point and reply with unhelpful comments that have nothing to do with the question at hand.
My lord and master Satan told me to.
If you aren’t going to answer the question, kindly mind your own business. I don’t go around questioning your decisions. Do you know why? Because it’s rude.
amwassil
(Michael - When reality fails to meet expectations, the problem is not reality.)
#12
Sorry I missed your appeal for personal affirmation. Not my department.
anon94382398
#13
That’s the lesser evil because pure sugar spikes blood glucose the most.
High blood ketones + high blood glucose = ketoacidosis. I’m not saying this occurs in you but just be careful.
ctviggen
(Bob M)
#14
That (ketoacidosis) is probably not doing to happen for most people who aren’t T1 diabetics. Back when I actually had high(er) ketones, 4+ years ago, I still would eat pizza and ice cream at times (holidays, vacation), and never came close to ketoacidosis. Now, I no longer have high blood (or breath) ketones.
I also did not get extreme blood glucose, though. The highest I ever saw was for an OGTT in the morning. I believe I hit over 200, although it’s a guess (using a Free Style Libre and the software I have, if you don’t take a reading, you don’t get a number, just a line; you have to interpret the line).
Found it:
Not sure how high that got. 200 US units = about 11 on that scale.
They were supposed to take blood sugar and insulin at 1 hour but did not. I also meant to take blood sugar at 1 hour, but I kept falling asleep.
ctviggen
(Bob M)
#17
By the way, I probably ate lunch where that 4.8 is around noon and dinner where the 4.3 is around 6-7pm. That’s what it looks like when you eat keto meals: you can’t tell when you ate.
amwassil
(Michael - When reality fails to meet expectations, the problem is not reality.)
#18
This is your first posting to this forum. I know nothing about you - zip, nada, zero. Your profile says nothing. Your OP says nothing. When I first read your OP two possibilities popped up: this is a troll or this is a joke post. Your OP is the keto equivalent of “what’s going to injure me less: stabbing myself with a Phillip’s blade screw driver or a flat blade?”
Rather than respond accordingly, I gave you the benefit of the doubt that you might actually be a keto newbie who thinks there’s some significant difference between eating cornflakes or sugar frosted flakes. My mistake. Which will not be repeated.
Hallie
(Butter Withaspoon)
#20
For me, I’d always go with the non sweet option. In a sliding scale of levers to pull I always recommend that people wanting to improve their diet cut out all sweet stuff first.
And for me, sweetness in the morning would set me up for a worse day of eating- more cravings, less satisfaction.
Let us know what you decide (ah … if you dare 
)