hello, in regards to the atkins bars and keto, i have been seeing just as many articles saying they are ok and half saying you can only truly deduct half the sugar alcohols for net carb calculating. being said, is a 2carb bar really 2 carbs or 6 to 8 carbs carbs if only half acohols are deducted ? is the 2 carb designation only for an atkins diet and not true for a keto diet ?
Atkins bars sugar alcohols
everyone is different so it’s hard to say how your body is going to react to the carbs and sugar alcohols in them. For some people they can cause weight to stall. For me, I avoid them because they have maltitol in them and my digestive system does NOT agree with maltitol! I try to avoid chemical sugar replacements. The only sugar replacements I will consume after doing lots of research is erythritol as #1, and sometimes stevia.
Screenack
(less is more, more or less)
#3
Maltitol is highly problematic, seemingly universally so.
Don’t let the “Atkins” name on the bar fool you. You’d be better to simply avoid them.
hedleylo
(Lonnie Hedley)
#4
Not all. They’ve reformulated several that “have no artificial colors, flavors, or preservatives”.
I have them as an occasional treat, but after a box I take a long break because they make me gassy. Assuming from the fiber.
anon2571578
#5
I only use them if I’m about to break and eat some real candy, which isn’t too often. One piece does it for me. I don’t count the sugar alcohols personally but everyone reacts differently to them.
David_Stilley
(Full Metal KETO AF)
#6
I would add allulose to that list, but I haven’t done any research other than read a few articles about sugar alcohols. It acts more like sugar than erythritol but it costs more so I use both. They taste the same to me but allulose dissolves in higher amounts than erythritol so way better if you’re trying to make syrup and it caramelizes like sugar too so good for candy and baking and dissolving into soy sauce or tomato sauce for making keto teriyaki or BBQ sauce or ketchup. I like the crunch of erythritol on top of keto baked goods.
atomicspacebunny
(Bunny)
#7
Interesting stuff? A type of sugar starch (erythritol) oxidized outside the body? (reminds me of that movie “the fly”…lol)
Everything You’ve Wanted to Know About Sugar Alcohols: “…If you want to know what sugar alcohols are, why people eat them, and whether or not they “count” as carbs, then you want to read this article. …”
- Sugar alcohols are molecules that taste like sugar but are poorly absorbed by the body.
- They make for a good sugar substitute and can provide some health benefits.
- If you eat too much of them, you can experience intestinal distress like gas, cramping, and diarrhea.
Related:
[1] “…Erythritol can be synthesized from dialdehyde starch by high-temperature chemical reaction in the presence of a nickel catalyst. …” …More
[2] Dialdehyde starch (erythritol): “…is a polysaccharide derived by chemical modification from natural starch from wheat or corn. It is prepared by periodate oxidation of starch. There are many uses including the paper industry, where in it has been shown to improve the wet strength of consumer products. …” …More
[3] “…So, while a little sugar alcohol sweetener can be okay when weaning oneself off of a high added sugar diet, too much can cause a laxative effect. Why? Well, our body doesn’t completely metabolise sugar alcohols (and when it does, it is slow!). The unmetabolised sugar alcohols move through the digestive tract to eventually reach the gut bugs of the large intestine, who get to fermenting them.1;3 …” …More
[4] All Sugars Aren’t the Same: Glucose Is Better, Study Says
KBG
(Khara)
#8
I would never buy this product. I just know better by now, I want to eat real food, and one quick glance at the nutrition info would cause me to practically throw it back on the shelf. But my sweet uninformed mom got some thinking they were a good option and that I might like them.
Problem is I am still confused by sugar alcohols and have a difficult time explaining why I feel so innately repulsed by products like this. I’ve read that our body only partially absorbs them but also it’s a very individual thing and so you just really don’t know for sure. And I’ve read about the stomach upset. It seems like this iffy-ness of the science combined with the labels claim of 2 net carbs almost gives people reason to push their luck. Not my problem what anyone else chooses to eat but I do struggle to explain my reason for rejecting it.
Also, I’m kind of surprised that Atkins can claim 2g net carbs. They are subtracting 100% of the sugar alcohols. Though I do notice that they use the term “Atkins Net Carbs” and I think this slight of hand is lost on people who are desperately looking for a sugar substitute.
KBG
(Khara)
#9
Good sugar alternatives testing video here. Maltitol did not do well at all. Raised blood glucose levels significantly.
Don_Q
(Windmill Tilter)
#10
I generally count each gram of sugar alcohols as 10g net carbs. That way when I’m tempted to eat a satiety signal scrambling, keto thwarting chemistry experiment I have to limit the portion size to no more than 2g sugar alcohols. 
I think there are a variety of valid perspectives on sugar alcohol accounting though. The trick is to find the one that keeps keto effortless and effective for you.
NatalieMatured
(Natalie Matured)
#11
Too much sugar alcohol gives people gas. I remember reading that in my research a while back. It’s not the fiber. It’s the sugar alcohols.