"Hidden Sugars"

[Jayciid]

Hi Guys,

Hope everyone is doing well. Just a quick question that has been on my mind for a little while.

You read a lot that there are "hidden sugars" in certain food products for example: malodextrin, MSG, dextrose, 'flavourings' etc. Etc. Which are potentially detrimental to a low carb / ketogenic lifestyle method.

My question is: when nutritionists warn of this, are they saying that these ingredients are not factored in to the carbohydrate count (but still may spike blood sugar)? Or do they mean that they are factored in to the macro carbohydrate count, but just be aware that sugar has many different names when you're considering ingredients etc.?

I only mainly focus on counting daily carbs and getting below a certain number of grams. But I'm a bit worried now that this may not be enough and there might be some things in food sending my sugars / insulin up despite the nutrients saying that carbs / sugar are zero.

Thanks!

J

 

[Robin]

I was interested in this, because it’s a term you hear bandied around, so I gave it a Google. Basically some sites take it to mean Sugar by another name. that people don’t realise is sugar, like anything ending in 'ose' eg, glucose, fructose, and also honey, agave syrup, molasses etc. Others take it to mean sugar added to things where you might not expect to find it, like tomato purée, savoury sauces, etc. In both cases, if you look at the label carefully, the sugar is listed in the Nutritional Info box, but often in very small print.

 

[Jayciid]

I was interested in this, because it’s a term you hear bandied around, so I gave it a Google. Basically some sites take it to mean Sugar by another name. that people don’t realise is sugar, like anything ending in 'ose' eg, glucose, fructose, and also honey, agave syrup, molasses etc. Others take it to mean sugar added to things where you might not expect to find it, like tomato purée, savoury sauces, etc. In both cases, if you look at the label carefully, the sugar is listed in the Nutritional Info box, but often in very small print.

So I suppose it matters little what the sugar is called, whether it be straight up 'sugar' or 'malodextrin' etc., as long as it is reflected in the nutritional count of carbohydrates on the label?

My worry was that these ingredients were being sneaked in, raising blood glucose / insulin, and not being reflected on the carbohydrate count on the label...?

 

[Robin]

So I suppose it matters little what the sugar is called, whether it be straight up 'sugar' or 'malodextrin' etc., as long as it is reflected in the nutritional count of carbohydrates on the label?

My worry was that these ingredients were being sneaked in, raising blood glucose / insulin, and not being reflected on the carbohydrate count on the label...?

They will be there on the label, but a lot of people don’t look at that. (we, as people with diabetes are probably the minority! I turn the pack over and go straight to the little box on the back!)

 

[rebrascora]

You are safe to assume that the "total carb" content in the nutritional info area on the packaging includes these additives/sugar alternatives where they add carbs or sugar.