There is so much confusion about what is Low Carb or Net Carbs or Low Sugar. There is no set definition by the FDA for Low Carbohydrates. There is a specific definition for Low Sodium and Very Low Sodium but not for carbohydrates.

So here is our concept on carbohydrates at Carbessentials.net.

On a label you will have Carbohydrates listed. Underneath that, indented, are the items that make up the carbohydrates. There will be sugars, sugar alcohols, and fiber. Net Carbs is when you take the Total Carbohydrates and subtract the items that do not affect blood sugars. This will be the fiber and the sugar alcohols and what is left are the Net Carbs. Net Carbs affect blood sugars.

Example Carbohydrates: 20 grams
Sugars: 12 grams
Fiber: 3 grams
Sugar Alcohols: 5 grams
Net Carbs = 20 grams - (3F + 5SA) = 12 grams net carbs.

It can get rather complicated and the more math you have to do the more complicated it becomes.

But what if all the numbers underneath the Total Carbohydrates do not add up to the totals?  That is when it gets even more confusing. I talked to one of the nutritional manufacturers we use and he explained it like this.  There are other items within the carbohydrate family that are not required to be listed if they don’t add up to an appreciable amount (greater than 1 gram).  There can be several of these items and they can add up to several grams of carbohydrates but they are not required to be listed.  These are carbohydrates that do not affect your blood sugars.  Examples of these type of ingredients are sugar alcohols, glycerin, tapioca starch, potato starch, and I am sure many more.

So what we have done at Carbessentials is culled out all of our products that have 5 grams of sugar or less. So when you see the Low Sugar list you will know that it means: 5 grams of sugar or less.

These specialty lists that we have created truly put Carbessentials.net at a higher level than any other      on-line nutritional site. It is a labor of love for us.

These are being added to the Carbessentials.net website under the heading of Low Sugar Sneals.

CarbEssentials was opened in early 2003 by Raymond Powell, MD and his wife Dominique Powell. Dr. Powell, a board certified bariatrician, and has treated thousands of medical weight loss patients in his clinics and is always looking for high-quality, nutritional products to help his patients achieve their goals.  He calls these foods sneals.

This search for sneals takes Dr. Powell all over the United States. He personally selects each product sold in his stores to ensure that they meet his strict nutrition criteria. A majority of the products are medical grade, but a growing number of products are from the sports nutrition and unique niche industries. All products are taste tested by his family, employees and patients.

He has coined a term called a Sneal.  That is how he shops for these nutritional items.  He understands the reality of most of our lives.  He understands that most of us have very busy lives and need high quality nutrition that has to be; quick, convenient, portable, single-serving, and has to taste great.  That is where the word sneal came up.  It is a way to teach his patients a whole new way to think about nutrition

Dr. Powell also treats a growing number of patients who have had or about to have Gastric Bypass surgery and for those that are beginning to regain their weight back. He also consults with many other Gastric Bypass patients who are confused about what they should eat and take as supplements to get adequate nutrition while keeping their weight down. He has spent countless hours researching companies offering specialized products for weight loss patients. These low to moderate carbohydrates, low fat products are also available to the public and are excellent nutritional products for anyone, whether you have had Gastric Bypass surgery, trying to lose weight, or just looking for great nutrition.

These sneals are great for kids to take to school.  Again they are quick, convenient, portable, single-serving, high quality morsels of food that taste great.  Perfect to help treat and prevent childhood obesity or just to give kids great food to eat through the day.

Whether you are a medical weight loss patient just trying to lose a few pounds, or an athlete trying to optimize your diet, try our low to moderate carb, low-fat, high-protein, nutritional items. CarbEssentials and the Sneal a better low carb diet solution.  You can learn more about Dr. Powell, MD and Snealing at www.Physiciansplan.net and www.Snealtime.com.  You can shop for sneals on-line at www.Carbessentials.net.