All Carbohydrates Are Not Equal

A Message from Dr. Atkins

Used with the kind permission of and © copyright by Atkins Nutritionals, Inc.

Photo used by kind permission of The Atkins Center.

Atkins products are specifically formulated to minimize the impact of carbohydrates on a person’s blood sugar level because elevated blood sugar and the resulting excess insulin production can inhibit weight loss, weight management and increase the risk of disease and illness.

We accomplish this in our product formulation by understanding that not all carbohydrates behave the same way in a person’s body. While most carbohydrates – sugar, which imparts 4 calories per gram, is the best example – are digested by your body and turned into blood sugar, other carbohydrates behave differently. Some carbs are digested by your body but not turned into glucose. And, some carbs – such as fiber – can impart as little as 0 calories per gram, are not digested at all and pass through your body as waste. In either of these last two cases there is no noted impact on blood sugar levels. However, the FDA and other health organizations have not yet focused on this important biochemical difference and treat all carbohydrates as the same.

The nutritional information on Atkins food products is intended to help consumers understand exactly how we formulate our products so that the consumer has the knowledge necessary to follow a controlled carbohydrate nutritional approach and eat healthy foods. Thus, for Atkins Advantage

Bars, the “net” carb count listed in the Total Carbohydrate statement is completely accurate for Atkins followers, and the “gross” carb count matters very little.

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Example:
Atkins Chocolate Mocha Crunch Advantage Bar

Total Carbohydrate (as defined by the FDA)	19 grams
Non-Caloric and/or Non-blood sugar impacting Carbs	15.5 grams
Polydextrose/Fiber	11 grams
Glycerine	4.5 grams
Net Carbohydrates of interest to consumers who do Atkins	3.5 grams

(Mainly from the soy nuggets, cocoa and residual carbs
found in the sources for the protein blend)

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Millions of people have benefited and continue to benefit from the Atkins Nutritional Approach and the products we have created to support this approach. Healing and helping people is the cornerstone of the mission of the company.

Atkins has been working very closely with the FDA in a spirit of cooperation. Our goal has been to provide accurate information to Atkins consumers and others for who blood sugar levels is a real health issue. Atkins believes consumers would benefit tremendously by understanding the relative importance of the impact different types of carbohydrates have on blood sugar and that this information should be presented right on the nutrition facts panel.

We certainly understand and respect that the FDA has now made the decision that requires all food products labels include all nutrients defined as carbohydrates by the FDA – and that these nutrients be listed in the Total Carb statement on the Nutrition Facts Panel.

Atkins will therefore update all its labels to comply with this directive. This process is underway and can be seen on Atkins Ready-To-Drink Shakes, Atkins Shake Mixes, Atkins Quick & Easy Mixes and many other Atkins products. It is presently being accomplished on Atkins Advantage Bars, Atkins Breakfast Bars and Atkins Endulge Bars. Current product with existing labels will be sold through and then be replaced by product with the FDA-mandated labels. Consumers should start seeing these new labels in early 2002.

The new labels will fully comply with the FDA ruling. And, our labels will also become even clearer about the benefits of the Atkins Nutritional Approach so that consumers who want to moderate their refined carbohydrate intake will understand the health benefits of Atkins products.
CarbSmart, Inc. is not affiliated with Atkins Nutritionals, Inc. except as a retailer of their product lines.