Are Sweets Allowed on Low Carb Diets?

Low-carbohydrate diets restrict carbohydrate consumption to prevent peaks of blood sugar, which in turn increase your body's ability to burn fat for fuel. Low-carb diets are sometimes used in patients with diabetes and other medical conditions, although their main application is found in the weight-loss industry.

What You Can and Can't Eat

• Low-carb diets are, by definition, sugar-free. This means anything that contains sugar in any of its forms--fructose, lactose and sucrose--is off limits or severely limited. In more strict diets, such as the Atkins and South Beach diets, anything that contains sugar, which includes fruits and dairy products, should be eliminated during the first two weeks of the diet. It is then allowed only in small numbers. Other low-carb diets, such as the Sonoma and Sugar Busters diets, certain sugars are allowed, especially those low in the glycemic index. This includes berries and yogurt.

Alternatives and Replacements

• While regular sweets are not allowed in low-carb diets, there are numerous alternatives made with sugar substitutes or artificial flavoring that can satisfy a sweet tooth without going off the diet. Companies such as Atkins produce a number of dietary and nutritional products, including cereal-like bars, chocolate and protein bars, and dairy shakes. If you search in the aisle that offers products for diabetics, you'll find everything from cookies and candy to drink mixes, fudge and jam. These products are still sweet, but they are produced using sugar substitutes such as aspartame or stevia. Other sugar substitutes approved for use in the U.S. include sucralose, neotame, saccharin and acesulfame. Stevia is the only sweetener of natural origin.

  Sugar-free products are not meant to be eaten regularly because the safety of artificial sweeteners is still under debate. However, these products can prove a great tool if you have a sweet tooth and are finding it hard to give up traditional sweets when following a low-carb diet.