How to Calculate Net Carb Amounts

Low-carbohydrate food labels can be confusing. Many companies label their foods based on "net carbohydrates." Most manufacturers calculate net carbohydrates by subtracting fiber and sugar alcohols from total carbohydrates, according to WebMD. Sugar-free or reduced-carbohydrate foods may include additional fiber or sugar alcohols to offset some of the sugar and carbohydrate load. When you calculate the carbohydrate impact of these foods, understanding the true net impact is crucial to obtaining the proper carbohydrate estimate. If you are taking medications that are dependent on the amount of carbohydrates you consume, proper calculations are vital.

Instructions

• 1

  Locate the "Total Carbohydrates" per serving on the nutrition label.

• 2

  Identify the amount of dietary fiber per serving. Subtract the dietary fiber from the total carbohydrates if there are more than 5 grams of fiber per serving.

• 3

  Locate the "Sugar Alcohol" content, typically listed directly below the fiber content. Subtract half of the sugar alcohol grams from the total of carbohydrates if the food contains more than 5 grams of sugar alcohol per serving. For example, a serving containing 35 grams of carbohydrates with 6 grams of dietary fiber and 8 grams of sugar alcohol will produce a net carbohydrate result of 25 grams per serving.