If fiber doesn't effect insulin why does it have calories?

[cooldude18]

Why is it subtracted when it has the same calories as a gram of sugar (soluble fiber at least does....)

[ElleH]

Because calories are calculated in a chamber by burning the food. Since fiber is a carb, it gives off 4 calories of heat per gram as it burns in the chamber. But the body cannot break it down (burn it), so it provides no calories and no carbs.

[2big4mysize]

yep human bodies by FDA definition can't metabolize things labeled as fiber.
Noq if you had multiple stomaches like cows do you could digest fiber and get the energy in those cals, but you don't so you can't and it can safely be subtracted.

now when you get to those frankenfood mythical magical counting noncounting carbs from SA, glycerol and hydrogenated starches then you need a different calculator and logic to not count them.

[bgavin]

My daughter (a nurse) underwent a doctor-supervised diet, and dropped 65 pounds after her 2nd child arrived.

One of the items I learned from her was that a gram of carb is nullified by a gram of fiber. Evidently 10 grams of carbs with 10 grams of fiber is an effective zero. I don't understand the process, but it evidently doesn't have a glycemic index, hence no blood sugar.

I see this in my own experience by poking my finger with the OneTouch machine after eating a whey/l-glutamin/flaxoil shake. This coctail was prescribed by a friends oncologist while she is undergoing chemotherapy. She says the shake gives her great energy and a sense of well being. The carbs are fiber for the most part. It doesn't raise my blood sugar at all.

[2big4mysize]

[quote=bgavin;10899654]My daughter (a nurse) underwent a doctor-supervised diet, and dropped 65 pounds after her 2nd child arrived.

One of the items I learned from her was that a gram of carb is nullified by a gram of fiber. Evidently 10 grams of carbs with 10 grams of fiber is an effective zero. I don't understand the process, but it evidently doesn't have a glycemic index, hence no blood sugar.

QUOTE]

they are not nullified. they are carbs.

if you have a compound that is 10 carbs with 5 of them fiber you can't add 5 more grams of fiber and have a 0 carb food
it would be the orginal
10 grams of carbs with 5 of fiber PLUS 5 more fiber or 15 grams of carbs with 10 total grams of fiber.

the only way her 10 grams of carbs would have no blood sugar effect is if they were 10 grams of fiber which is counted ad 10 grams of carbohydrates on a US food label.