September 19, 2003

By: Mark Harris
Website: http://www.atkins-diet-plan-n-recipes.com

Atkins Food Bar – A Quick And Easy Meal When You're On The Go

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. In the example below, the “net carb count”, (or Effective Carb Count) would be 3.5g.

Example: Nutrition Facts

Serving size: 1 bar (70gm) Amount % DV Calories 250 Fat Calories 50 Total Fat 6 9% Sat Fat 4.5 23% Cholest <5mg 1% Sodium 200 8% Total Carbs 19g <1% Fiber 2g 8% Glycerine 4.5g Sugars 1g 0 Sugar Alcohol 9g Protein 30g 60% Vit A 0% Vit C 0% Calcium 6% Iron 6%

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.

Atkins Nutritionals will be issuing shortly a detailed guide to carbohydrates that will help retailers better educate their consumers on the wide variety of carbohydrates found in food products.

For more information, see resources for Atkins dieters.

About The Author:

Mark Harris is a successful author and regular contributor to http://www.atkins-diet-plan-n-recipes.com.  Information about the Atkins diet plan and low carb cooking for long term weight loss.