Untitled Document

May 2002

WELCOME!

Count the Many Ways to Enjoy Decadent Desserts

If you think that scrumptious desserts are off limits,
you haven't tried Fran Gare’s Decadent Desserts!

Available in rich chocolate and buttery almond flavor, these are the most incredible low carb desserts that we have ever tasted . . . the possibilities are only limited by your imagination. You can prepare brownies, fudge, puddings, cookies, cheesecake, ice cream, crème brulee and much more.

So far, we have made brownies, fudge, macaroons, and almond muffins. Dahling, they are "to die for!" The best part of the equation — aside from the great taste of the desserts — is the ease of preparation. "Baking isn’t my forte, I admit it," says Ruth, "but these recipes are impossible to mess up. You can make a whole lot of brownies or muffins or just a small batch so that your desserts are always fresh and appealing. And, they can be made so quickly that you can pop a batch of brownies in the oven when unexpected company arrives." Even those who are not on special diets will prefer Decadent Desserts to their own sugary confections and desserts.

Kosher, sugar-free and wheat-free, the mixes appeal to a broad range of health-conscious dieters: locarb'ers, diabetics, and those suffering from wheat allergies, candida, or hypoglycemia (low blood sugar), to name a few.

When we first added Decadent Desserts to the menu at the LoCarbDiner, we needed some photos to show you how delicious they are. Ruth dashed to the kitchen and whipped up a batch of almond muffins and chocolate brownies, and we had great fun setting up and taking photos with our digital camera. Then the real reward came . . . we got to eat the display! It doesn't get any better than that!

One can (12 ounces) makes three substantial trays of desserts. In addition to the recipes on the cans, you'll find more recipes on Fran's web site, www.FranGare.com. We hope that you will try these fabulous products for yourselves.

Ketosis—
Burning Fat for Energy

Watch Out . . .
For Hidden Carbs!

Food Labels Don’t Always
Reflect Carbohydrate Counts

Do you understand the role of ketosis in low-carb dieting? Here's a quick primer:

Your body burns two fuels for energy. Glucose, the primary fuel, comes from eating carbohydrates. When your body runs out of glucose, it turns to its secondary fuel source — your own body fat. When you reduce your intake of carbohydrates, your body must convert fat into energy, and this metabolic state is called "ketosis." So, being in ketosis simply means living off your fat stores. Assuming you are overweight, this process is not only safe — it's desirable!

Ketosis is absolutely safe (unless you happen to have no excess body fat!) So, why do so many people think ketosis is dangerous? According to the Atkins Center, the misconception may be caused by confusing the term ketosis with another K-word, ketoacidosis. Ketoacidosis is a potentially dangerous condition that occurs in a diabetic whose blood sugar levels are out of control. Ketoacidosis is not a result of low carbohydrate dieting.

To stimulate ketosis, the best diet is high in fat (cream cheese, macadamias, deviled eggs, etc.), moderate amounts of protein and a very low level of carbohydrates. You may also need to increase exercise from three times per week to four or five times per week.

Many locarb'ers test their urine to determine if they have reached ketosis. For most people, the Lipolysis Testing Strips give an indication of how well they are adhering to the diet by detecting the presence of ketones in your urine. The ketones are present when your body is breaking down fat. When ketones are detected, the test strips turn a shade of pink or purple. Some people have more trouble than others reaching ketosis — either because they are metabolically resistant to weight loss or else they are not fully aware of all sources of carbohydrates they may be eating.

Each person's metabolism level is different and therefore will turn the sticks a varying degree of purple. In addition, the time of the day, whether or not you exercise, and what you had at your last meal will all affect the ketone test strips. It does not necessarily matter whether you are turning the strips a dark or light color. The important thing is that you are in ketosis. and you are burning fat for energy. However, keep in mind that every individual's metabolism is different, and as a result, there are people who never even get into ketosis, yet lose all the weight they want. The Atkins Center also recommends that you not over test yourself. They recommend that you test your ketosis level no more than once a week.

If you are having trouble reaching ketosis, don't make the common mistake of eating less fat to get into ketosis; the opposite is actually true. To really understand what is occurring in your body, we strongly suggest you read Dr. Atkins New Diet Revolution.

The above information is from the official Atkins Center website. Please feel free to visit www.atkinscenter.com for more information.

Did you know that "zero carbs" doesn't always mean "zero carbs?" Most reduced carbohydrate dieters have come to think of any food with zero grams of carbohydrate reported on the Nutrition Facts label as one they can eat in unlimited quantities. The truth is that nearly all foods contain some carbohydrate, and these small hidden amounts can really add up!

"Hidden carbohydrate is carbohydrate that is not immediately obvious in products or by reading the Nutritional Facts Label," states Laura Richard, B.S.N., M.H.A., in her book, The Secret To Low Carb Success! How To Get The Most Out of Your Low Carbohydrate Diet. "That is because the guidelines governing food labels allow manufacturers to list the carbohydrate content of a food as 0 grams if the actual count is less than 1 gram of carbohydrate per cup."

Look at the Nutrition Facts label and try this formula: Count 9 calories per gram of fat (e.g., "Fat 5g" x 9 = 45 calories), count 4 calories per gram of protein, and 4 calories per gram of carbohydrate. Add up the calories and compare your total to the total calories reported on the label. If your total falls short, you can assume that the missing calories are the result of gram counts rounded down from 1 to 0. For example, 4 missing calories may actually be 1 unreported gram of carbohydrate!

Case in point. Splenda has recently changed their packaging from the familiar pale yellow to a new blue and white package. On the old package they reported 0 carbs and 0 calories, but on their new package they report 4 calories and 1 gram of carbohydrate per single-serving packet! A hidden carb has been revealed!

Here are some common sources of "hidden carbs":
• coffee: approx. 1 gram per cup
• maltodextrin, in instant tea: 1.25 grams per cup
• cheese: up to 1 gram per ounce
• eggs: up to 1 gram per egg, depending on size
• sugar-free mints and gums: 2 grams per stick
• artificial sweeteners: 1 gram per packet or 1 tsp.
• imitation seafood: 2-3 grams per ounce
• curry and garlic powder: 4-6 grams per Tbsp.
• onion: 3 grams per 1/4 cup, chopped

Read the Nutritional Label and the Ingredients List of the foods that you eat. If there are sugars or other sources of carbohydrate in the ingredient list, there is carbohydrate in the food. You could be unknowingly adding 5-10 grams of carbohydrate to your daily diet, which could, in some cases, slow weight loss.

Remember — for Atkins induction dieting, the goal is to stay under 20 grams of carbohydrates per day. For ongoing weight loss, your goal depends on your own metabolic resistance level, but it is probably around 40 grams per day.

Laura Richard’s informative book is available through our web site. Visit our home page www.LoCarbDiner.com for information on how to order Ms. Richard’s breakthrough book on Low Carbohydrate Diets.