T Nation

Confusing Nutrition Label

Supplements and Nutrition
#1

I’m trying to figure out how much of this Vita Flax flaxseed powder to use in my Grow! shakes for the Velocity Diet, and I’m totally confused about how to read it. It basically says the following:

Calories: 35
Total Fat: 1g
Total Carb: 3.5g
-Sol. Fiber: 1g
-Ins. Fiber: 2g
Protein: 3.5g

I have no idea how many carbs to count toward my total here. If 3g are fiber, then that leaves 0.5g carb. But doing the math:

0.5g carb * 4 calories = 2 calories
3.5g prot * 4 calories = 14 calories
1.0g fat_ * 9 calories = 9 calories.

2cal + 14cal + 9cal = 25 calories. That’s not even CLOSE to 35. Where the hell is that other 10 calories coming from?

All I really want to know is how many carbs to count for this damn crap. There’s no chance that they’re already subtracting the fiber out of that carb total, is there? Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks.

#2

With small servings, you probably have major rounding off issues here. 1 gram of fat may be as much as 1.49 grams or 13+ calories. Since protein is listed to the tenths place, it is probably very close so 3.5 x 4=14 calories. That leaves 8 calories. Since carbs are listed to the tenths place, 3.5 is probably right on, but the fiber values may all be +/- 1/2 gram. That would give you a total of anywhere between 2 and 4 grams of fiber.

Since the fiber is no less than 2 and the total carbs are probably right on 3.5, then 1.5 grams of carbs should be a safe count, not being an underestimate.

By the way, do the math with Surge and you also get WAY off at the end with no explanation.

#3

Also, not every gram of fat has exactly 9 calories. Fats range from about 8.9-9.5 calories/gram.

#4

I see. So I can assume that the calorie total was derived from the more exact macronutrient values, before they were rounded off. Therefore, I can try to back-engineer that calorie derivation and guess from there.

So damn frustrating. I wanted to add a serving per shake, but then got worried when it put came close to putting me over the 100g carb limit on training days.

Anyway, I’ll use 1.5g and go from there. I’m trying not to be anal, but it’s hard when you’re getting all this stuff down in your little Excel sheet and totaling it all up. Guess I AM anal, no matter which way you cut it.

Thanks a lot for your help, man.