Food Labels, Decoded: What “Low-Carb” Really Means

What It Means: There’s no standard definition for this term, so it can mean any number of things — or nothing at all. The Health Implications: There’s no evidence that low-carb diets are more effective long-term than any other diets. Also, some carbs, like whole grains and produce, are healthier than others, and this term doesn’t distinguish between “good” and refined carbs. Keep in Mind: Manufacturers often replace those “missing carbs” with high-fat ingredients (such as nuts), sugar alcohols, or artificial sweeteners, so sometimes low-carb foods have just as many calories as foods that are not low-carb. Bottom Line: Disregard this label and pick foods that are healthy for what they do contain — vitamins, nutrients, and fresh ingredients.