Quick question about fiber and calorie counting.

[defcon]

Hi. I am just wondering something.

When your counting our calories for the day, do you take into account fiber intake? For example, in 100g of Lentils there is 21g of Dietary Fiber. If you take this into account ( along with the protein/fat/rest of carbs) you get a calorie count of 348. If you do not take the Fiber into account you get 264.

So, should I count them or not? Fitday does not but the package of lentils does in their calorie count. Confusing :P

[EJFan]

if you eat it, count it.

[TheGimp]

There are different types of fiber yielding different calorie amounts, usually between 1.5 to 2.5 calories per gram, although some such as cellulose contain 0. According to my lentils the total calorie content is 307 per 100g which corresponds to a value of 2 calories per gram for the fibre. I'd use that.

[defcon]

Thanks to both of you. I will just count the calories as stated on the package unless someone else can put up a stronger argument which favours the other side. :)

[body]

i would go with the 2kcal a gram of fibre.

But most people do not eat that much fibre to make that much of a difference anyway.