Question: Why Are There Calories in Soluble Fiber?
Answer: According to the FDA, soluble fiber is listed on food labels as having calories because it does, in a roundabout way, contribute calories to the body. This is because most soluble fiber is used by the bacteria in the colon to produce short-chain fatty acids which, in turn, are used by the body. These calories do not raise blood sugar, so when counting carbs, those in soluble fiber (like insoluble fiber) don't count towards the total. This same situation is also true of oligosaccharides, which may or may not also be listed as fiber.
Bottom Line: When counting carbs, we can always subtract fiber from the total carbohydrate count on food labels.
Bottom Line: When counting carbs, we can always subtract fiber from the total carbohydrate count on food labels.
