Book excerpt: The Complete & Up-to-Date Carb Book is the next generation in carb management, providing a quick, comprehensive way for savvy dieters to take control of their food intake and smartly manage their health. By learning how to calculate their net carb intake, dieters will not fall prey to the popular fads in dieting today. Bellerson includes information on calories, fiber and sugar grams, and total carb numbers for brand-name and generic foods, fast foods, processed and prepared foods, as well as natural foods and snacks. In all, there are more than 20,000 entries ranging from A to Z. The introductory material explains the glycemic index and how to use it, and the importance of fiber and sugars in calculating carbohydrate values. The strategies outlined here are easily compatible with The Zone, South Beach, and other balanced diet plans.