Low-Carb Products Any Good?

These days, there's a low-carb version for just about every food product on the supermarket shelf. The trend is huge and continues to gain in popularity, but it may not necessarily be a dieter's dream.

Fitness Magazine put some of these low-carb alternatives to the test in their latest issue. And on Tuesday, the magazine's executive editor Liz Vaccariello tells The Early Show co-anchor Julie Chen the results.

Are these products with fewer carbs too good to be true? While many are waistline-friendly, replacing sugar with artificial sweeteners and adding extra fiber, others actually have more calories and fat.

Here is what the magazine found:

Original: Arnold 100% Whole Wheat Bread
Calories 140 (per 2 slices)
Fat 1 g
Carbs 24 g
Fiber 4 g

Low-Carb Alternative: Arnold Carb Counting 100% Whole Wheat Bread
Calories 120 (per 2 slices)
Fat 3 g
Carbs 18g
Fiber 6 g

Verdict: Both whole-wheat varieties are a healthy choice, though the Carb counting provides even more fiber.

Original: Barilla Penne Pasta
Calories 200 (per 2 ounces)
Fat 1 g
Carbs 42 g
Fiber 2 g

Low-Carb Alternative: Darielle Low Carb Mezze Penne Pasta
Calories 160 (per 2 ounces)
Fat 1 g
Carbs 18 g
Fiber 8 g

Verdict: A little grainier than regular pasta, but it is hard to tell the difference after adding a favorite sauce. With four times the fiber, the low-carb version is the healthier choice.

Original: Kellogg's Frosted Flakes
Calories 120 (per 3/4 cup)
Fat 0 g
Carbs 28 g
Fiber 1 g

Low-Carb Alternative: Keto Frosted Flakes
Calories 110 (per 3/4 cup)
Fat 1 g
Carbs 9 g
Fiber 2 g

Verdict: Though it's a little dry, it does save almost 20 grams of carbs.

Original: Utz Sour Cream & Onion Potato Chips
Calories 160 (per 28 grams)
Fat 10 g
Carbs 14 g
Fiber 1 g

Low-Carb Alternative: Atkins Crunchers Sour Cream & Onion Snack Chips
Calories 100 (per 28 grams)
Fat 4 g
Carbs 8 g
Fiber 3 g

Verdict: The texture is like that of a rice cake, but the flavor was addictive. With significant calorie, fat and carb savings, plus extra fiber, these chips are a diet-smart snack.

Original: Nabisco Chips Ahoy! Peanut Butter Real Chocolate Chip Cookies
Calories 160 (per 2 cookies)
Fat 8 g
Carbs 18 g
Fiber 0 g

Low-Carb Alternative: Low Carb Creations Gournet Peanut Butter Cookies
Calories 140 (per 1 cookie)
Fat 11 g
Carbs 9 g
Fiber 1 g

Verdict: The texture is off. The cookies almost disintegrate in your mouth, if not in your hand. The flavor is not up to par either. With even more fat than regular cookies, you're better off with the original.

Original: Old Orchard Apple Raspberry Juice Cocktail
Calories 120 (per 8 ounces)
Fat 0 g
Carbs 29 g
Fiber 0 g

Low-Carb Alternative: Old Orchard LoCarb Apple Raspberry Juice
Calories 30 (per 8 ounces)
Fat 0 g
Carbs 7 g
Fiber 0 g

Verdict: Go LoCarb. For 75 percent fewer calories, you'll get sweet-tart flavor and 130 percent of your RDA for vitamin C.

Original: Michelob Light Beer
Calories 134 (per 12 ounces)
Fat 0 g
Carbs 11.7 g
Fiber 2 g

Low-Carb Alternative: Michelob Ultra Beer
Calories 95 (per 12 ounces)
Fat 0 g
Carbs 2.6
Fibr 0 g

Verdict: To the serious beer connoisseur, the low-carb version may taste watered-down, but it does offer pretty significant caloric savings.

Original: Breyers All Natural Chocolate Ice Cream
Calories 150 (per 1/2 cup)
Fat 8 g
Carbs 17 g
Fiber 1g

Low-Carb Alternative: Breyers CarbSmart Chocolate Ice Cream
Calories 130 (per 1/2 cup)
Fat 10 g
Carbs 10 g
Fiber 3 g

Verdict: Creamy and chocolatey, with three grams of fiber (in a bowl of ice cream). One word of warning: It's got more fat - indulge in moderation.