Got my delivery of Great Low Carb Bread Company products yesterday. So, I just had to n=1 test at least one of the items. I started with the Paleo/gluten free hamburger bun.
At first sight, the thing is a bit disappointing looking. Very thin/flat. Not like one is used to seeing when observing the SAD burger bun (yes, even a McD bun is thicker). This wasn't going to be my standard "scientific" clinical trial. I wanted to test it under real world conditions. I would consume this product as part of a hamburger sandwich. I used a beef patty meal that I have lots of recorded data on, so that I know what the carb count and blood sugar response is over many, many trials. This time I would add only the Paleo bun as a variable. I made sure my BG was stable, and I had no food or insulin for 5 hrs previous. I took bolus insulin only to cover the known meal of beef patty, lettuce, tomato, cheese, & mustard. Then I added only the amount of insulin to cover the 4g of net carbs advertized on the bun's label plus the normal/known insulin for the bunless meal (2g carbs).
Here are the results of that trial:
Time BG
1830 78 (Start)
1900 78
1930 79 (1hr)
2000 82
2030 80 (2hr)
2100 83
2130 83 (3hr)
2200 79
2230 80 (4hr)
2300 75
2330 73 (5hr)
My CGM shows that my BG remained flat the rest of the night, so I can safely say that, in my test, the advertised net carbs of this product are consistent with the results I got with my blood sugar meters.
Now the taste test results. I was surprised that it actually tasted much better than other Paleo bread products I've had in the past. The texture was much firmer, of course than grain based breads, but that is actually a bonus in my tastes. It was more consistent with the texture of an English muffin and did not get soggy and squishy like a wheat burger bun. It held together for the entire meal and provided a nice contrast to the veggies and the beef with a pleasant feel and texture, both in the mouth and to the touch. There is a predominant "eggy" taste that I didn't find objectionable at all.
The only "problem" I can find with this first product is the cost. At $2.50 each, it is out of the range of most of us for daily consumption. However, I would consider freezing several of these buns and having them a couple of times a month as a treat. The ingredients are highly nutritious and could actually be looked at as a dietary supplement. Shipping is $10, so it would be prohibative to order just a few items. I would suggest ordering larger quantities and freezing them. This is the recommended (freezing immediately) method of storage by the manufacturer.
In case you want to investigate, take a look at their website at:
http://greatlowcarb.com/our-story.html
I have 3 other items from them to test. I will provide updates in future journals. These I will do as true n=1 trials with only the product to be tested and no bolus insulin to cover.
