Yep - the carb information was taken from the Kellogg's UK site, so it is net carbs.
I am passionate about it, because everything I have read about it convinces me that a diet based on a large proportion of carbohydrate (which is probably what most of us are encouraged to eat) is responsible for weight gain.
I think it's no coincidence that levels of obesity are increasingly hugely in the UK whilst at the same time there are more and more opportunities for us to eat carbohydrate. Just look at every high street, railway station or airport. All manner of opportunities to eat - which simply weren't there 40-50 years ago -and all high in carbohydrate. We snack constantly - and everything is carbohydrate - sandwiches, cakes, biscuits, fruit, sweets, chocolate ...
The push to eat less fat started in earnest in the 80s, yet obesity levels continue to rise. And low fat foods often contain sugar (i.e. carbohydrate) as a substitute, to make the food taste better.
Reading about the impact of carbohydrate on our blood sugar, and how it affects our appetite (i.e. increases it - we end up needing to eat more, and usually more sugar) have convinced me that too many carbohydrates are bad for us.
And that's even before you consider the implications for weight loss when you reduce carbs!
All 'diets' can be difficult - there is a level of deprivation associated with all of them. And - a word of warning/advice - a low carb diet isn't the easiest to follow, especially if you (as I am) are out and about a lot of the time. You can't just grab something to eat - fast/quick options are always carb-heavy. You have to plan your food much more carefully. You can't eat sweet stuff very easily - and even many fruits can be out of the question.
On the other hand, a good low carb diet is hugely enjoyable. What could be nicer than sitting down to a grilled steak/grilled fish, with salad and vegetables, possibly with a nice, rich creamy sauce - and to be able to use butter and cheese in your cooking? It is food that is natural, with no additives or over-processing. It makes going out for a meal much easier (unless you go to a pizza/pasta restaurant!) - you don't have to struggle to work out how many calories you're consuming, or rule out most of the menu because it will be too fatty, etc.
One of the books that has convinced me that cutting down on carbohydrate can only be a good thing is Escape the Diet Trap by Dr John Briffa. Although his stance is about dieting, it's actually a hugely informative (and well-researched) book about food and eating - and the impact of certain foods and certain diets on our bodies as well as our weight.
And as someone with a father and grandmother with late-onset diabetes, I have been convinced that carbohydrates are to be avoided!