Low-Carb Fad

[fliptoniaaa]

Low-Carb Fad Seen as Unhealthy and a Ripoff

By Maggie Fox, Health and Science Correspondent

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Popular low-carbohydrate diets are leading Americans to poor health and spawning a rip-off industry of "carb-friendly" products, health experts and consumer advocates said on Tuesday.

They announced a new group, called the Partnership for Essential Nutrition, to help educate Americans about the need for healthy carbohydrates such as vegetables, fruits, beans and whole grains.

"When unproven science becomes a sales pitch, some people get rich and the rest of us get ripped off," Jeffrey Prince of the American Institute for Cancer Research told a news conference.

"Eating vegetables, fruits, whole grains and beans, which are all predominantly carbohydrate, is linked to a reduced risk of cancer, heart disease, stroke, diabetes and a range of other chronic diseases."

Prince said low-carb diets that advocate piling on the animal protein and fat are "increasing the risk of developing cancer, heart disease, stroke, type-2 diabetes and other chronic diseases."

The new group includes such organizations as the Alliance for Aging Research, the American Association of Diabetes Educators, the AICR and the American Obesity Association.

Its Web site at http://www.essentialnutrition.org/ is especially critical of programs, such as the Atkins diet, that advocate throwing the body into a condition called ketosis. During this phase the body sheds water as it tries to get rid of excess protein and fat-breakdown products.

"Losing weight on these extreme low-carb diets can lead to such serious health problems as kidney stress, liver disorders and gout," the group advises.

ATKINS DENIAL

Dr. Stuart Trager, Medical Director for Atkins Nutritionals, Inc., said the Atkins diet is healthy.

"In fact, the Atkins Nutritional Approach includes spinach, eggplant, broccoli, asparagus and leafy greens, in addition to other high-fiber vegetables and fruits," Trager said in a statement. "Even during induction, Atkins requires five servings of vegetables and/or fruits a day."

The new group published a survey of 1,017 adults, done by Opinion Research Corporation, that showed 19 percent of dieters are trying to cut carbs.

The survey found that 47 percent them believed that low-carb diets can help them lose weight without cutting calories.

"They are confused. They lack an understanding of the basic science," Barbara Moore, president of Shape Up America, told the news conference.

She said a "trickle-down effect" meant other Americans were now eating fewer fruits, vegetables, whole grains and low-fat dairy products.

The U.S. government, American Heart Association, American Cancer Society, National Cancer Institute and American Diabetes Association all recommend getting at least five servings a day of fruits and vegetables. They also recommend eating plenty of whole grains.

The National Consumers League said it found dieters were spending an average of $85 a month on so-called low-carbohydrate products, although the U.S. Food and Drug Administration does not evaluate or regulate low-carb claims.

"Consumers are paying a premium price for a carb-friendly lifestyle," said Alison Rein of the National Consumers League. She called for the FDA, U.S. Department of Agriculture and other agencies to issue immediate guidelines on such claims.

Studies show that a low-carbohydrate approach can cause people to lose weight more quickly than a low-fat diet for the first six months, but the low-fat approach catches up after a year.

[bullseye]

we're gonna die anyway, might as well have a great looking corpse.

[sweetie029]

One of the fast food chains (I lbelieve Wendy's) is making new restaurants that are drive through ONLY....If people would lay off big mac's....eat right & excercise....they wouldn't have to worry about rediculous diets

[kahn]

eat right & excercise....they wouldn't have to worry about rediculous diets

it's so simple........yet people have such a time with it..........

[phuturephunk]

Worked for me, then again, it has to be done right.

[ghhhhhost]

it does work..but like foamy said "what kinda diet lets u eat bacon and burgers but not an apple" ...eventually it could lead to ridiculously high cholesterol levels.

the problem with the Atkins is that people wont eat bread but theyll eat turkey wrapped in bacon with a steak on the side...its scary

[fliptoniaaa]

heres ur low carb diet!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

http://www.curlydavid.com/lowca.html

[magilicuti]

why don't ppl just eat less?

[iamme]

it does work..but like foamy said "what kinda diet lets u eat bacon and burgers but not an apple" ...eventually it could lead to ridiculously high cholesterol levels.

the problem with the Atkins is that people wont eat bread but theyll eat turkey wrapped in bacon with a steak on the side...its scary

maaaaaaaaaaaaaan, have you ever tried turkey wrapped in bacon...i get this all the time at the Brazilian BBQ place or esparagus wrapped bacon (surprisingly good)

...actually nearly anything wrapped in bacon is tasty!!

but, yeah. no one is arguing whether this diet will help you lose weight...of course it does. but you are making some big sacrifices and taking risks. cholesterol is no f*ckin joke.

turkey wrapped in bacon

[ghhhhhost]

where do u think i ate it but in a Brazilian restaurant..that shit is soooooo good..and im not even a big fan of bacon

[Mystify]

You're better off to just eat your carbohydrates moderately, and try to stick with complex carbs that have fiber - like whole wheat bread, brown rice, oatmeal...I could never give up carbs. I just watch my servings with each meal.

[ghhhhhost]

exactly@! `

[iamme]

wheat bread wrapped in bacon :drool:

[solbeam]

is it really possible to give up carbs completely??

[ghhhhhost]

theres no way to give up carbs...i just gota have a potato once in a while..or some 53rd n 6th chicken n rice...or pasta...or battered calamari...fuck I AM STARVING

wheat bread wrapped in bacon :drool:

[Mystify]

is it really possible to give up carbs completely??

Of course, but it's be a very boring life! And just ridiculous - not just for how hard it would be to stick to, but also ridiculous because carbs don't make you fat! There's NO reason to give them up.

[ghhhhhost]

how would u function with no carbs? id have no energy

[bullseye]

i tried in deep vain to give up eating bread, literally impossible, in my case at least. but i did cut back, and now jus eat wheat bread at all times if possible. instead of cutting carbs, cut the amount of food ur putting into that trap of urs.

[georgym]

how would u function with no carbs? id have no energy

Exactly!

then you won't be able to fuck.

[ghhhhhost]

aa...errrr.....yeah..thats exactly what i had in mind

[solbeam]

Of course, but it's be a very boring life! And just ridiculous - not just for how hard it would be to stick to, but also ridiculous because carbs don't make you fat! There's NO reason to give them up.

that's exactly what I was thinking. I just don't see how people claim to eat a "no carb" diet...moderation seems best...

[Mystify]

aa...errrr.....yeah..thats exactly what i had in mind

lmao, gmccookny, you're all vulgar about it

[fliptoniaaa]

ok just an overview!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

u cant giv up carbs...if u do u will die...cuz ur body will have no energy to do the basic things it does!!!!!!!!!!!!

if u want to loose weight u must do as myst says and eat the right type of carbs, and do as others stated and just eat less, exercise more!!!!!!!!!!