Low Carb Diet and Its Healthful Effects

Low carb living has advocates and detractors at every turn. I enjoy reading most blogs on both sides of the issue when I know whom the author is and the blog has the information available to see what credentials they may have or not have. If those that are putting down low carb living would say that it is just their opinion, I could accept that, but I dislike not having some information about the author.

I have no training in nutrition and write about type 2 diabetes where I have researched and learned a lot in the last five years. Still this blog upsets me. First, this is subject material I object to from registered dietitians (RDs) from the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics when they promote carbohydrates and whole grains. Second, the missed vitamins and minerals can often be obtained from other foods, or if necessary from supplements. RDs will seldom tell you this, as they want you to eat whole grains. Yes, you need to be aware of what you may be missing, but a good nutritionist can provide assistance. Read my blog here on the “whole grain stamp” and the unwanted sugars and calories they provide.

Thankfully, more people are writing about low carb living and we are learning from them. David Mendosa has an excellent blog here about the book Living Low Carb by Jonny Bowden. David starts of his blog with this, “The high-carbohydrate, low-fat diet that the authorities recommend we follow has been the longest uncontrolled nutritional experiment in history. The results have not been good.” These are words of wisdom that need no explanation. The review of the book is great and this book is on my “must obtain list”.

Do I agree with the high carb/low fat (HCLF) rhetoric of the blogger, not even slightly? All you need to read is Dr. William Davis's book Wheat Belly to know that whole grains and especially wheat do more damage than good. Then consider high fructose corn syrup that is manufactured from corn and you can understand why I am against the HCLF lifestyle promoted by the blogger. Dr. Davis also has a second book, Wheat Belly Cookbook.

I urge people to read about the different lifestyles and diet plans before deciding the path they wish to follow. There are so many diet plans available that it will take almost a lifetime to become versed in all of them. This is also why I follow Adele Hite and her blog here. She says many of the same ideas that I can relate to, and she is not hesitant to back them up. Granted she is a registered dietitian, but she does not agree with many of the guidelines and tenets of her own organization.