What do you say to the low-carbers?

Question

I myself am not a vegetarian though it has been a consideration. I find the low carbing crowd things of their way of eating as the end all, be all of nutrition. We're talking people who are afraid of oatmeal and consider pasta of the devil. How do you address these ideas? How do you talk to people who really believe that their diet is the best and other diets are dangerous?

Answer 1

I am a low carb person.  In fact, I not only eat oatmeal I use oat flour in place of white.  In place of hi-carb I choose one that is more nutritional(one made with soy).  I also make sure I drink plenty of liquid, as high-protein diets tend to lead to kidney stones.  It's all about having the knowledge of what you have to work with and making sure you not too strict about ridding foods alltogether out of your diet.  I lost 40 pounds 4 years ago and continue to be healthier and at a healthy weight.  Who said you can't have fun eating if your on a low carb diet?

Answer 2

I would have loved to have seen what Atkins' arteries looked like upon his autopsy.

Answer 3

Ignore them.  Like almost everything else all things in moderation.  The low carb fad will go away because it's not sustainable.  If people really want to lose weight they must undergo a change in lifestyle (slight, moderate, or extreme).  They can't keep doing the same thing and expect a different outcome.  That's sort of the definition of stupidity.  

Low carb for a short period of time cause you to lose weight because the body actually starts using protein for energy.  In that sense Adkins or South Beach works.  But after the initial period or time one cannot remain carbohydrate deficient.  For one thing they become vitamin deficient for some vitamins that are found in great quantity in whole grains.

In general I think its a whole bunch of very  desperate people chasing the latest fad instead of taking control of their lives.

PhD  Food Chemistry and Nutrition

Answer 4

People really dont like to be critizied about the foods they eat...However, as most people on low carb eating plans are doing so to lose weight you could possibly appeal to their vanity. Tell them that (and this is the truth) it's impossible to stay away from carbs and as soon as they start to eat normally again the weight will return two fold!

Answer 5

It's lunacy in my view.  I have studied nutrition and metabolism extensively during the course of my degree and I believe now more than ever that carbohydrates are fundamental to energy and proper bodily function.  There are mechanisms which exist to convert non-glucose products to glucose because this carbohydrate is so crucial to the body, but they are not a long term solution, they are designed as an emergency measure.  We possess enzymes to catalyse the breakdown a huge variety of carbohydrates in very large quantities; a sure reflection of the amount of carbohydrates which  are required in the diet.

A high protein/fat diet can lead to ketosis, which has been shown to be fatal in some cases.  High levels of protein in the diet are also suspected of being a contributory factor in kidney disease and osteoporosis.  In my view, the government health advice is the most sensible as it's based on a huge body of substantiated evidence.

Answer 6

I just feel kinda bad for them. What is life without all those high carb foods? yummmm