Low Carb: Misconceptions Abound

"Low carb" dates back to 1863. Look up William H. Banting. They didn't call it low anything either. Both low fat and low carb language has confused people.

An article appeared in my newspaper today about the new white whole grain bread. It stated that confusion abounds. They said the FDA has not yet defined whole grains. General Mills has petitioned the FDA to define whole grains. How hard can this be. Why does General Mills need the government to tell them what whole grains are. They make breakfast cereal.

the biggest problem Americans have with dieting is very plain & simple....we eat tooooo much! it's not all the "fads" that do us in, it's the simple fact that we need to demand restaurants DE-SUPERSIZE us! we eat too much processed food, yes....but we just plain eat too much food...period! We are also the biggest offenders in the world for wasting food. We've become a country of glutons...how pathetic is that? I, too, have fallen victim to alllll the low carb bologna floating around....& all it took was an accident that took my large appetite away & wala! I'm eating anything I want....but in much smaller portions & I'm losing steadily...& above all....healthfully! Smarten up America....don't gorge anymore!

Hey I'm from England . I think that people form country of 'succes' eat tooooo much.

I also think that people over-consume food in this country, and it has lead some to gluttonous behavior. Including me.

It was so ironic when the previous poster mentioned the fact, that many people just eat wayyy too much, in one sitting, heck in 1 day. I also had to start controlling my diet with portioning. People eat when they are bored, depressed, anxious, stressed, mad, etc. Its emotionally eating, that is doing alot of people in, it was doing me in and I had to get control, before it really got out of hand. I'm happily doing a moderate low carb diet and controlling how much and how many I eat in a day. So far I'm 27 pounds lightly and happier for it.

I'm a living example of someone who eats too much. I also suffer with binge/compulsive eating disorder diagnosed by both an MD and a Pshychiatrist. I am taking the steps I need to take in order to manage this disorder AND to lose weight in an effective and healthy way, however, what absolutely astounds me is the fact that the goverment and anyone with a brain stem here in America KNOWS that we consume (let alone waste!) way too much food and yet that's all you see on TV.

When it was proven sufficiently that cigarettes kill, all advertisements for the products were banned from television. To my recollection, heart disease is the number one killer - not lung cancer (I realize tobacco contributes to the the former as well) but yet, I can't turn on the TV without being bombarded with commercials for Burger King, McDonalds, Taco Bell, Pizza Hut, et. al. And then the government and general society panics about why all of our children are obese! I think banning of these ads would be extreme, however, showing four fast food commercials during one sponsor break seems a bit overwhelming and wholly unneccessary. It's a proven fact that these commercials are promoted and presented in such a way as to tempt people and I feel that is wrong. If I had a dime for every time I've had a binge-out session because of some damn TV commercial I'd be rich and could afford a personal trainer and a diatician!

And yes... I do go to the gym 3 times a week and work. TV is a rarity these days...

Alisha

he biggest problem Americans have with dieting is very plain & simple....we eat tooooo much! it's not all the "fads" that do us in,

"It's a proven fact that these commercials are promoted and presented in such a way as to tempt people and I feel that is wrong." - Alisha

No offense Alisha, but isn't the point of a advertising to get people to buy your product? They ARE a business. Now, as to your opinion of that being wrong for food companies to advertise an unhealthy product- well, your welcome to your opinion. Personally, I'm not quite sure how I feel about that topic myself. If we penalize fast food restaurants, why should we not do the same to every other companie that has food commercials- for example, Yoplait has commercials for Go-gurt that are targeted directly at children, and I'm sure Go-gurt isn't to great for you. But then, how do we start defining what foods are ok for various companies to advertise towards children? Think of all the cereal commercials all targetted towards children- I can think of VERY few cereals that would be considered healthy, and the ones I can think of aren't targeted towards kids anyway.

We would have to set a specific guideline for these companies to follow with their food. Who decides that guideline- the FDA? Should they be allowed to do that? Again, that's up to debate.

I feel this way about obesity in America:
We are, in a way, victims of our own success. We are surrounded by CHEAP foods we should NOT be eating. Is it any wonder the poor/middle class are so overweight? How many families, especially single parent families, have time to actually prepare meals for their children? But you know what's fast and VERY affordable? Pizza, fast food, take out, etc.

Even the foods that are in super-markets that we fill our homes with- most of the cheap, quick to make foods are crap. Just look at cereals- Choco-Donuts?! Cookie-Crisps?! Toaster Strudel (a pop-tart with ICING)?! Is it any wonder we are so fat?! And again, these foods are quick, easy, and cheap, and in our fast-paced life styles, they are appealing choices.

I'm not saying people shouldn't be responsible for what they shovel into their mouths, but unfortunately, most people, given the option, don't care about what they are eating, or simply never learned how to read nutritional information and weren't taught what we should and shouldn't be eating, and this is a failing of parents and schools.

Why are children not taught this in school? Our school system's push gym so hard, yet knowing how to eat properly is a lot more important and useful than knowing how to play volleyball. FYI, when I was in high school, which was only a few years ago, you were required to take gym every year. Math and science? Only two years of each. You had to do more GYM than math and science- well, all that gym class is really paying off considering how fat we are! :)

I myself use to be about 200 lbs, and at 5'8", that's pretty over-weight. Within the last year or so, I've lost thirty pounds and it has stayed off, simply from eating less junk food and exercising. However, I do still live with the constant temptation of junk food- it's everywhere.

I could go to Wendie's right now and get a ton of dollar menu food (that sounds like a good idea...NO! Must resist!). Even worse, I live with two siblings, and my parents, and they are all four people who don't care about what they eat- meaning, I don't even have to go out to get junk food, it's right there in my kitchen, and I imagine a lot of people trying to lose weight have this same problem.

However, I don't blame fast food, or corporate America, or whatever, for making me over-weight. Do they have SOME responsibility? Yes, but in the end, I was the one purchasing their food, and putting it my mouth- knowing what I know now about nutrition, etc, who else do I have to blame but myself? (I realize there are people outside of this decision making norm, such as Alisha who have diagnosed compulsive disorders).

All the fast food restaurants, cereal makers, candy companies, etc, are all that- companies, businesses. They are selling a product, and they want you to by it. That is their main goal as a business- TO MAKE MONEY.

Should they be held more responsible for the foods they put out, or is it up to us to make the right decisions about what we eat? Or perhaps the answer lies somewhere inbetween? I guess it all depends on how you feel about corporate responsibility, and self responsibility.

- John

It's also pretty easy to give misconceptions about products by wording the ads just right. "Cholesterol-free" peanuts (all plant products are cholesterol-free), "Carb-free" vodka (yes, no carbs; still has alcohol and calories), "Fat free" pretzels (most of them are, but they still have a fair amount of calories/salt in them). It is up to the consumer to know what they are buying. You don't see too many people trying to sue automobile companies because they MADE them buy the "wrong car", etc. It's like with anything you buy...you have to be a smart shopper. With food (as with anything else), you have to read labels and compare to get the best nutritional "deal".