Guess I shoud go back to being fat and sick...

[LCer09]

In Defense of Carbs by Linda Johnston, MD, DHt

...after all I should weigh 400 pounds and be couch-bound after almost a decade of low carbing!!

(disclaimer, 99% of the articles on Lew Rockwell are great. This one was just plain ignorant. In a dangerous, authoritarian/expert kind of way...)

[forbey]

Re: Guess I shoud go back to being fat and sick...

Just sent the following e-mail to the good Dr. Johnston:


Well Dr. Johnston,

It certainly is nice to know that there are still a few who haven’t read the last 20 years worth of research on the plague of obesity in America and the world. While we were still working our butts off and eating whole grains we didn’t have this problem. Since the advent of leisure time and refined carbs we are turning into a society of blobs.

Me personally, I’m a 52 year old, type 2 diabetic, who couldn’t seem to keep my weight down even as a 22 year old, super active, US Marine.

Funny thing, after 8 months of low fat dieting without success and 2.5 months of low carb “dieting”, my fasting blood sugars have finally normalized and my weight is coming down.

Unfortunately, it is know-it-all, health professionals like yourself that are keeping Americans, fat, happy and unhealthy.

You might try visiting the studies of the American Bariatric Society and the 20 years of research that demonstrate that you clearly are unprepared to speak intelligently about the subject of the human diet and the role of carbohydrates in the vast array of health maladies plaguing the people of America and the world.

But, hey, who am I, just another “carb-basher”.

****************** End e-mail

Think she will respond?

[Dryunderwater]

Re: Guess I shoud go back to being fat and sick...

You know....... I read this and she is right.....Carbohydrates, Fat and Protein are essential to a healthy lifestyle.....Sugar and refined carbs however are not and not once does she advocate using any of the latter either. She is absolutely correct. That's why we are pressed to keep our veggie consumption up because "good" carbs are good for you! Woot woot...she just needs gentle education on a few points...and she's long winded...phew!

[Carne!]

Re: Guess I shoud go back to being fat and sick...

You rule just for linking to Mr. Paleolibertarian himself. But yes, this article is annoying. To their defense most of their nutrition articles are VERY anti-carb. There was one a couple of years back likening the American Food Pyramid to the pyramid used by farmers to fatten pigs.

[brandywine1241]

Re: Guess I shoud go back to being fat and sick...

The only defense I can make for Dr. Johnston is this piece of trash was published in 2004. I wonder if her view has changed any in the meantime?

[forbey]

Re: Guess I shoud go back to being fat and sick...

You rule just for linking to Mr. Paleolibertarian himself. But yes, this article is annoying. To their defense most of their nutrition articles are VERY anti-carb. There was one a couple of years back likening the American Food Pyramid to the pyramid used by farmers to fatten pigs.

Actually, the food pyramid for fattening cattle (beef and hogs) used to mirror the food pyramid the Dept. of Agriculture produced decades ago. However, the recommended dietary intake for feeder hogs has changed to allow for a leaner product. The new guidelines pretty much match the Atkins Food Pyramid! (Originally got that from a co-worker who is also a cattle farmer, ended up verifying it for myself.)

forbey

[Carne!]

Re: Guess I shoud go back to being fat and sick...

Oh good to know forbey....so now the hogs and cattle have better dietary guidelines than the humans. LOL. :P

[forbey]

Re: Guess I shoud go back to being fat and sick...

Oh good to know forbey....so now the hogs and cattle have better dietary guidelines than the humans. LOL. :P

And that is the funnyiest part! For years we were taught the food pyramid for better health and the farmers were told that was how you fed your cattle to fatten them up for the market. AND, our dietary geniuses never made the observation that if you want to fatten up your kids, your spouse, widen your horizons, just feed your family like cattle! Doesnt' work! That's better!

[meow]

Re: Guess I shoud go back to being fat and sick...

LOL, widen your horizons...
The refined carb industry is subsidized heavily, and the food pyramid tells us to eat 8-11 servings of grain every day...sounds like they aren't trying to fatten the hogs, but fatten the wallets of the agri-monsters.

[forbey]

Re: Guess I shoud go back to being fat and sick...

LOL, widen your horizons...
The refined carb industry is subsidized heavily, and the food pyramid tells us to eat 8-11 servings of grain every day...sounds like they aren't trying to fatten the hogs, but fatten the wallets of the agri-monsters.

Actually, if we followed the Atkins WOE, they would be feed the cattle using the old pyramid and feeding us with the new pyramid. The fat cats would still get fat, but we wouldn't. But then again, the medical community would complain because we would all be healthier.

We are doomed!

[LCer09]

Re: Guess I shoud go back to being fat and sick...

You know....... I read this and she is right.....Carbohydrates, Fat and Protein are essential to a healthy lifestyle.....Sugar and refined carbs however are not and not once does she advocate using any of the latter either. She is absolutely correct. That's why we are pressed to keep our veggie consumption up because "good" carbs are good for you! Woot woot...she just needs gentle education on a few points...and she's long winded...phew!

Which carbs are essential for a healthy lifestyle? I'm completely unaware of any essential carbohydrates.

[Dryunderwater]

Re: Guess I shoud go back to being fat and sick...

@LCer09: Can you let me know which market you purchase your carb-free veggies? After you can point me there then we can discuss the essential carb issue.

[LCer09]

Re: Guess I shoud go back to being fat and sick...

@LCer09: Can you let me know which market you purchase your carb-free veggies? After you can point me there then we can discuss the essential carb issue.

Which veggies contain which essential nutrients that cannot be found in non-carb form?

[forbey]

Re: Guess I shoud go back to being fat and sick...

Actually, and this is my personal take on the matter, dietary carbs are TOTALLY unnecessary. What carbs we must have we can build on our own out of the other building blocks we consume.

HOWEVER, there are micro and macro nutrients present in certain vegetables in sufficient quantities that provide them better than the meats and fats we consume. So while we are recommended to get the majority of our net carbs from leafy green veggies and specifically approved vegetable, it isn't for their carbs, it is in spite of their carbs.

Which, I believe, is the primary reason why the quality of the vegetables is far more impoertant than the quantity. After all, other than a BUTT LOAD of carboydrates, there isn't much else of value in a serving of white rice or mashed potatoes (unless you count the butter and sour cream)!

forbey

(The best way to consume corn on the cob is to feed it to a cow... then eat the cow! )

[Browneyedmelly]

Re: Guess I shoud go back to being fat and sick...

Well I think its kind of funny that when anyone recently is discussing diets, they tell you not too eat carbs, such as refine sugars, cookies, cakes, candies, white potatoes...etc etc..sound familiar??? They say eat brown rice, and wheat pastas...and even Jillian Michaels says not to eat carbs at night.. but no one gives credit to Dr. Atkins...He was saying this years and years and years ago...if that makes sense...