Orange Growers Irked by Low-Carb Diets

Associated Press via Yahoo! News ^ | January 21, 2004 | MIKE SCHNEIDER

[dread78645]

The diet doesn't need to be particularly low carb or high carb. It just needs to be balanced.

True. But what the food-nannies call a "balanced" diet has changed over the last 30 years from modest-carb modest-fat to low-fat and high-carb.

[dread78645]

hat I don't understand is the emphasis that plain water is better than other drinks.

Caffeine is a diuretic and will tend to cause the kidneys to eliminate excess water. So tea, coffee, and most colas are non-good.

[newzjunkey]

No one has mentioned "Naked Juice" which is just fresh juice, bottled. I love the Tangerine.

I don't do soda; I try to avoid corn syrup. The only tea I drink now is herbal (no caffeine). I drink at least 40 oz of water per day.

I limit my red meat, usually eating turkey or chicken.

[E.G.C.]

BTTT!!!!!!!

[Triple Word Score]

Well, besides what their acid does to teeth, the high phosphorus content of some soft drinks can throw off your magnesium balance, since it leaches magnesium from your tissues, which can result in illness--so it depends on what diet sodas you drink and how much you're drinking. I'd count it as part of my water intake too, but I'm cautious about artificial sweeteners. I didn't use them at all till I was done having all my babies, just to be very cautious, and I'm sparing with them now.

I knew a man in his 70s who drank absolutely nothing but coffee and still had an active life--when he died it was of an accident. My religion forbids it and I don't like it, so I have two reasons not to drink coffee, but it seems there is some positive chemistry going on with coffee, as with tea. Caffeine? I wouldn't be surprised if a total ban on caffeine in this country didn't result in a huge upswing in motor vehicle accidents. It probably saves many lives. But it's addictive and probably has mild negative health

Kidney stones are supposed to be just as bad as childbirth--you must be tough.

[Lael]

Carb-laden diets are the fad. Refined sugars & bleached processed flour crept into our diets significantly in the last 20 years.

Starting with "Diet for a Small Planet", the Food Lefties panned Meat and pushed "Complex Carbohydrates."

In my Great Grandma's day, it was simply called "Starch", and everyone knew that the reason poor Southerners were Obese [and had Palagra] was lack of Meat and reliance on Starch like corn.

What you are seeing is the reaction of a Whole World that has been lied to for 25 Years.

Carb demand is down in Europe, as well.

[Hank Rearden]

Kidney stones are supposed to be just as bad as childbirth--you must be tough.

I know a couple of women who've experienced both, and would prefer childbirth. Kidney stones can be, ummmmm, unpleasant.

I'm just grateful for ESWL, the ultrasonic stone-smashing machines. Have had it 4-5 times; no cutting required and quick recovery. Just as expensive as the old-fashioned cut 'n sew, though. Unbelievably expensive, as is everything in a hospital these days.

[KeyTapper]

Years ago when I had a kidney stone, my urologist told me how much water to drink, and said I could count anything that was wet. That included coffee, colas, etc. I was pretty darned surprised.

[editor-surveyor]

"And yep, I'm aware that it works for some, although not all, people."

I hate to be picking on you, since this is a comment that has often been made, but since you are the one who made the comment here, I want to see some evidence.

Who doesn't the diet work for?
We keep seeing this statement but without any factual support.

[editor-surveyor]

"Atkins died fat"

Atkins, for the record, died of a serious head injury.

Statistically, fat people, as in 50 pounds "overweight," are among the longest lived. Most of the people who live past 90 were "overweight" according to the propaganda tables for most of their life. All people begin to lose weight uncontrollably late in life.

[editor-surveyor]

"Apparently if you don't live IN NYC you can only get things that look like bagels but aren't, if NYers are to be believed."

Well, I've never believed a NYer, but that is another issue.

Go to any Costco store. Their bagels are made by Noah's in New York, and shipped frozen, un-cooked, and then baked at the store. They are the real thing.

[Mr. Mojo]

Who doesn't the diet work for?

I only know 2 people that tried it. One of them didn't lose any weight, and her energy level dropped to nil. She changed to a high carb (lots of pasta), low fat diet and lost 30 lbs.

My dad was the other one, and although he lost 7 pounds in the month he was (strictly) on the diet, his cholesterol shot up through the roof, so he gave it up. (He's only about 15 lbs overweight anyway). His doc told him he's seen many people on Atkins, and the cholesterol problem was not a unique one.

He then switched to a diet of whole (not processed) grains, lots of veggies, fruit, nuts and seeds (although not too much), and fish .....and an occasional steak. Lost the rest of the weight, and his cholesterol levels dropped to normal.

lol.....and no, their cases aren't documented by the medical establishment, so I can't supply any "hard evidence."

But it's pretty obvious that people have vastly different metabolisms, constitutions, etc., so not every diet will work for everybody. ....and that includes Aktins.

Amazing ......a lot of folks have an almost religious attachment to this thing.

[Delphinium]

It works as long as you stay on it.

[Triple Word Score]

No Costco where I am.

I don't think you can uncook things here, either. ;-)

But it's a nice thought!

[Delphinium]

I know a guy who went on it and it didn't work.

Found out later he was eating lots of oranges, and apples too because he thought it would be healthy.

It doesn't work unless you follow the basic guidelines.

Amazing ......a lot of folks have an almost religious attachment to this thing.

The reason people defend it is because it works so well. Not only do we lose weight but we feel so much better. And we have come to know that much of the propaganda out there until now about what is, and isn't good for us was false.

Read the book,or better yet "Dr Atkin Age-Defying Diet" You might understand more about it. You can usually pick one up real cheap at half.com.

[Triple Word Score]

Oh, duh--"un-cooked" was an adjective, not a verb. ;-) Sorry! I need some sleep. Goodnight!

[Mr. Mojo]

Well, unlike a lot of people, I personally have never had a weight problem, so none of these diets that expose all the "false propaganda" really interest me much. I eat healthful food, get lots of exercise, and stay lean and mean.

[Delphinium]

Good for you. You might still be young. Aging starts happening fast. I have had to watch my weight but one of the main reasons I stay on this diet is I do not want to be a crippled up old lady.

[Stentor]

But it's pretty obvious that people have vastly different metabolisms, constitutions, etc., so not every diet will work for everybody. ....and that includes Aktins.

Well said and I think the Doc would have agreed with you.

[Mr. Mojo]

And I'm happy that you're doing well on Atkins; I hope your good health continues.