The potato people are worried. French fry sales are down 5% across the world and demand is down across the country, according to this article, Potato industry speaks out on low-carb diets.
"The U.S. Potato Board says a single potato has only 9 percent of the recommended daily allowance of carbohydrates, and that spuds have protein."
Well, isn't that the problem? What is the recommended daily allowance of carbohydrates and how was it derived when it was created? Isn't the problem with the food pyramid that anyone who takes their nutritional requirements from the government, and who doesn't exercise religiously, is going to turn into a potato? Aren't they going to be more at risk for diabetes and heart disease?
I say, let's continue the testing and take it long term. We already know it is safe in the short term. I've been on it way over a year and I'm much healthier!
I know you don't want to hear this, but low-carb is unsafe. Your brain and central nervous system use glucose as a primary fuel source. When you aren't getting enough glucose from your diet (in the form of carbohydrates), your body will make glucse from protein in a process called glucoseneogenesis. The only problem is that in order to do this, it must waste your muscles.
Furthermore, low-carb can lead to ketosis, which can be fatal. When you aren't getting enough glucose, your body starts to produce ketones, which are toxic to your body and in high amounts can be fatal. This is why Atkins himself told pregnant women not to do low-carb diets. Ketosis causes severe fetal brain damage.
It is far healthier to eat a wide variety of foods, including complex carbohydrates such as whole grains and fruits and vegetables.
Posted by: Laura McConnell | March 05, 2005 at 12:27 PM