Issue Date: July 7, 2004
Publisher: Mellanie True Hills, The Health & Productivity Revitalizer

The Healthy Living Newsletter brings you health updates and tips for optimizing your life, health, and work.

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More Bad News for Low-carb Diets

Last time, we talked about how low-carb diets may be decreasing in popularity, based on results from my recent survey. On the heels of that comes news that may cause low-carb diets to take a further nosedive--they appear to make it harder for women to get pregnant. Though this finding may cause some to migrate toward low-carb diets for that reason, others may see this as a serious setback and move away.

As I mentioned in an earlier issue, many doctors lately have cautioned about the health risks of staying on a low-carb diet for a prolonged period of time. Included in their concerns is that lack of grains may put you at risk for heart disease and diabetes. I continue to wonder if my having avoided breads and cereals for so many years, considering them to be a waste of calories, may have contributed to my getting heart disease.

Now, a new group, called the Partnership for Essential Nutrition, is rallying to educate consumers about the value of healthy carbohydrates. This isn't some scheme by farmers or food manufacturers to discredit low-carb diets. The founding coalition members include the American Association of Diabetes Educators, the American Institute for Cancer Research, the American Obesity Association, the National Women's Health Resource Center , the University of California at Davis Department of Nutrition, and several others.  

The coalition's concerns center around what low-carb diets are doing to American eating habits. Many who are not on low-carb diets now hold the perception that carbs are unhealthy, and have therefore decreased their overall consumption of fruits, vegetables, and grains—a very unhealthy trend.

The goal of this coalition is to raise awareness of the importance of carbohydrates in the diet for fueling the brain and the muscles. In addition, studies have proven that carbohydrates help to control weight and to lower the risk for stroke, heart disease, high blood pressure, and some cancers.

So, if you're considering a low-carb diet, it may be worth your time to check out the information on the Essential Nutrition site.

If you have experience with diets but just haven't had time to share it, please drop me a line.

Finally, if you're in the local Austin area, I hope you can catch my interview Thursday morning on K* EYE (our local CBS affiliate). It should be shortly after 6AM .  

Wishing you the best of health,

Mellanie

Mellanie True Hills
The Health & Productivity Revitalizer
Speaker, author, consultant, and coach

PS. If you would like to have Mellanie speak at your meeting or to your company, please check out the video clip of my story from a recent speech. Mellanie also coaches individuals in creating healthy lifestyles and consults with organizations in creating healthy and productive workplaces.

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Copyright 2004 Mellanie True Hills Company.  All Rights Reserved.