Low-Carb Diets and Logic

Sometimes my mind is boggled by the idiotic logic used by people who are telling patients how to live their lives. For example, a physician writing about low-carb diets recently wrote:

"People do lose weight, but not for the reasons put forth by those who champion such plans. The weight loss comes partly from eating fewer calories and partly because in this day and age, eliminating carbohydrates means eliminating calorie dense, highly processed foods (most of which contain high fructose corn syrup (HFCS)."

Huh? You mean eating fewer calories and eliminating highly processed foods full of HFCS is a bad thing? Maybe I don't understand this because I never went to medical school, but I thought when you wanted to lose weight, eating fewer calories was your goal, and everyone is saying today that we should eliminate highly processed foods.

Then this sage goes on to say, "I can't imagine why anyone would follow a diet -- any diet -- that takes entire food groups away from you. There's no reason to give up great foods like pasta, potatoes, beans and corn to lose weight or to be healthier. Giving up these foods is one of the main reasons that the Atkins diet is not a diet that can be sustained for the long term."

One could also say, "There's no reason to give up great foods like whole-fat milk and yogurt, steaks, and heavy cream to lose weight or to be healthier. Giving up these foods is one of the main reasons that low-saturated-fat diets cannot be sustained for the long term."

Because people like this author think that low-carb diets consist of nothing but rib roasts and cream cheese with no vegetables, they're prejudiced about them, label them "fad diets," and then use ridiculous logic to support their preconceptions.

Another stupid argument warns people with diabetes not to go on low-carb diets because their blood sugar might go down, as if that were a terrible thing. Of course people should be warned to keep track of their blood sugar and if it goes down too much to consult their doctors about reducing their medications. But for someone with a disease that causes high blood sugar to avoid a diet because it would make blood sugar go down is ridiculous.

One can only hope that physicians like this use better logic with the non-nutritional aspects of their practices. Would they say, "I don't want you to use chemotherapy because it might make your cancer cells shrink too much"? Or would they tell people who were gluten-intolerant, "There's no reason to give up great foods like bread and cereal to be healthier. Giving up these foods is one of the main reasons that gluten-free diets are not diets that can be sustained for the long term."

No one really wants to give up "great foods" like potatoes, bread, corn, and peas. But sometimes when you have a chronic disease like diabetes, you have to make difficult choices. Would you rather eat "great foods" or would you rather have your eyesight?