LA Times: A reversal on carbs

[Guest guest]

A reversal on carbs Fat was once the devil. Now more nutritionists are

pointing accusingly at sugar and refined grains.

http://www.latimes.com/health/la-he-carbs-20101220,0,5464425.story?page=1 & track=\

rss

" Most people can count calories. Many have a clue about where fat lurks in

their diets. However, fewer give carbohydrates much thought, or know why

they should.

But a growing number of top nutritional scientists blame excessive

carbohydrates — not fat — for America's ills. They say cutting carbohydrates

is the key to reversing

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" Fat is not the problem, " says Dr. Walter Willett, chairman of the

department of nutrition at the Harvard School of Public Health. " If

Americans could eliminate sugary beverages, potatoes, white bread, pasta,

white rice and sugary snacks, we would wipe out almost all the problems we

have with weight and diabetes and other

metabolic<http://www.latimes.com/topic/health/human-body/hormones-metabolism-HHA\

000030.topic>diseases. "

It's a confusing message. For years we've been fed the line that eating fat

would make us fat and lead to chronic illnesses. " Dietary fat used to be

public enemy No. 1, " says Dr. Saltzman, associate professor of

nutrition and medicine at Tufts University. " Now a growing and convincing

body of science is pointing the finger at carbs, especially those containing

refined flour and sugar. "

Americans, on average, eat 250 to 300 grams of carbs a day, accounting for

about 55% of their caloric intake. The most conservative recommendations say

they should eat half that amount. Consumption of carbohydrates has increased

over the years with the help of a 30-year-old, government-mandated message

to cut fat.

And the nation's levels of obesity, Type 2 diabetes and heart disease have

risen. " The country's big low-fat message backfired, " says Dr. Hu,

professor of nutrition and epidemiology at the Harvard School of Public

Health. " The overemphasis on reducing fat caused the consumption of

carbohydrates and sugar in our diets to soar. That shift may be linked to

the biggest health problems in America today. "