I'm going to take some time to read the links you posted, but in the meantime, isn't it odd that Dr. Atkins himself (who followed his own diet) had a history of heart attack, congestive heart failure, hypertension and weighed 258 pounds at death? I believe his BMI would be qualified as obese. And while there are doctors that support the Atkins diet, there's a reason there are so many doctors against it as well. Many diet plans out there are just all marketing and people trying to make a quick buck. Just What Killed the Diet Doctor, And What Keeps the Issue Alive? - NYTimes.com
And again, I don't think a HIGH carb diet is good for you, and I think that's what your emphasizing. But I don't think a NO carb diet is good for you either. I think if you're going to eat carbs, you should focus more on complex carbs and cut out simple carbs. I also think people need to be eating more good fats. I use olive oil in everything, eat tons of fish, and I'll admit I love whole milk, steak, eggs, salami, prosciutto, bacon...all that fatty goodness. My diet typically consists of more protein and good fats, veggies (and I'm trying to eat more fruit), and a SMALL portion whole grains.
And you mentioned that it isn't until recently that we've had these problems because of our modern farming methods. What about the introduction of processed foods into our modern diet? Packaged, processed, and refined foods are what I've attributed to this country's obesity problem. Overeating as well as high-fat, high-calorie, high-sodium and high-sugar fast food and soda meals seem more likely to be the problem than a few slices of whole grain bread.
EDIT: So I skimmed through your articles (we have friends coming over to play board games so I'll try to read through them thoroughly later), and I want to emphasize that I don't think people need to cut down on fats. I completely agree that most people need more fats in their diet.
I also think it's important to distinguish between simple and complex carbs. For a typical person who doesn't have diabetes, I think they could very well stop consuming simple carbs for the better, but continue eating complex carbs like legumes, starchy vegetables like potatoes and corn, rice and grain products. You need to get your fiber somehow! Simple carbs are those that require little digestion and are a quick energy source. Candy, table sugar, sweetened soft drinks, etc. are examples of these simple sugar sources that provide calories but no nutrients. These are the carbs that I feel have no place in a well balanced diet.
http://www.wellnessletter.com/html/fw/fwNut03Carbs.htmlComplex carbs are more nutritious than refined grains, since they retain the bran and the germ, which are rich in vitamins, minerals, fiber, and beneficial phytochemicals. Whole grains are digested more slowly, and thus have a more modest effect on blood sugar than refined carbs or sugars.
The glycemic index has little practical use, however. You shouldn't try to build your diet around it, as some well-known diet doctors (including Dr. Atkins) advise. The main problem: it deals with single foods eaten by themselves. Potatoes may be high on the index, but when eaten as part of a meal, they have much less of an effect on blood sugar. There is no reason to avoid foods high on the glycemic index—many are very nutritious. Even people predisposed to diabetes, or with the disease, can eat these foods in moderation.
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