Top Misconceptions about Low-Carb Diets: Kidneys

This is the first part of a post series on Low-Carb misconceptions (in no particular order) that I hear ALL the time. Think of it as a bunch of posts to take care of the “low hanging fruit” on the low-carb detractor list. Besides, its always great when faced with a ‘hater’ to have quick and accurate info to shoot them down with.

This misinformation comes from the fact that people with kidney disease are often dissuaded to go on low-carb diets simply because it requires more work FROM the kidneys and liver (and very “normal” work at that too – part of the regular protein metabolism process). I don’t know how that got turned around into BLAMING low-carb for kidney disease…

Why is “low-carb” such a dirty word in the health and fitness industry?

I know that YESTERDAY was “Question Day” here at Low Carb Fight Club, but I really have to ask – what the hell is the deal with “the industry” and the term low-carb? It has such a stigma against it, I even think that those who are (what I’m going to call) “low carb proponents” almost go out of their way to temper their messages thusly – “Carbs are bad, but not that bad – we need lots of vegetables! Those are good”.

Why is it that we have to pretend to “have our cake and eat it too” (no pun intended)?

What is Ketosis? Is it Dangerous?

You may see that term on the website, or read about it in various other low-carb plans, and you may even have friends that tell you its going to kill you, unless you eat a loaf of bread, pronto! Well, to put it nicely – these people have no idea what the hell they’re talking about. We’re going to break it all down so you’ll know all about this mystical “ketosis” and put the detractors to rest.

Fiber – Do we REALLY need it?

Almost every single ‘health expert’ will tell you that eating tons of fiber will help make you ‘fit as a fiddle’ (and quite fond of the bathroom too), its “Part of a healthy and balanced diet” and all that happy horse-crap. What they’ll never tell you is the “Why and How” of fiber and the human digestive system.

Now, I do enjoy the small amount of fiber I get – but only when it comes in vegetables and berries – since it drops the effective carbohydrate count (ECC) down (i.e. doesn’t cause a rise in insulin), giving me the best carb “bang for my buck” on those foods (not to mention the fact that its INHERENT in those foods).

Let’s have a little fiber class, shall we…

Obama Health Care – Just say NO to CSPI’s “help”

A recent news article has come to light that has me semi-alarmed – but first, some back story on the major players and the possible impact.

CSPI, otherwise known as the “Center for Science in the Public Interest” (for those who are acronym-phobic) is a supposed “consumer advocacy organization” here in the US – but to most they are the “Food Police” responsible for a number of US policy changes regarding food, food labeling, and pressuring others with their hidden agenda. They tend to focus on nutrition, health, food safety, and alcohol policies. Its headed up by a Michael F. Jacobson, who started it in 1971 in order to try and control what people put in their mouths…

Modern DNA Madness – Squandering our Genetic Gift of Health

In Dr. Michael R. Eades ‘Protein Power Lifeplan’ he has a chapter on exercise and fitness titled ‘Born to be fit’ – and I can’t help but think about that phrase all the time. We WERE born to be fit, yet we spend our entire lives squandering that very birthright – suppressing or strength, healing power, physical appearance, well being, and even lifespan.

Why do we do this? Are we simply masochists and WANT to be unhappy and unhealthy?

What if I told you that the way we eat – is virtually NOTHING like our bodies were designed to operate optimally on. Would you believe me? The fact that our systems can tolerate it as well as they do attests to the very… Hey… Wait a minute? We don’t handle it well at all! 6 year old kids getting type 2 diabetes, people weighing 900 lbs and can’t get out of bed, and obesity has skyrocketed in the past 30 years! What the hell is going on here?