Other Common Sense Arguments Against Low-Carb Diets

• How many slim and healthy people do you know really have been following a low-carb diet for more than a year? Probably none. You may know someone who has tried the diet for a while and lost some weight but this anecdote should not be sufficient to try the diet. Was this person eating junk before? Most people initially lose weight on a low-carb diet because they restrict the level of calories, not because of the larger quantity of fat, cholesterol and animal proteins. Also, most people stop the low-carb diet after a while because they just can’t keep up the carbohydrate restriction
• How many long lived societies follow a low-carb diets? The book Blue Zones by Dan Buettnercontains detailed information on the longest-lived populations and the diet they have in common is one that is very rich in plants and low in animal products and processed foods. The Eskimos and Inuits on their whale blubber diet are not on the list (not even close)
• How many people have reversed cancer, diabetes, autoimmune conditions, or heart disease by adopting a low-carb diet? How many physicians had success with such an approach? The answer is zero. Now, look at the success of people like Drs. Fuhrman, McDougall, Klaper and others. They all have tons of examples and success stories. The proof is in the pudding.
• How many successful athletes follow a low-carb diet? The answer is none. Check for athletes in all fields: cycling, running, swimming, cross-country skiing, triathlons, rowing, mountain climbing, etc. You will not find a single one. It is impossible to be a high-performing athlete and be successful while following a low-carb diet. The fuel is simply not right and the machine (human body) simply breaks down. Don’t assume that it’s simply because none of them have tried. The low-carb diets have been around for more than 100 years and several athletes have tried them at some point in the past. It just does not work. You can test yourself or you can learn from other people’s experience.
• The low carb gurus like to say that we will still have the body of our ancestors in the Paleolithic area which were hunter gatherers and that consequently our diet should be centered around meats with some non-starchy vegetables and a little bit of fruits. Interestingly, these low carbers have failed to look at the science that shows that our ancestors were mostly gatherers as opposed to hunters (see the video below from Nathaniel Dominy). These low carb gurus will not tell you that gladiators were actually vegan (video below). These low carb gurus will not tell you that Pharaohs (Egyptian kings and queens) ate a diet rich in meat without refined sugar and had heart disease, which explains the mummy paradox because these pharaohs were not eating simple plant foods like their poor subjects (see the mummy paradox article below). The same article will demonstrate that even that the Ice Man from 5200 years was a vegan too! The low carb primal Paleo concept is based on flawed science; even their arguments about our ancestors are wrong!

Saturated Fats

Humans are large primates and their diets should be a diet of large herbivorous primates that is rich in plant foods. The human body was designed to operate in an environment where the food consumption is low in saturated fat (most plant foods have little to no saturated fats). This explains why our body can synthesize and make saturated fat. Consequently, saturated fat is not an essential nutrient. There is no need for saturated fat in the human diet. You don’t have to believe me, just check the nutritional guidelines from the National Institutes of Health (link here, select the Dietary Reference Intakes Table for macronutrients and search for “saturated”) . Saturated fat is dangerous and its consumption should be minimized or avoided completely from your diet. Do not believe the low-carb snake-oil salesmen and fake gurus. Their advice is irresponsible and dangerous.

Here is a quote from the USDA Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2010 (Released 1/31/11) Chapter 3, page 24, “Saturated Fats”

Saturated fatty acids – The body uses some saturated fatty acids for physiological and structural functions, but it makes more than enough to meet those needs. People therefore have no dietary requirement for saturated fatty acids.

Dietary Cholesterol

Just like saturated fat is not an essential nutrient, cholesterol is synthesized by the human body and is not required in our diet. Actually, the body has a limited ability to release extra cholesterol so consumption of cholesterol through food intake does result in excessive levels of cholesterol in the blood. How many people do you know were hospitalized because of cholesterol deficiency? The answer is probably none. Cholesterol deficiency does not exist. There is no medical name for such condition. Dietary cholesterol is dangerous and its consumption should be minimized or avoided completely. Do not believe the low-carb snake-oil salesmen and fake gurus. Their advice is irresponsible and dangerous. Yes, your body can eliminate some cholesterol but it can’t eliminate all of the excess.

Here is a quote from the USDA Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2010 (Released 1/31/11) Chapter 3, page 26, “Cholesterol”

Cholesterol – The body uses cholesterol for physiological and structural functions, but it makes more than enough for these purposes. Therefore, people do not need to eat sources of dietary cholesterol. Cholesterol is found only in animal foods.

Bottom line on Saturated Fat and Dietary Cholesterol

The bottom line is that saturated fat and dietary cholesterol are not needed in your diet. There are ABSOLUTELY NOT NEEDED. In fact, their consumption is associated with chronic diseases. Have you ever heard of someone admitted to the hospital because of saturated fat deficiency or cholesterol deficiency? The answer is no. There is not even a name for such a condition because it does not exist.

Do not believe stories from “low-carb gurus” that there is a conspiracy out there from health authorities to lie to you and keep you in the dark. Just because your brain consists of saturated fat does not mean you should eat saturated fat. If you follow that line of logic, why not eat animal brain in order to help out your brain? Your body also has blood and bones, are you going to chew some bones like your dog or drink blood like a vampire? No, you won’t because you are smart and are using your head to make a decision. Please use your head, logic and common sense and ignore the quacks like Mercola, Mark Sisson, Atkins, South Beach, etc. who promote dangerous diets.

All Respectable and Reputable National Health Authorities Warn the Public Against Low Carb Diets (references are here)

A large number of respectable health authorities have come out over the years and warned the public against the dangers of low carb diets. These authorities include:

• American Medical Association
• American Dietetic Association
• American Cancer Society
• American Heart Association
• Cleveland Clinic
• John Hopkins
• American Kidney Fund
• American College of Sports Medicine
• National Institute of Health

And this it just in the United States. Around the world, health agencies have issued similar warnings and criticized low-carb diets by calling them health hazards. Why would all these health authorities warn the public against low carb diets if there was no danger? All are these scientists crazy or working together to conspire against the “low carb” movement? No, these authorities have done their homework and they came out against low carb diets because the dangers are real, understood and documented. Please be an informed responsible adult and read what these institutions have to say and their reasons before following the advice of gurus, health coaches or gym trainers that promote low carb diets (very common in the cross-fit world).

Ask yourself the following the following questions about the person giving you the low carb advice:

• Is this person in great health (low body fat, low cholesterol, low blood pressure, low blood glucose, nice skin tone, great energy)? Don’t get fooled by a Photoshopped picture.
• Is this person following the advice she recommends? How long has this person been following this advice? How old is this person? I don’t mean any disrespect but a 25-year old athlete can look good under any kind of weird diet, so their dietary advice is no indication that it is healthy or not.
• Does this person really understand nutrition, the essential nutrients needed for health? Where is this person getting his nutritional knowledge? From other low carb gurus?
• What sort of credible experience has this person had helping people reverse chronic conditions using this low carb advice? Can you meet or talk with these people? Are they in good health (see first bullet)? Are they really slim? Are they still following that nutritional advice? If there was an improvement in people’s conditions, what were these people doing before? If a 400 lbs person lost 100 lbs and is now stuck at 300 lbs, this does not mean the low carb diet works. A low carb diet can yield a relative improvement for someone who eats a lot of junk food but it will not be an improvement for someone healthy eating a whole food plant-based diet (that already excludes processed food made with flour, sugars and oils).
• If someone improved his/her health following a low-carb diet, what was this person eating before? Most people move from a Standard American Diet (SAD) to a low-carb diet. Unfortunately, the SAD diet is the worst diet out there and any change is a move up in the right direction. However, a small improvement in diet does not mean the new diet is healthy. If someone decreased his cigarette consumption from 3 packs a day to 2 packs a day, we would certainly acknowledge the improvement but would certainly not call the new lifestyle healthy.

Don’t settle for second-class nutritional advice. You deserve better.