Carbs From Heaven, Carbs From Hell: Introduction

Three out of four Americans say there is too much conflicting information about diet. How are Americans making food choices?

—American Dietetic Association

• What is a carbohydrate?

• Do carbohydrates make you fat?

• Are low-carbohydrate diets safe?

• Do you need carbohydrates?

• Do the world’s healthiest populations eat low-carbohydrate diets?

• Should you eat more protein and fat?

• Should you eat more carbohydrates and less protein and fat?

• Are low-carb diets based on science or theory?

• Does the glycemic index give misleading weight-loss advice?

• Does following the USDA Food Guide Pyramid make you fat?

Do you feel like a pickle-in-the-middle, sandwiched within the confusing debate between low-carb, high-protein diets and those that promote high-carbs and low-fat? Don’t worry, you’re not alone—millions of Americans are in the same predicament. It’s a difficult subject to ignore these days. The number-one food debate in the nation is heating up fast. Are carbohydrates the enemy or the hero in America’s “battle of the bulge”?

It seems that just about every other day, you can find a new book, magazine, or news release that adds more fuel to the hottest diet debate of the century. Currently, “carbophobia” is sweeping the nation! This carb-bashing, high-protein diet fad has received a great deal of national attention. And it’s no surprise that low-carb diet books are flying off bookstore shelves. It’s because they are simply telling people what they want to hear—that they can experience rapid weight loss and improved health while eating large quantities of foods that they have always been taught to eat sparingly: beef, pork, lamb, cheese, cream, and even deep-fried fare.

This latest diet frenzy is challenging decades of advice prescribed by mainstream health experts—eat a high-carb, low-fat diet. Staunch low-carb, high-fat supporters have managed to turn thirty years of solid research upside down. Health consumers are baffled by it all. Considering all the mixed messages we are getting on what to eat, is it any wonder that millions of Americans are confused and unsure of which recommendations to follow? Weight-conscious individuals everywhere are eagerly searching for a permanent weight-loss solution. Is locking the carbohydrates in the kitchen cupboard the answer?

Carbs from Heaven, Carbs from Hell examines these issues and provides practical and safe recommendations to help you choose carbohydrates wisely. As you will see, all carbohydrates are not created equal. There are good carbs and bad carbs. So get ready to take the hell out of carbs, and put the heaven back in them just for the “health” of it.

Divided into four parts, this book begins with a section called “What Your Doctor Won’t Tell You.” The goal of this section is to help you realize that passively following your doctor’s advice without question and/or without getting a second opinion may be detrimental to your health—it could even be fatal. No matter how compassionate, competent, or well intentioned your doctor may be, if he or she does not have all the facts, your health may be in jeopardy.

Is your doctor properly trained in nutrition? Is he or she qualified to separate the facts from the myths regarding diet trends? Most everyone knows that the foods we eat directly affect our health and well-being. The big question is: Which health expert has the right formula to help us stay fit and trim? The science of nutrition is young and constantly changing. The reality is that your doctor may have very little training in this area. Most doctors have barely enough time to review all of the new information on drugs, let alone the latest research on nutrition. Even when they do receive nutritional information, the facts may have been skewed by the hands of big corporations, which arguably have little or no interest in your health and well-being. The truth is, many doctors may be just as confused as you are regarding what to eat.

Today’s health care consumer must be wise and constantly vigilant. Survival in the twenty-first century requires being prepared to encounter giants. Not the type of giants that storybook heroes face, but the corporate giants, which can be more ruthless than the mythological ones. John Knowles, former president of the Rockefeller Foundation, stated, “The next major advance in the health of the American people will be decided by what the individual is willing to do for himself.”

Mr. Knowles’ advice—take care of your own health—is actually the take-home message found in Part 1. It explains the importance of participating in your own health care by taking a proactive role with your doctor, and by making informed choices, including the carbohydrates you eat. To help steer you in the right direction, compelling information is presented that will encourage you to think about the choices you make every day.

In Part 2, “The Facts,” you will discover straightforward details about the carbs from heaven and those from hell. From the dawn of civilization to the present day, carbohydrates have made a huge impact on the health and well-being of all societies. Nature has provided a storehouse filled with a variety of carbohydrate foods that are rich sources of health-promoting vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, fiber, and phytochemicals. Its bounty of fresh fruits, vegetables, whole grains, beans, and legumes is an uncompromised source of carbohydrates. Knowing which ones to eat, and which ones to avoid can help you feel great and lose weight—safely and permanently.

The advent of agriculture and the cultivation of grains (carbohydrates) was one of the most important accomplishments in human history. However, the same cannot be said for the modern milling and processing of the noble grain. History reveals that from the time of the Roman Empire, only affluent members of all societies were able to obtain refined grains. It wasn’t until the Industrial Revolution that refined grains were available to the masses, which, unfortunately, disrupted the course of the health of the human race. Fortunately, a growing awareness of the value of unrefined carbohydrates is gaining momentum. Let us hope that it continues.

Science is just now beginning to unlock the hidden treasure of the nutrients stored in carbohydrates. In Part 2, you will discover how carbohydrates from heaven have the power to protect you from the ravages of aging, and provide you with a lifetime of optimal health. You will also learn why carbohydrates from hell accelerate the aging process and can lead to a life riddled with illness.

This section also provides an explanation of several diets of the world that are currently competing for public attention. Included are the standard American diet, which follows the guidelines of the USDA Food Guide Pyramid; the diets of Latin America, Asia, and the Mediterranean; and the Low-Carb, High-Protein diet, which is based on a number of the more popular diet plans of this type. I call them the “Good, the Bad, and the Ugly.” Soon, you’ll see which ones are which.

Part 3 offers a prescription for wellness. You don’t have to accept a lifetime of illness. Fatigue, headaches, digestive problems, and muscle aches and pains are not a natural part of the aging process. You can experience a lifetime of wellness without these symptoms, but you must first be able to commit to a lifestyle that encourages it. The”7 Steps to Living Well” show just how easy and how much fun it can be to embrace the principles for enjoying a healthy life.

If you have been bouncing in and out of diets over the years, the “7-Step Knockout Weight-Loss Plan,” also presented in this section, will help give you the power to lose weight and keep it off—without dieting. That’s right. The most refreshing part of this program is that you can lose those unwanted pounds without counting calories or fat grams. Even better, it is a time-proven plan that allows you to eat many of the carbohydrates you like, as long as they are carbohydrates from heaven. I have been using this lifestyle plan successfully in my clinic for the past seventeen years. The key to its success is learning how to reach optimal health, rather than temporarily losing weight to fit into smaller clothes. The natural outcome of good health is a fit and trim body. Find out how you can have your cake, and eat it too—while losing weight without even trying.

Part 4 helps get you off to a healthy start. My American-MediterrAsian diet will show you how. Based on the pleasurable culinary traditions of three of the world’s healthiest populations—Latin America, the Mediterranean, and Asia (and a touch of California cuisine)—this dietary plan is truly one without boundaries. By following this intercultural eating style, you can end the obsession of counting calories and fat grams, as well as the guilt that tags along with it. You will experience a new relationship with food—one that will help you develop a connection between food, pleasure, and health. Also presented is an extensive collection of delicious easy-to-prepare recipes, as well as a suggested meal plan. Designed to stimulate the pleasure centers of your mind and palate while contributing to your overall health, these gourmet recipes will allow you to discover the aromas, tastes, and elegant fare of the healthiest cultures of the world.

Simply put, Carbs from Heaven, Carbs from Hell presents the truth about carbohydrates—what they are, what they do, and which ones are right for you. Its easy-to-follow, proven strategies will further show you how to lose weight safely and permanently while maintaining good health at the same time.