Attention Low-Carbers: USDA Now Taking Nominations For 2010 Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee

There are some very exciting things happening behind-the-scenes in Washington, DC right now as it relates to the next USDA-recommended Food Pyramid and Dietary Guidelines set to be released in 2010. As I blogged about in December 2007, President George W. Bush named Cornell University psychologist Dr. Brian Wansink (author of the bestselling 2007 book Mindless Eating) to head up the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Center for Nutrition Policy & Promotion. I was greatly encouraged by this appointment of Dr. Wansink because he has been very open to the low-carb message being heard for people like me out there who need to "lose a lot of weight on a serious diet."

In that blog post I wrote about his new leadership position over the 2010 nutritional recommendations, I was very hopeful and expectant that Dr. Wansink would continue to have those open lines of communication with the experts in the low-carb community to give their input about what should be included in the next updated Food Pyramid.

"It should be thrilling to know that there will now be someone within the USDA who isn't antagonistic against livin' la vida low-carb," I wrote in that December 2007 post. "Hopefully this open line of communication between Dr. Wansink and the low-carb message will remain that way while discussing the 2010 dietary guidelines."

So, imagine my delight when I saw this notice from the USDA (Note: this links to a PDF file download) requesting nominations for the new Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee. Yes, that's right! They're taking nominations for who we think should be on that committee. This is open to any citizen of the United States to submit their choice(s) for who would be best qualified to serve in this capacity.

Dr. Wansink's appointment is through January 20, 2009, so there is little time to waste. That's why the nominations will only be considered through May 24, 2008. In other words, time is of the essence here. If you care about seeing the low-carb nutritional approach represented on this dietary recommendations panel (and you undoubtedly do if you read my blog!), then the time for action on this is RIGHT NOW! And we need to spread the word to everyone we know to do the same.

These new dietary guidelines are reviewed every five years and are supposed to reflect the latest research studies regarding diet and health to better inform the public about how to eat for managing their weight and health. The previous Food Pyramid in 2005 was an improvement upon the past ones, but was still sorely lacking any concept about the negative role of carbohydrate and the increasingly passive role of dietary fat, including saturated fat, in the American diet.

We NEED people who understand this connection to be seated on this committee for the sake of the future health of the American people. The low-fat lie has dominated the official government dietary guidelines since its inception in 1980 and we need to make some crucial changes in this policy if we're gonna get serious about this issue before it is too late. Haven't we suffered with the high-carb, low-fat message long enough? Will we continue to put up with such blatant disregard for the overwhelming evidence and real-life changes that are happening thanks to the healthy low-carb lifestyle? I'M NOT!

What is this committee actually gonna be doing? They will first look at the 2005 dietary guidelines and determine if any changes are necessary based on "a thorough evaluation of the most current scientific literature." If sufficient evidence is found to make changes, then new guidelines will begin being discussed by the Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee in the Fall of 2008 through a series of two- or three-day meetings over a period of time. These meetings are open to the public as required by federal law.

The Secretaries of Agriculture (Ed Shafer) and Health and Human Services (Mike Leavitt) will oversee the reports from this advisory committee which will be led by Dr. Wansink. So, naturally, he will want to surround himself with the best possible candidates for this vital public health policy position. But who qualifies?

They are looking for people who are "knowledgeable of current scientific research in human nutrition and be respected and published experts in their fields." Additionally, according to the notice from the USDA, candidates for the advisory committee also need to be "familiar with the purpose, communication, and application of the Dietary Guidelines and have demonstrated interest in the public's health and well-being through their research and/or educational endeavors."

Here are the specific areas of expertise they want to be represented on the panel:

- Chronic Diseases such as obesity, Type 2 diabetes, and cancer
- Energy Balance issues involving exercise
- Epidemiology
- Food Safety and Technology
- General Medicine
- Gerontology
- Nutrient Bioavailability
- Nutrition Biochemistry and Physiology
- Nutrition Education
- Pediatrics
- Public Health
- Evidence Review Methodology

I can think of quite a few qualified people who meet and surpass this criteria required by the USDA to appear on the Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee. I'm officially offering the following five names up for consideration to be nominated for this all-important position at the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Center for Nutrition Policy & Promotion:

1. Eric C. Westman, M.D., M.H.S from Duke University
2. Mary C. Vernon, M.D. from The University of Kansas
3. Richard D. Feinman, Ph.D. from SUNY Downstate
4. Stephen Phinney, M.D. from The University of California-Davis
5. Jeff S. Volek, Ph.D. from The University of Connecticut

There are many more who fit the description of what the USDA is wanting for this distinguished panel, but any or all of these five individuals are more than qualified to offer all the evidence the committee wants about the low-carbohydrate nutritional approach and its impact on health. At the very least, we need a minimum of one of these low-carb experts to be placed on the Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee.

Here's what you need to do to nominate someone:

- Write a letter of nomination stating the name and affiliation of the nominee, why that person deserves to be nominated for this position, and a statement that the nominee would indeed be willing to serve (I have spoken with each of these five individuals I am nominating and they are all willing to serve if selected)

- Provide your name, address, and daytime telephone number along with the name, address, telephone number and e-mail address of the nominee (much of this information can be found at the links provided above--if you provide their name and the school they are located at, then that should be enough information for them to contact the nominee)

- Share a copy of the nominee's curriculum vitae or resume (again, this information can be found at the links I provided above for each nominee)

When you gather all of this information, simply e-mail it to DG2010Nominations@cnpp.usda.gov no later than Saturday, May 24, 2008. You can also submit nominations via snail mail to Carole Davis, Nutrition Promotion Staff Director, Co-Executive Secretary Guidelines Advisory Committee, Center for Nutrition Policy and Promotion, U.S. Department of Agriculture, 3101 Park Center Drive, Room 1034, Alexandria, VA 22302. Or you can also fax your nomination to (703) 305-3300.

If you have any questions about this process, simply call (703) 305-7600. If you need any additional information about these candidates after you nominate them, then please don't hesitate to e-mail me and I'll be happy to get what you need. We all need to do this for the sake of our nation's future health policy. Don't put it off thinking there will be others nominating--MAKE YOUR VOICE HEARD LOUD AND CLEAR! We NEED to get a low-carb expert on this panel, so our unified voice behind these nominees will go a long way!

By the way, I am attempting to arrange a podcast interview with Dr. Brian Wansink and he has been in contact with me about this. Hopefully I will be able to conduct this interview soon and put a bug in his ear about having a low-carb researcher/practitioner serve on the Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee. You just don't know how HUGE it would be to have a Westman, Vernon, Feinman, Phinney, or Volek on this committee--these are the people in the low-carb research world who are making the rest of the scientific community stand up and pay attention to the high-fat, low-carb diet again. Won't you do your part to nominate them TODAY? THANK YOU!!!

'Mindless Eating' Author Appointed USDA's New Director Of Nutrition Policy And Promotion

Dr. Brian Wansink will set the new U.S. dietary guidelines for 2010

It's not too often I am able to share with you some GOOD NEWS as it relates to something happening behind-the-scenes in the world of diet and health. Most of the time, we must lament that yet again all those so-called "experts" continue to bamboozle the public with their same old low-fat mantra over and over again. But this bit of encouraging news should be welcomed and cheered today because it could very well be an awesome thing for those of us who are in favor of livin' la vida low-carb.

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), the government arm in charge of setting nationalized dietary recommendations through MyPyramid.gov among other things, has decided to name Cornell University psychology professor and Mindless Eating author Brian Wansink, PhD the new executive director of the Center For Nutrition Policy and Promotion (CNPP) through January 20, 2009 when the Bush administration is set to leave office. This is quite a prestigious nomination for Wansink with potentially long-term ramifications as it relates to the future of diet and health in America.

This is one of the most important public policy positions related to health in Washington, DC because it is responsible for creating, planning, developing and reviewing the upcoming new dietary guidelines to be promoted by the government in 2010. MyPyramid.gov was introduced in 2005 to replace the old Food Pyramid and it wasn't much better than its low-fat loving predecessor (and neither was the kid's version of MyPyramid either). So Wansink wields a lot of power over the next couple of years to speak with various voices within the realm of nutrition about what is best for sharing with the general public about a healthy diet.

Agriculture Undersecretary for Food, Nutrition and Consumer Services Nancy Johner said the chance to bring Wansink on board at the USDA is a golden opportunity.

"We feel quite fortunate in having Dr. Wansink join our team here at the USDA, and look forward to working with him," she said. "Dr. Wansink is nationally recognized in his field of nutrition research which focuses on how to encourage consumers to eat more nutritiously and better control how much they eat."

So what should people who support a controlled-carbohydrate dietary approach think about Dr. Brian Wansink? Well, although I was initially critical of his research into the psychology of eating he studied during his tenure at Cornell University, I was impressed overall by his book and what all that research has led him to believe about why people overeat.

In my interview with Dr. Wansink last year, he seemed quite open to the low-carb lifestyle for people who need to "lose a lot of weight a serious diet" which he says can be "very useful for a disciplined person." It should be thrilling to know that there will now be someone within the USDA who isn't antagonistic against livin' la vida low-carb. Hopefully this open line of communication between Dr. Wansink and the low-carb message will remain that way while discussing the 2010 dietary guidelines.

As major government health-related news goes, this is BIG NEWS! Their purpose is to take the existing scientific research and apply it to the nutritional needs of the American people. Now that we have amazing studies like this one showing a genetic connection between diet and obesity where low-carb works for some and low-fat works for others, it's time to see that reflected in dietary recommendations by offering a variety of options for people to choose from. Or, as I have been pushing for, why not recommend them BOTH?

Can Dr. Wansink make that happen at the USDA? I don't know, but I'm optimistic. I'm very hopeful that he will do everything he can to stay updated on the latest information that will help him make the best decisions about what those 2010 dietary recommendations will look like. It would be incredible if he continued to communicate with people like me and others within the low-carb community to get our input about how to word those guidelines for people who would do well on a low-carb approach. Cross your fingers on that one!

Other areas that Dr. Wansink will have a watchful eye over include the Healthy Eating Index (on which the 2005 MyPyramid updates were based), the USDA Food Plans, the Nutrient Content of the U.S. Food Supply and the cost of raising a child. And he is excited to get started making a difference in this new and extremely important role at the USDA.

"The Center is involved in many crucial projects that have an immense potential to help the American public particularly in combating overweight and obesity," Dr. Wansink stated. "I look forward to leading these endeavors to the best of my abilities."

The thing I like best about Dr. Wansink is he's such a real person. I was privileged enough to speak with him by telephone about a year ago prior to my blog interview and he's as down to Earth as anyone you'd ever meet. His accessibility even after the enormous success of his bestselling Mindless Eating book (now available in paperback, by the way) has remained the same and I respect that in anyone who purports to be an expert at anything. I have every confidence this same trend will remain.

Dr. Wansink will continue to conduct his own research in the Food Psychology department at Cornell University while serving in this government capacity. You can e-mail Dr. Brian Wansink to congratulate and encourage him in this new position by writing to foodandbrandlab@cornell.edu.

Atkins Low-Carb Diet Treated Unfairly By Consumer Reports Panel

The June 2007 issue of "Consumer Reports" compares the various diets

Although there is a tremendous amount of evidence coming out of the research community in FAVOR of livin' la vida low-carb as a viable diet for weight loss and health, that isn't stopping the great defenders of the status quo from thumbing their nose at programs like the Atkins diet.

That's exactly what this FOX News story about a new Consumer Reports examination of the most popular diets clearly shows. It was deja vu all over again like I highlighted in 2005 when they proclaimed the Atkins diet as an acceptable "short-term weight loss" program, but then qualifiied it by stating it "might have a negative effect on some dieters' health."

Hoo boy! Gee, I wonder how they feel about it two years later?

With diet books coming out a dime a dozen these days in response to the ever-growing, both figuratively and literally, obesity epidemic, the folks over at Consumer Reports decided to put together another panel of diet and health experts in 2007 to take a look at these new plans as well as the ones most commonly used for weight loss and improving health.

But all you have to do is take one quick look at the criteria for how these nutritionists and other so-called health "experts" determined what is "healthy" (which I describe as subjectively senile) to realize livin' la vida low-carb wasn't gonna stand a snowball's chance in Hell of being shown in a positive light although you and I know how much it has helped millions of us get trim and healthy.

What was their bodacious (and I'd say bogus) criteria?

According to Consumer Reports Senior Project Editor Nancy Metcalf, they took a sample 7-day menu plan taken from their books and web sites for each of the diets examined and matched them up with the 2005 U.S. dietary guidelines from the infamous high-carb, low-fat USDA-recommended Food Pyramid.

Oh, do you mean the same guidelines that say to eat a diet high in carbohydrate because everybody knows your body NEEDS carbs, lower in fat especially that villianous saturated fat, and artificially lower in calories and portion sizes because by golly it's all about "calories in, calories out," right?

Oh brother! Metcalf exclaims the report "is a good consensus on a healthy diet."

Let me tell you something, Ms. Metcalf. Consensus doesn't make it right (just look at "global warming"). It simply means almost everyone agrees on the same conclusions, but nothing else. The preponderance of the evidence over the past few years has shown livin' la vida low-carb is a healthy lifestyle no matter how much against the grain to conventional wisdom it is. That's why it came out on top in the Stanford University study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) this year.

So, it should come as no surprise to anyone that the most famous low-carb diet in the world created by the late great Dr. Robert C. Atkins came in DEAD LAST in this Consumer Reports comparison of the diet.

"Its nutritional profile is far outside dietary guidelines," they concluded.

Well surprise, surprise! What else would you expect when the parameters for measuring the effectiveness of the diet are based on information that is completely irrelevant for people following a low-carbohydrate nutritional approach?

The Consumer Reports panel named the low-calorie, moderate-fat "Volumetrics" diet by Dr. Barbara Rolls as the most effective diet program and Bob Greene's exercise-focused "The Best Life Diet" as the best diet book in the analysis.

Also ranking high on the "best" diets (you might want to hold your nose and get ready for the gag reflex to kick in) include mainstream diet plans such as Weight Watchers, Jenny Craig, and Slim-Fast.

The middle-of-the-road diets were the generic eDiets, the moderate-carb "The Zone Diet" from Barry Sears, "Eat, Drink, & Weigh Less" by Mollie Katzen and Dr. Walter Willett, "YOU: On a Diet," by Dr. Michael F. Roizen and Dr. Mehmet C. Oz, and "The Abs Diet" by David Zinczenko and Ted Spiker.

Bringing up the rear with the Atkins diet was Dean Ornish's ultra-low-fat diet, Dr. Arthur Agatston's lower-carb plan "The South Beach Diet," Dr. Connie Guttersen's moderate-carb book "The Sonoma Diet," and Dr. Mark Hyman's smart-carb "Ultrametabolism" book.

The complete side-by-side comparison of the diets will appear in the June 2007 issue of Consumer Reports.

Metcalf justified the findings of the report by hiding behind the claim that she just "let the chips fall where they may." No you didn't, Ms. Metcalf. Rather, you missed a golden opportunity to look at the merits of the various diet plans in a real world setting. Had you tested these diets on real people following them exactly as the author prescribed, then it is my contention you would have seen the actual results trump all of your preconceived notions about what is a "healthy" diet.

Instead, what Ms. Metcalf and those so-called "experts" on the panel looked at the diets through their own skewed rose-colored glasses which made it entirely subjective based on their own individual biases. No science, no objectivity, just pure unadulterated opinion. And that's not good enough for a major magazine that millions will read and, sadly, believe.

One of the Consumer Reports expert panelists (who actually IS an "expert") was a low-carb researcher I saw at the obesity conference in Nashville, Tennessee last week named Dr. Eric Westman from Duke University. I interviewed Dr. Westman for a future episode of my podcast show to complement the previous interview I did with him last year at my blog.

Dr. Westman echoed my concerns about this report.

"When you compare a weight loss diet to a healthy-eating guideline [referring to the Food Pyramid], of course it is going to look bad because it is restricted in calories and, perhaps, in carbohydrates," Dr. Westman remarked. "This is a common point of confusion. If you have diabetes, can you follow the healthy-diet guidelines? No! You are not healthy: You have diabetes and need a different kind of diet."

He's exactly right! When you think of a "diet," most people are referring to a way to lose weight or control a health condition. That's why looking at a low-carbohydrate dietary approach from the standpoint of "healthy-diet guidelines" is an unfair assessment. Yes, the Atkins low-carb diet is healthy, but is generally a starting point for weight loss. It can become your lifetime way to eat, but you start it to shed the pounds.

Furthermore, the extremely arbitrary rankings of these various diets is not scientific at all and they have not been truly tested by long-term studies of any kind, especially these newer diets that supposedly rank higher than Atkins low-carb. Isn't that the primary excuse we constantly hear bantered about regarding low-carb diets? Uh huh, it sure is! So where's that urgent sense of responsibility now, hmmm? Can you say hypocrites? Yep, that's what they are!

All I know is the Atkins diet saved my life and has been my long-term solution to a lifelong struggle with obesity. I am no longer a miserable-in-my-own-skin 400-pound man wallowing in my morbid obesity. Those days are long gone now thank the good Lord.

Livin' la vida low-carb came into my life and swooped me off my feet to completely restore my health. That's something Consumer Reports can NEVER quantify in their silly rankings. My only disappointment is this national report will very likely sway people away from low-carb living when it might just be the answer to their weight and health issues. Sigh.

Metcalf said something quite shocking in light of the overall theme of the rankings of the various diets. She admitted that most diets either work or don't work based on the individual.

"None of these diets, even the highest rated, created a lot of weight loss—10 pounds at best," she contended. "But people shouldn't be disappointed. Small weight losses can have big health effects."

Well, if all of this is true, Ms. Metcalf, then why even create rankings of the diets in the first place? If they are all equally effective or ineffective, then what good purpose is served by listing them in some kind of order from best to worst? Can't we just say they're all excellent options and people should choose the one that is best for them? Well we SHOULD!

I'm gonna say it very clearly for everyone to hear: the Atkins diet is entirely appropriate for those who choose this healthy way of eating for weight loss and improved health. I have cited plenty of controlled studies done by respected scientists to back my claims here at my blog. Just Google 'em and see for yourself!

I realize that livin' la vida low-carb is counterintuitive, but that doesn't make it wrong. If you read the Consumer Reports diet comparison and somehow concluded the Atkins low-carb diet is unhealthy, then let me assure you it is not.

I've lost nearly 200 pounds, dropped 24 inches from my waist, gotten off of three prescription medications, and am more physically active at the age of 35 than I have ever been in my entire life. I'm a walking, talking example of the lifechanging ability of this way of eating. If you ask me, there's no greater proof of the viability of low-carb than that!

If you have any questions about the low-carb lifestyle, then I'm happy to answer them anytime. Please feel free to e-mail me at livinlowcarbman@charter.net.

Let Nancy Metcalf and the team of editors at Consumer Reports know what you think about their report on diets by clicking here.

5-15-07 UPDATE: Well, I got the following generic response from the Customer Relations department for Consumer Reports:

Dear Mr. Jimmy Moore:

Thanks for taking the time to contact Consumer Reports®. It is always a pleasure to hear from our readers!

We appreciate your taking the time to write to us regarding our report on dieting in the June 2007 issue. Your correspondence has provided us with invaluable feedback on how we're doing. Please be assured that our readers' comments and thoughts help shape the work we do. I will, of course, forward your correspondence regarding the Atkins Diet to the appropriate department(s) for their review and consideration for our future reports.

Thanks again for taking the time to write. Your interest in our work is greatly appreciated.

Sincerely,

Jason Jaworski
Senior Customer Relations Representative
995720

As someone who has worked in customer service for a very large American company, I can assure you NOTHING is going to be done about this. They don't care about what we the people think because they wanted the headlines to show that the Atkins diet came in last place.

I consider it a badge of honor that livin' la vida low-carb did so poorly in this report because they used the outdated government dietary guidelines as their source for a "healthy" diet. We already know that diet is whacked, so it's no biggie. :)

Sarasota Columnist Jealous Of Atkins Success

This commentary from the Herald-Tribune in Sarasota, FL by an opinion writer named David Grimes is yet another example of the growing public disdain in the media shown for the Atkins lifestyle.

His all-too-obvious smug comment that he is "the only living American who is not currently on the Atkins diet" shows just how jealous so many in the media have become about the incredible success experienced by us low-carbers.

Choosing to eat foods recommended by the so-called new and improved U.S. Food Pyramid, Grimes states: "Unlike the Atkins diet, on which it is perfectly fine to swallow an entire cow but nibbling a Saltine is grounds for deportation, the Pyramid encourages you to eat a variety of foods. The Pyramid also suggests the types of food and number of portions you should eat each day. I'm a pretty big guy, so I decided to base my diet on the maximum number of portions."

Like so many other foolish people who have no idea what they are talking about in regards to the Atkins lifestyle, Grimes unveils his ignorance in such a way that he looks just plain silly. While consuming an entire cow is indeed possible on a low-carb lifestyle (although nobody could or would want do it!), so is the single Saltine cracker which only has about 5 net carbs. While I would not personally waste any of my daily allowable carbs on something like that, it certainly is an option for people livin' la vida low-carb if they so choose.

While you can eat an alleged "variety of foods" using the Pyramid's recommendations, I would argue that you will not be able to sustain that way of eating for a very long period of time without going absolutely out of your mind. This low-fat-only mentality is so prevalent in our society that suggesting any other way leads to ridicule and disdain. We low-carbers know all about this, don't we?!

Feel free to let Grimes know how you feel about his degradation of the Atkins lifestyle by sending him an e-mail. Tell him Jimmy Moore from Livin' La Vida Low-Carb sent you. In fact, I'm sending him this message today.