Why the Low-Carb Industry is Bad for Your Wallet

One billion dollars.

That's a lot of money. That's also a conservative estimate of what the "low-carb" industry is worth in a single year. But one billion dollars isn't the big deal. Here's the biggie:

The words "low-carb" may not mean anything, yet we spend big bucks to get so-called low-carb foods.

Like the word "natural," the words "low-carb" are not regulated by the FDA. How many carbohydrates make a food a low-carb item? The FDA doesn't know, and nor do we. Now the FDA does frown on companies using the words low-carb on their packaging, but that doesn't prevent food manufacturers from using similar words like "carb smart," "carb friendly," and "net carbs," whatever those mean.

Low-Carb Foods Not Necessarily Low in Calories
Now for one more kicker: low-carb foods are often not low in calories, so you could theoretically eat a lot of low-carb foods that deliver high calories and make you fat. And if that's not enough, many foods labeled low-carb are often twice as expensive as their unlabeled counterparts. Just compare the price of low-carb chocolate bars, cereals, breads, and pastas with the regular versions. The price difference is noticeable.

Finally, the silliest thing is that many foods that are being touted as newly low-carb have always been low in carbohydrates. Examples include peanut butter and salad dressing.

Think Twice
Before you consider buying low-carb foods as your primary means of dieting, think twice. If you want to lose weight, just remember that in general you have to expend more calories than you take in. Consider the calories that different kinds of food deliver as well as their carbohydrate content. And finally, if weight management is your goal, consider options such as enzyme therapy, eating breakfast, and including blue-green algae plus probiotics (like acidophilus and bifidus) in your daily regimen.

If you enjoyed this post, please consider leaving a comment or subscribing to the feed to have future articles delivered to your feed reader.

Photo credit: Kronik, Low Carb