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. There are more than a few here who blame carbohydrates (and gluten) for all sorts of afflictions.

The eternal question is "what is a moderate amount", and can it vary based on genetics and broader regional factors (Eskimos and Ecuadrians probably have different ideal diets).

I had thought you were talking about Atkins type dieters, who frequent this board. Atkins himself advocated uping the carbs until undesireable side-effects (e.g. weight gain) occurred. He also recommended "good" carbs. Mainly vegetables, but fruit as well.

Kids do need carbs. So do runners and other highly energy athletes. Some sources are better than others. Some people do have problems with gluten. There are tests for that sort of thing, and the bread of today does have substantially higher gluten contents than the bread from biblical times. Even that bread (which can still be made from "heritage" grains) has some gluten in it.

I don't get these women on the verge of 40 pretending they can remain 29 forever. If you are talented, you can go the Meryl Streep "serious actress" route; if you have a permanent place in pop culture you can go the Julia Roberts route; you can go the Jane Russell route, fill out a bit, enjoy life and hawk girdles, or you can retire mostly from the public eye, attend the occaisonal "Grand Opening " ribbon cutting and spend some time with your husband and children. Aging quarterbacks have to face reality at some point, and som do actresses and models whose currency is largely their youthful appearance.

The question of what constitutes "moderate" can generate pages of comments here. Celiac disease is very serious, and it is quite the compliment to our food industry that so many products exist today for those suffer from this disease or are truly gluten sensitive.

The Atkins diet is really nothing more than a low calorie diet in disguise. Eating vegetables and fruits over high calorie and less nutritious beverages, snacks, and convenience foods, is certainly more desirable, but weight gain for the vast majority of people is all about total calories consumed vs. total calories burned.

I believe there are a lot more people who believe they are gluten intolerant/sensitive than truly are. Trends like this tend to be that way, and for some reason, the Hollywood types seem to be the ones leading the charge from one diet fad or fear to the other. Paltrow is into some weird stuff and I find her insufferable. I think she was the one saying we should be filtering her urine and using it. Good grief, the real tragedy is that these people subject their kids to this idiocy. I really feel for them.