Orange Growers Irked by Low-Carb Diets

Associated Press via Yahoo! News ^ | January 21, 2004 | MIKE SCHNEIDER

[PJ-Comix]

LAKELAND, Fla. - Tired of losing orange juice drinkers to low-carb diets, Florida's citrus growers are fighting back.

The state Department of Citrus on Wednesday changed its marketing strategy to convince consumers that orange juice can be compatible with the Atkins diet as well as the popular weight-loss plan pushed by television talk show host Dr. Phil McGraw.

The department's lawyer also is reviewing legal options against some books, such as "The South Beach Diet," that discourage orange juice for dieting purposes because of its high sugar levels.

About $1.8 million will be spent on a marketing campaign to combat the bad image caused by low-carb diets. The department is abandoning a marketing campaign that targeted moms and young professional women.

"There are powerful, negative messages against us," said Bob Crawford, executive director of the Florida Department of Citrus. "We're not going to stand and take it."

Florida's $9 billion citrus industry has reason to be concerned. Orange juice consumption has fallen from 888 million gallons during the 2000-2001 growing season to an expected 844 million gallons in the current season.

Citrus officials said a noticeable drop occurred last March when low-carb diets began to reach a critical mass.

"People are dropping out of the market," said Dan Gunter, a consultant for the Department of Citrus.

Crawford said the Atkins diet and Dr. Phil's diet leave room for orange juice consumption. But he said lawyers were reviewing claims against orange juice made in "The South Beach Diet" and other publications.

"I think if people write things that aren't true about our product, we'll first talk about it with them and hopefully avoid litigation," Crawford said.

In "The South Beach Diet," Dr. Arthur Agatston urges readers to eat fruits rather than drink fruit juice.

"Again, fruit juices are a big source of trouble, in part because we've come to associate them with healthy habits," Agatston writes in the best-selling book. "But they also bring with them high levels of fructose, which can be the undoing of any effort to lose weight."

The publisher, Rodale Inc., said it stands by the book's "sound nutritional advice."

Most of Florida's oranges are processed into juice. Florida is the nation's largest producer of oranges and second in the world to Brazil.

[PJ-Comix]

I know from personal experience that FRESH SQUEEZED orange juice is extemely effective in preventing colds and flus. I used to get extremely sick every winter and 12 years ago I had such a bad cold that it took me about 4 months to shake it. No cold medicines seemed to work. Then I started squeezing oranges and drinking the juice. Almost immediate results and I RARELY have gotten sick since then. I believe that vitamin C is BEST absorbed from either eating oranges or drinking fresh sqeezed orange juice.

BTW, what is a good source for fish oil as well as zinc in the FOOD form? How about pickled herring for the fish oil? What about the zinc?

[antaresequity]

I cant believe the American public is so stupid as to follow these fad diets...

Its just amazing...anybody who thinks OJ isn't health nectar is seriously lame.

Fresh OJ, Carrot juice you cannot drink enough of...

Dummies...

[pbmaltzman]

If you have blood sugar/insulin problems, fruit juices will indeed spell trouble for you, as fruit JUICES are a very concentrated source of sugar. Eating the whole fruit will slow absorption of the sugar, partly because of the fiber content.

Not everyone can handle the same load of carbohydrates, particularly the concentrated sugars in fruit juices.

If you are one of those lucky people who can handle fruit juices, why, then drink all you want.

As for the rest of us, including people like me, we do better with fewer carbohydrates.

There is solid science for the rationale of eating low-carb, if you bother to read about it. Try any of the "Protein Power" books... they have a lot of well-written, easy-to-understand explanations throughout, especially the "Protein Power LifePlan" book.

[cyborg]

Yes fresh squeezed oranges and freshly juiced carrot BUT not the boxed stuff that sits in grocery stores.

[cyborg]

I have discovered the root of the problem... LAWYERS

Crawford said the Atkins diet and Dr. Phil's diet leave room for orange juice consumption. But he said lawyers were reviewing claims against orange juice made in "The South Beach Diet" and other publications.

[Paleo Conservative]

Its just amazing...anybody who thinks OJ isn't health nectar is seriously lame.

Well I prefer grapefruit juice especially from the ruby red variety.

[southernnorthcarolina]

But haven't you heard? Haven't you been watching the Hardee's and Subway ads? Bacon is a health food now! Yep, bacon, cheese, and plenty of ranch dressing are all just fine, as long as they're wrapped in a lettuce leaf or a low-carb wrapper of some kind!

Well, we'll see. With seemingly half of America swallowing this stuff (literally and figuratively), we should know soon. Will our average weight, waistline, and cholesterol levels decline?

[ItsOurTimeNow]

How long before they start looking towards the Government to bail them out?

Why not? The travel industry (planes and trains) already think they're entitled...

[antaresequity]

Well I prefer grapefruit juice especially from the ruby red variety.

Me too...I heard the Samurai drank GFJ every day...I love Texas RR juice...

Fresh Juice Rocks if you not intolerant cause of some sugar thing...

My Juice machine has more miles than my dodge pickup truck

[farmfriend]

Rights, farms, environment ping.
Let me know if you wish to be added or removed from this list.
I don't get offended if you want to be removed.

[Willie Green]

What about the zinc?

Nutrition Fact Sheet: Zinc
Dietary Sources
Rich sources of zinc are oysters, beef, liver, crab, seafood, poultry, nuts and seeds, whole grains, tofu, legumes and milk. Zinc found in breast milk is better absorbed than that in formula milk.

[ambrose]

Any diet that discourages the consumption of fresh fruits and vegetables is ridiculous in my opinion.

[LPM1888]

I cant believe the American public is so stupid as to follow these fad diets...

What frightens the orange growers is that the Atkins diet actually works and its the only one I've ever seen that does work. The weight comes off and stays off as long as you stay on the diet.

I've lost sixty pounds, my cholesterol is down, and I feel better than I have in ten years. I'm not going back to a conventional diet, my health is too important.

The Atkins diet is not a fad it is a permanent lifestyle change. That's why the orange growers are in a panic.

If you have stock in oranges, its time to sell. They won't be coming back.

[PJ-Comix]

Well I prefer grapefruit juice especially from the ruby red variety.

But who sells grape juice NOT from concentrate? I don't trust juices made from concentrates.

[Paleo Conservative]

But who sells grape juice NOT from concentrate?

I said grapefruit juice not grape juice.

[LPM1888]

Will our average weight, waistline, and cholesterol levels decline?

In our family, we have four people on the Atkins diet. The average weight, waistline, and cholesterol levels have declined in every one of us. Combined we have lost over 240 pounds and a lot of inches.

[PJ-Comix]

Rich sources of zinc are oysters, beef, liver, crab, seafood, poultry, nuts and seeds, whole grains, tofu, legumes and milk.

Hmmm....Super King Buffet here in Ft. Lauderdale area has inexpensive buffet seafood dinners at night that includes oysters. Perhaps I should partake more often.

Zinc found in breast milk is better absorbed than that in formula milk.

Hmmmm....I wonder if I could convince Petra Verkaik to serve as my zinc source?

[PJ-Comix]

I said grapefruit juice not grape juice.

Oh! Then that's no problem. Here in Florida we are surrounded by grapefruit. I like the pink grapefruit the best. BTW, honeybells are in season now. They are my FAVORITE citrus source. Honeybells are a cross between navel oranges and tangerines. If you've never had them before, give them a try. As the name implies, they are VERY SWEET. They are best eaten so you can appreciate the SPECIAL texture it has.

[Paleo Conservative]

Here in Florida we are surrounded by grapefruit.

But the Rio Grande Valley, Texas which is not very far at all from my location has better grapefruit.

[Mr. Mojo]

All the orange growers need to do is wait-out this ridiculous fad.

And believe me, a fad is all it is. By this time next year Americans will have resumed eating their pizza, pasta, and orange juice as if none of this ever happened.