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Americans Abandoning Low-Carb Diets -Survey
AP ^ | July 14, 2004 | Reuters

Posted on 07/14/2004 4:23:35 PM PDT by Nachum

NEW YORK (Reuters) - So much for the low-carbohydrate lifestyle.

More than half of all U.S. consumers that have tried following diets that eschew carbs such as bread and sugar have given up, a survey released on Wednesday found, and interest in the popular regimens appears to have plateaued.

According to research firm InsightExpress, which conducted the survey online, fewer than 10 percent of Americans are currently on popular low-carbohydrate diets such as the Atkins, South Beach and The Zone.

In contrast, a survey conducted in December of last year by Opinion Dynamics Corporation found that, at the time, 11 percent of Americans were on low-carb diets.

The latest InsightExpress poll of 500 Americans also found that of survey participants who were not following low-carb diets, fewer than one in five would consider buying a low-carb product because they perceive a diet low in carbs to be unhealthy.

That's unwelcome news for U.S. food companies such as H.J. Heinz Co. and General Mills Inc. that have scrambled in the past year to keep up with the low-carb trend by reformulating staples such as ketchup, cereal and yogurt to reduce their carbohydrate content.

In fact, Legg Mason beverage analyst Mark Swartzberg said on Wednesday that sales of mid-calorie colas recently introduced by both PepsiCo Inc. and Coca-Cola Co. "are either slow builds or something closer to dead on arrival."

In a research note, Swartzberg said the findings were based on feedback from 51 U.S. retailers who had devoted shelf space to Coke's C2 and Pepsi's Pepsi Edge colas. The products, launched in June, were intended to appeal to calorie- and carb-wary consumers, reducing the sugar by adding Splenda, an alternative sweetener.


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Front Page News; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: abandoning; americans; atkins; diet; diets; health; lowcarb; survey
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To: ican'tbelieveit
Whyever not? My life does not revolve around food.

In my own defense, I have forgotten to eat for days on end - but not lately.

61 posted on 07/14/2004 6:19:48 PM PDT by patton (I wish we could all look at the evil of abortion with the pure, honest heart of a child.)
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To: patton

Gee, I don't know, because your body needs nourishment? It has nothing to do with your "life revolving around food." Your bodily functions do.


62 posted on 07/14/2004 6:21:05 PM PDT by ican'tbelieveit
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To: cyborg

Nothing wrong with Diet Coke. I'm on the South Beach and diet drinks are ok. I've found the South Beach diet works and it has broken our dependence and cravings for fast food. I would never have thought I could give up potatoes, breads and sweets.


63 posted on 07/14/2004 6:22:00 PM PDT by ClancyJ (Vote for President Bush - It's just not safe to vote Democratic.)
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To: cyborg
Most of the candy is a no for me at least. I was thrilled when it came out. I like chocolate as much as the next girl and not being allowed to have it was a pain.

But most of it not only makes me sick at my stomach but it give me the same weird feeling that sugar does.

I would say that it is not really low carb because of that but maybe I am just super sensitive to it.

64 posted on 07/14/2004 6:26:44 PM PDT by Harmless Teddy Bear (This uniform needs something; something that says I'm here to destroy you, but with a sense of fun)
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To: ican'tbelieveit
You need a whole lot less nouishment than you think.

Only time in my life I craved food was serving as a paratrooper in Alaska, in temps more than 50 below.

As a scientist in an air-conditioned office in VA, I eat when I have time. Or not.

65 posted on 07/14/2004 6:32:13 PM PDT by patton (I wish we could all look at the evil of abortion with the pure, honest heart of a child.)
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To: patton

You are right it needs a lot less nourishment than is typical in the US... but going 24 hours between nourishment isn't that great. I hope you are keeping up your H2O intake at least.

BTW, thank you for your service to our country. Which Airborne area? And your body was craving because it needed to stay warm... which means it needed to burn food. Very simple physiology there.


66 posted on 07/14/2004 6:35:42 PM PDT by ican'tbelieveit
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To: ican'tbelieveit
Can tell on the H2O by colour of pee.

325 Airborne Infantry Regiment, all over the globe.

67 posted on 07/14/2004 7:09:38 PM PDT by patton (I wish we could all look at the evil of abortion with the pure, honest heart of a child.)
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To: Nachum
Americans (Democrats) Abandoning Low-Carb Diets -Survey

LOL

68 posted on 07/14/2004 7:17:36 PM PDT by maestro
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To: patton

Yeap... brown is bad in pee. LOL!!!!!

Excellent. My friend is in the 1/505, just back from Iraq in April, I believe. Jumping out of planes... what a life.

They are getting ready to deploy some more paratroopers to Iraq.


69 posted on 07/14/2004 7:23:55 PM PDT by ican'tbelieveit
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To: cyborg

NutraSweet . . . that's what's wrong with Diet Coke.


70 posted on 07/14/2004 7:24:24 PM PDT by jayef
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To: cyborg

Bryers has a product for you. It's called Carb Smart and my wife and I enjoy it. The mint chocolate chip is yummy!


71 posted on 07/14/2004 7:26:10 PM PDT by jayef
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To: johnfrink
About frickin' time. The only diet that works: Eat less, exercise more. Everything else is hype.

Dude! Consider the source - anything posted from Reuters is about as newsworthy as an alien article in Weekly World News. The Low Carb diet is still going strong. Liberals want us to be fat and unhealthy so they can tax and sue McDonald's and potato chips, that's why they hate the low-carb diet.

72 posted on 07/14/2004 7:26:15 PM PDT by Extremely Extreme Extremist
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To: Nachum
Right, that's why half the people in my office including me are low carbing.

That's why the grocery stores are devoting more and more space to low carb.

That's why doritos just came out with a low carb chip (tastes terrible...but at least they are trying)

73 posted on 07/14/2004 7:26:39 PM PDT by DannyTN
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To: Nachum
Who cares?
74 posted on 07/14/2004 7:31:40 PM PDT by natewill (Start the revolution NOW!)
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To: RJS1950
"You don't know what your talking about. It works, exercise makes it work better and my blood sugar and cholesterol are now at normal levels."

AMEN!

I am on a "GOOD-carb" diet. I eat almost as much bread and pasta, etc as I used to --- I simple choose something high in fiber and whole grain. It works! My blood levels show it!

75 posted on 07/14/2004 7:32:01 PM PDT by Exit148
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To: SamAdams76


I've been low-carbing for about seven years...I feel great...I will not abandon a good thing.


76 posted on 07/14/2004 7:32:47 PM PDT by Lady Eileen
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To: what's up
If Atkins is a sham, then why is the FDA talking about changing the food pyramid?

Screw the FDA, the pyramid has already been changed. See 'Eat, Drink, and Be Healthy: The Harvard Medical School Guide to Healthy Eating.'

Meanwhile, the other day I was at my endo's (I'm diabetic) and almost freaked to see an Atkin's poster on the door.

Even though a few years ago, the Endocrinologists Society agreed that the best diet for diabetics is a modified Atkins (Sugar Busters, the new South Beach), I had never seen such acceptance of Atkins as what amounted to an Atkins advertisement in a university medical clinic.

All I know is, before menopause set in and screwed up everything, watching my carbs allowed me to get off of all diabetic medicine. You can eat all the carbs you want and be on tons of meds and burn out your pancreas, or you can be smart and count carbs. Doesn't take a brain surgeon.

77 posted on 07/14/2004 7:38:37 PM PDT by radiohead
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To: Lady Eileen

Lost 50 lbs in 5 months. I feel great, BP is normal, tachacardia is over, back is better, LDL is 111, triglycerides good, and I eat all the steak,eggs, and butter, I want. Low carb works. I think the "Food Pyramid" is a PETA plot to get people off dead animal meat.


78 posted on 07/14/2004 7:41:46 PM PDT by chuckles
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To: El Gato
which are in some ways tastier than the regular ones, with a 7 fold decrease in net carbs to less than 3 per tortilla. (And they only chage about a quarter extra for stuff made with them).

What is a '7 fold decrease'?

7 fold compared to what?

79 posted on 07/14/2004 7:43:45 PM PDT by zoyd (Hi, I'm with the government. We're going to make you like your neighbor.)
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To: chuckles
I think the "Food Pyramid" is a PETA plot to get people off dead animal meat.

You are very wise.

80 posted on 07/14/2004 7:45:45 PM PDT by Lady Eileen
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