Lowering carbohydrate consumption has had some really good effects on the blood sugar control and other blood related things such as cholesterol for some people, according to what I have heard and read.

Poor old Dr A and other 'medical but not diet' people have worked out how to reduce weight and improve the metabolisn over and over again, reinventing the wheel- rediscovering the low carb diet, only for the establishment to rise up and swear black is white in order to discredit them.

My way - as you might put it - it is to gradually reduce your weight to a sensible amount, eating fresh salad and other vegetables, a small amount of fruit, using olive and sunflower oils, all types of fish and meats, other protein sources, a bit of cheese - I happen to drink very little that is not just water - but I would never try to stop anyone drinking whatever they like. I would worry if it was a bottle of spirits a day, though.

Surely anyone can see that associaion of a low carb diet with eating saturated fats and consequent heart disease is not an argument against low carb diets?

Eating protein does not put a strain on the kidneys - look up how the kidneys work in a school Biology textbook if you don't want to believe me - the big clue is that they reabsorb what the body needs back into the blood, they don't remove impurities. It is a really efficent way of working.

If I get stroppy it is because claims are made, associations are assumed, you get someone writing there is evidence of this and no evidence of that - sneer sneer sneer - I'm a totally typical Aries character - no I don't believe in astrology - its just that they happen to have got me down to a T. Start to be unfair and you have this little fat old woman glaring up at you and starting to argue. Fortunately I argue down to most people, because I still have a better memory than most, and I can spot a non sequitur - and spell it too on a good day - so whilst I remain compos mentis I will cheerfully risk making a fool of myself by getting involved in a public debate bacause someone is not playing fair by another party unable to defend themselves.

The insults are surely coming from those who don't give a damn for the health of the general public?

I have found out why I got so fat after decades of thinking it was my fault - believe me, finally finding a way of losing weight and improving how I feel has been so easy, but I will have to be losing weight for months - years even, to get back to normal. A well balanced diet resulted in my being morbidly obese at 50 years of age. If I suceed in halving my weight I'll let you know. It will not be soon.

Atkins a quick fix - pull the other one. It might eventually have bells on.

Anne - that is me, no need for ""