Cancer Experts Combat Misinformation About Carbs with "Grass-Roots" ApproachAmerican Institute for Cancer Research AICR Uses Newsletter to Dissuade "All or Nothing" Approach to Carbohydrates Concerned about a fundamental nutritional shift now occurring in the diets of millions of Americans, one health organization is attempting to clarify the role of carbohydrates in weight management.  That's why the most recent issue of the quarterly AICR Newsletter, arriving this week in some 1.5 million American homes, features a front-page story that clarifies this timely issue in a concrete, easy-to-understand style. "The word is on the street," said Melanie Polk, RD, Director of Nutrition Education at AICR. "You hear it repeated over and over around the water cooler, at parties, and over dinner with friends: carbs are bad. The truth is a bit more complicated than that." Polk points out that even the most restrictive "low-carb" diets qualify their position with regard to healthy foods that contain carbohydrates. Acknowledging that vegetables, fruits and whole grains provide health benefits and protection from chronic disease, most high-protein diets manage to make some room for these important foods. Regardless, the only message many Americans are hearing is, "Cut the carbs." The cancer experts are concerned that this is just the kind of misinformation that plays into Americans' desire for simple solutions. In fact, an AICR survey conducted two weeks ago shows that 78% percent of Americans believe that the kind of food they eat is more important for managing their weight than the amount of food they eat. "That's four out of five Americans who say they'd rather cut out entire categories of food from their diets than look for healthy ways to scale back their overall consumption," said Polk. "So we're taking our message to the people," she said. "We're using our newsletter to put the current controversy in perspective for millions of weight-conscious Americans." The AICR Newsletter, which has a simple, traditional design and content, contains information about the latest research results on the diet-cancer front, as well as practical ideas and recipes for putting this research into practice. It is intended to speak to the public in a clear, friendly way, free of scientific jargon and dietary admonitions. "People need to learn more about the issue, and this article lays out the evidence for and against cutting fat, cutting carbs, or cutting calories," Polk said. "It offers the kind of take-home message Americans need to hear, now more than ever."
For more information, or to contact American Institute for Cancer Research, see their website at: www.aicr.org |
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