“A “balanced” diet should provide the macronutrients and other elements, which the body needs, but not the thing(s), from which the body becomes ill. Recent studies have found a positive link: Consuming carbohydrates, especially in excess. → Rising postprandial blood glucose level, especially a steep excursion after consuming carbohydrates high in both glycemic index and glycemic load. → Rising postprandial inflammatory level. → Developing diseases. [5, 6, 7. 8. 9, 10, 11] 
Many of these studies were published in the so-called “peer-reviewed” journals. Having understood a consequent increase in inflammation to an increase in postprandial blood glucose level, the aforementioned balanced diet rich in carbohydrate is deemed problematic and dangerous to our health.
On one hand, studies show that we can improve our health by restricting carbohydrate consumption, and on the other hand, “MyPyramid” tells us to eat more carbohydrate. Aren’t we driving away from good health? Similar contradictions have been observed elsewhere. For example, we all agree that the more we eat carbohydrates, the more the triglycerides our body will produce. On one hand, we are told that our blood high in triglycerides, which is an independent risk factor for coronary artery disease. But, on the other hand, we are told to eat more in carbohydrate and less in fat. Soon, we surely will find out our triglycerides are going up. And, many of us will also see our weight going up too.
Studies have also demonstrated that diets with restriction in carbohydrate and rich in fat help increase HDLs and decrease LDLs and reduce the risks of cardiovascular diseases. [12. 13. 14. 15] They have also found that carbohydrate-restricted diets are better than fat-restricted diets in helping excrete water from the body thus lower the blood pressure. [16] A study by Willett WC and Leibel RL concluded that dietary fat does not equal body fat. [17] So, why should a “balanced” diet restrict fat, saturated fat, and cholesterol? Does this group of health and nutritional experts who designed “MyPyramid” have yet understood what a “balanced” diet is really meant?
No wonder why Ms. Carpenter’s remarks drew laughter from the audience, including you if you had been at the meeting!
Robert Su, Pharm.B., M.D.
References:
5. Su RK. “Figure 36: Diseases Caused By High Blood Sugar After Meal” Carbohydrates Can Kill. Pages 330.
6. Maedler K, et al. “Glucose-induced β cell production of IL-1β contributes to glucotoxicity in human pancreatic islets.” Journal of Clinical Investigation, Volume 110, Number 6, Pages 851–860. September 15, 2002.
7. Rosengren A, Skoog I, Gustafson D and Wilhelmsen L. “Body Mass Index, Other Cardiovascular Risk Factors, and Hospitalization for Dementia.” Archives of Internal Medicine, Volume 165, Number 3, Pages 321-326. FEB 14, 2005.
8. Coussens LM and Werb Z. “Inflammation and cancer.” Nature. Volume 420, Number 6917, Pages 860-7. December 19-26, 2002.
9. Esposito K, et al. “Clinical Investigation and Reports: Inflammatory Cytokine Concentrations Are Acutely Increased by Hyperglycemia in Humans: Role of Oxidative Stress.” Circulation, Volume 106, Pages 2067. 2002.
10. Su RK. “Role of Hyperglycemia” Carbohydrates Can Kill. Pages 347-354.
11. Koichi Node and Teruo Inoue, “Postprandial hyperglycemia as an etiological factor in vascular failure.” Cardiovascular Diabetology 2009, 8:23doi:10.1186/1475-2840-8-23
12. Foster GD, et al. “A Randomized Trial of a Low Carbohydrate Diet for Obesity.” New England Journal of Medicine, Volume 348, Number 21, Pages 2082-2090. May 22, 2003.
13. Brehm BJ, et al. “A Randomized Trial Comparing a Very Low Carbohydrate Diet and a Calorie-Restricted Low Fat Diet on Body Weight and Cardiovascular Risk Factors in Healthy Women.” Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism, Volume 88, Number 4, Pages 1617-1623. April 2003.
14. Volek JS, et al. “Comparison of energy-restricted very low-carbohydrate and low-fat diets on weight loss and body composition in overweight men and women.” Nutrition and Metabolism, (London), Volume 1, Number 13. November 8, 2004.
15. Samaha FF, et al. “A Low-Carbohydrate as Compared with a Low-Fat Diet in Severe Obesity.” New England Journal of Medicine, Number 21, Volume 348, Pages 2074-2081. May 22, 2003.
16. Yang M and Van Itallie TB. “Composition of weight lost during short-term weight reduction. Metabolic responses of obese subjects to starvation and low-calorie ketogenic and nonketogenic diets.” Journal of Clinical Investigations, Volume 58, Number 3, Pages722–730. September 1976.
17. Willett WC and Leibel RL. “Dietary fat is not a major determinant of body fat.” American Journal of Medicine, Volume 113, Supplement 9B, Pages 47S-59S. December 30, 2002.
