At his 2018 presentation at the 117th Abbott Nutrition Research Conference, Dr. John Sievenpiper discusses the findings from randomized controlled trials, systematic reviews, and meta-analyses on carbohydrate consumption. With current trends in nutrition focusing on carbohydrate consumption as a predominant cause of preventable disease, Dr. Sievenpiper brings to light these questions: Are carbs really the enemy? Or is it a matter of quality versus quantity? What should we tell our patients? According to Dr. Sievenpiper, the singular focus on carbohydrates has led to three unintended consequences in regards to nutritional behaviors and thinking. The first being a revisiting of the low fat paradigm, now manifested as a fear of carbohydrates.1 The second being the demonization of fructose, and furthermore the avoidance of whole fruit. The third unintended consequence is that we have lost sight of the overall picture when considering all possible threats to our health. By focusi
Case Study: A group of your colleagues have booked a cruise for ten days and want you to come with them. You ask them if they’ve seen the movie Titanic. You give it some thought. It’s the end of February, and you’re tired of the winter, dry chapped skin, and not being able to wear fashionable footwear. You refill your anti-anxiety medication and agree to join them. Two days into the cruise you’re feeling a bit nauseous. You chalk it up to seasickness and hurl over the side of the boat which your colleagues find amusing. So much for the Dramamine and your scopolamine patch. You quickly realize that your hyperactive bowel sounds, abdominal pain, and distended abdomen are not consistent with being seasick. Luckily you make it back to your room before having a lower GI eruption. For the next 12 hours, you vomit and have diarrhea every 15 minutes. You’re fairly certain you’re going to die. You want to die. You stumble to the infirmary which is full of other people that are sick just like