The Unintended Consequences of a Singular Focus on Carbohydrates & The Clinical Translation of Carbohydrate Quality
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 possibl...