Letter: Low-carb diets are dangerous

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Friday, Jan. 23, 2004 | 9:02 a.m.

It's time for low-carb diet promoters to come clean about the dangers of saturated fat. For years, they've publicly urged dieters to load up on meat, cheese and other foods high in this dangerous substance.

This year an estimated 700,000 Americans will suffer a heart attack. To guard against this threat, the American Heart Association recommends a diet deriving no more than 7 percent of calories from saturated fat.

By that guideline, low-carb diets just don't measure up. And why put your heart at risk when studies have demonstrated that a low-fat, vegetarian eating plan can take off about the same amount of weight -- and keep it off in a healthy way?

AMY JOY LANOU, PH.D. Editor's note: Amy Joy Lanou is nutrition director for the Washington-based Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine.