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Non-Profit Catches
Low-Carb Consumers Attention
March 22, 2004
Low-Carb Consumers now have a non-profit organization working for
their interests in diet, health and nutrition.
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FALLS CHURCH, VA - March 22 - With the growing popularity of
low-carb diets and a keen interest in controlled-carb
nutrition, tens of millions of Americans are 'watching their
carbs' in an effort to lose weight and improve health. Not
only do they have dozens of plans and hundreds of new products
from which to choose, they also now have a non-profit
organization protecting their interests.
The Carbohydrate Awareness Council (CAC), founded in November
2003, opened up membership this week to consumers, health care
professionals and the industry. They will enable a
comprehensive, 'working together' approach to support the
ever-growing scientific-basis of controlled-carb dieting and
nutrition.
"As a nation, we're in the middle of an obesity epidemic
that shows no sign of slowing down," said the CAC's
President and Chief Scientific Officer, Gil Wilshire, MD.
"Clearly something is amiss with our diet. Current
research is bearing out that the current paradigm of a
'healthy, balanced' diet is not working for two-thirds of the
country. The research is also clearly showing that low
carbohydrate diets enable effective weight loss with
improvements in numerous other health risk factors. We cannot
ignore this evidence simply because it is contrary to much of
what we have been taught for the past 30 years. The two-thirds
of the nation that is overweight and/or obese deserves to know
this information and have it presented in an objective
manner."
By building an organization modeled after successes like the
American Diabetes Association, the CAC plans to educate
consumers, healthcare professionals, industry and public
policy makers through programs and initiatives designed to
facilitate dialogue that fosters an objective look at the
scientific evidence.
"When consumers have objective, scientifically based
information available to them, they are then able to make
educated decisions about what to eat," said Regina
Schumann, the council's COO. "Until now, consumers were
on their own to decipher all the conflicting low-carb dieting
and controlled-carb nutrition information. Now they know we're
here and that we are working to protect their interests. In
addition, we will provide them a voice in our organization.
More importantly, though, they now know that our organization
is working to establish standards for the industry, both
within the industry and through government agencies. We are
working to educate decision makers: from public policy people
to teachers, healthcare professionals to those in the industry
making products for them.”
Throughout the year, the CAC will be actively pursuing its
mission through speaking engagements, participating in and
attending a number of health related conferences, developing
and releasing position papers, and hosting its own expo &
conference in the fall. Collaborative efforts are also
underway with other non-profit organizations as well. Anyone
interested in joining the organization to support its efforts
should visit the website at http://www.carbaware.org.
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