When science journalist Gary Taubes wrote an article for The New York Times magazine in 2002 arguing that (and I'm summarizing a lot here) that it's the excessive consumption of calories from refined carbs and starches that causes weight problems and not the excessive consumption of calories consumed from fat, he was attacked by everyone. Now Taubes has a new book out that expands on the topic, Good Calories, Bad Calories. And he's still being attacked.

I haven't picked up the book yet, but it seems like an interesting read. Unlike other diet and health books that talk about their diets in rather basic terms, this is a thick tome that really goes in-depth about the body, weight, and health, quoting various studies that have been conducted over the years. I think one of his theories even questions how much exercise a human needs.

Has anyone read it yet?

Though the very height of the "low carb craze" has passed, millions of people still follow a low or reduced carb diet. A new study reveals that, though they are sticking to it voluntarily, at least 3 out or 5 low-carbers feel limited in what they are allowed to eat and regularly crave forbidden foods, which makes sticking to the diet that much harder. The number one thing that low carb dieters miss are baked goods (50%), followed by pasta (22%) and fruit (9%). More than 25% of respondents said that the prepackaged versions of baked goods and some mixes, though diet-friendly, were not worth eating under any circumstances.

The survey was commissioned by the baking-mix company Krusteaz, and coincides with the release of a new line of low-carb baking mixes, called CarbSimple. For the sake of all those poor, dissatisfied low-carbers, let's hope that the line turns out to be a good one.

But aside from promoting a new product, the results here indicate that the diet is not for everyone. If you constantly (or even frequently) feel that you are missing out, if baked goods of any kind - from blueberry muffins to sandwich bread - are at the top of your "must-have" list, the low-carb diet is going to be a tough one to follow and you might be better off choosing a different eating regimen. Picking one strategy that you can follow long-term - low carb or otherwise - will generally produce the best results because it is one that you can willingly and happily follow.

A recent study done at the University of Southern California (USC) in Los Angeles studied the diets of normal weight and overweight people and found that the normal weight participants ate more fruit and more fiber each day than their heavier counterparts. The overweight eaters tended to consume more total fat and cholesterol, and fewer carbohydrates. The normal weight subjects ate an average of one more piece of fruit per day.

Scientists are saying that their findings lead them to believe that the composition of the daily diet can make a big difference in obesity levels and though the study was on too small a scale to extrapolate the data to the nation population at this time, it is an indicator that the still-popular high fat, low carb diets may not always be the best choice when looking to lose weight or maintain it. Researchers stress, of course, that there is no "magic formula," but when the formula might involve one more piece of fruit per day, what's the harm in adding it in?

Forbes list of the 10 best diets to follow did not include the carb-phobic Atkins diet for a good reason: while people who follow the diet do lose weight, a new case study shows that it could lead to life-threatening health complications.

The study followed the case of a woman who developed a condition known as ketoacidosis while following the diet. Though it is somewhat rare, the disease is caused by a buildup of ketones in the blood-stream. Ketones are produced by the liver when insulin levels fall and more are produced the lower the insulin levels get. An excessive buildup of ketones in the blood can cause patients to fall into a coma, preceded by loss of appetite, nausea and vomiting.

According to WebMD, ketosis, which would precede the onset of the extreme condition of ketoacidosis, can be prevented by eating approximately 100 grams of carbohydrates a day, or about 1 cup of oatmeal. Carb-Counter.org is a good source of information regarding the amount of carbohydrates in various foods.

Over the past few years, the potato has fallen out of fashion with those who watch their weight, due to the popularity of low carb diets. One medium spud, with skin on, has no fat, about 110 calories and 23 grams of carbohydrates. In low carb diet plans, like Atkins, the maximum number of carbs “allowed” daily could be as low as 20 grams. Potatoes were to low carb-ers what heavy cream is to low fat dieters: feared and forbidden. But potatoes are back on the menu now.

Scientists in the UK have developed a low carb potato, the Vivaldi. With a creamy texture, the potato has 38% fewer carbohydrates and 56% fewer calories than a traditional potato. The potatoes are currently available at Sainsbury markets, but it’s only a matter of time before they make their way to the U.S. side of the Atlantic. Carb-conscious french fries could be on menus in the near future, too.