Have We Gone Carb Crazy?

Questioning your carbs? You're not alone.

The explosion of low-carbohydrate products and even special "Atkins-approved" menus at grocery stores and restaurants is enough to make even an Italian think twice about pasta.

Nearly 30 million Americans are now counting their carbs thanks to the popularity of diets like Atkins, South Beach, and the Zone. But millions more are also becoming "carb aware" or even fearful of carbohydrates and cutting back on carbs -- not because they want to lose weight, but because they think it's the healthy thing to do.

But are carbs something the average person should be concerned about? WebMD asked the experts to clear up the confusion on carbs.

Low-Carb Doesn't Mean Low-Cal

The rising popularity of low-carb products has manufacturers scrambling to meet the demand. In fact, more than 400 businesses recently gathered for the nation's first Low-Carb Summit in Denver to discuss ways to capitalize on the low-carb craze.

But nutritionists say the marketing of low-carb products is way ahead of the science, and it's giving carbohydrates a bad reputation that they don't deserve.

"Low-carb has become new fat-free and the new 'health' label," says Keith Ayoob, EdD, RD, spokesman for the American Dietetic Association, "and it's just as inappropriate as it was to think of fat-free as a health label because it doesn't tell the whole picture."

To add to the confusion, there is no legal definition of what "low-carb" means, according to the FDA. Any food or beverage product that says "low-carb" on the label is technically breaking the law, but the FDA has generally only issued a warning letter to offenders.

Therefore, any definition of low-, reduced-, or net carb is entirely up to the manufacturer.

Kathleen Zelman, RD, director of nutrition for the WebMD Weight Loss Clinic, says that creates a buyer-beware system when it comes to products that tout themselves as low-carb.

"Manufacturers are using this terminology, and it really doesn't mean anything," says Zelman.

But one thing is clear: low-carb doesn't mean low calorie. Carbohydrates and protein each contain about 4 calories per gram, and fats have 9 calories per gram.

That means a blue cheese-topped steak, one of the offerings on T.G.I. Friday's Atkins-Approved menu, is still going to pack more fat and calories than a grilled chicken sandwich from the regular menu.

Ayoob says he is also concerned that the Atkins name has been sold and licensed and has become a brand.

"I have some concerns when they come out saying this and that, and the truth is they have a huge monetary stake in their products and licenses doing well," says Ayoob.

Cutting Carbs Isn't for Everyone

Although short-term studies have shown that low-carb diets may help people lose weight, the safety and effectiveness of these diets has not been proven over the long term.