Everything in moderation - The advice that is useless
Carbs “in moderation” is foolish advice for the simple reason that for many of us (myself included) even “moderate” carbs can cause intense cravings for more carbs. For me, that’s true whether the “moderate” carbs are sugar or starches.
There’s probably a line somewhere that one could theoretically tiptoe under, but you have to ask why, given the risk?
Reminds me of the “moderation management” approach to people with problematic patterns with alcohol. Sure, it’s theoretically possible that the particular individual a counselor is dealing with does not have alcoholism, and could instead moderate their drinking through such a program. But if they are alcoholic, such a program will almost certainly fail, and puts that individual in danger of relapse and all the negative consequences that come with it.
I know from experience that so-called “moderation” and “portion control” can work, to a limited extent. But it wasn’t sustainable for me, because it did not fully address the hormonal aspect of what was going on.
Addictive substances do not lend themselves to “moderation”. Junk foods are often artificially flavored to give maximum “zing” to our taste buds and brain receptors. Mix sugar with fat, salt, and grains. Add plenty of artificial flavor enhancers. Form this into a hundred different kinds of junk foods. Push them on the public at all events, schools, hospitals, etc. Then, tell the public to use moderation in eating these highly addictive non-foods that taste so good.
I would agree with you that there is a small percentage of people who can eat all foods in a “moderate” way, even highly addictive foods.
For me, the problem goes in another direction: insulin issues.
While I was able to overcome the desire to eat more food on the SAD diet, it triggered my hormones to store fat. So, I was not overheating, but still gained weight. To lose the weight, I had to eat less than 500 calories per day and stay at that level forever on the SAD diet. This problem has nothing to do with addiction. It’s a malnutrition problem.
For me, it was definitely an addiction issue. Give me one cookie, candy, chip, whatever and I eat the whole bag…not just for now, but for days, and days, and then months.
Yeah. I could see how it would do that. From a human evolution point of view, if our ancestors depended on eating animals they hunted or fished, and with only eating carbs during fruit season, it makes sense that you have a trigger to eat more carbs. That is so that the body fills up during summer, and store fat, to make it through the winter.
Yes. Living in these “abundant” times, we have altogether different challenges then they faced when they had to hunt for their food for survival. Now we have to make wise choices in the presence of a colorful and highly palatable array of unhealthy choices.
You are all so right!!! It’s both addiction to hyper-palatable foods that companies are paid to create, and it’s hormonal / insulin spiking to shut down any chance of fat burning metabolic processes.
I remember when I “moderated” my food. What a freakin’ joke. One small little piece of candy, and then I’m be rummaging in the pantry for more more more.
The advice is useless in meeting the goal it’s purported to help with, BECAUSE it’s harder to follow. And for some, harder == impossible.
Yes, and for many I believe it has taken on the meaning of nothing. It has been stated so much that it just doesn’t mean anything anymore. Ah, but as a medical professional you won’t get in trouble for advising your patients to eat that way. 
Dr Ludwig is good. An unconventional out of the box thinker. He went low carb himself and it worked for him. Its nice to see him get some press.
Listen to this 37 min interview.
Always Hungry? with Dr David Ludwig
In my case, the advice is 100% useless. If a map is unclear and cannot lead you to the endpoint destination, it’s useless. So is the “everything in moderation” advice…useless.
Just as useful as this map:
Start [you are here] ==================> Goal [mission accomplished]
I agree that it’s useless, as well. Actually, worse than useless – it’s actively bad advice – because it’s basically an advertising slogan along the same lines as “Drink Responsibly”. That’s also “good advice”, but most or at least many people don’t realize that they’re actually being subtly told to drink (albeit “responsibly”, whatever that means).
“Everything in Moderation” is an advertising slogan which the food and beverage industry spends millions on to actively promote. It’s direction, almost an imperative, to consume everything (including their products), of course, only in moderation, you greedy pig.
Here is a brilliant explanation of why Harvard does associational studies, and why they can only raise hypotheses which must be followed up with an RCT study.
https://itunes.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-ask-prof-noakes-podcast/id882524927?mt=2&i=1000380853701
George Cahill jr. a professor at Harvard’s medical school was a pioneer of research of ketones in human metabolism, foundational work to our current appreciation of the ketogenic diet.