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Years ago, a reader told me that they admired me because I had stuck with my low-carb diet even though it had not given me the body of my dreams. Surely you’re familiar with the Alcoholics Anonymous Serenity Prayer – “God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.” I don’t care if you’re a praying person or not, nor to whom you pray if you are. But there is something important here. Eating right, which for so many of us means avoiding excess carbohydrates, can make you slimmer, healthier, happier, more energetic, and more confident. That has been enough for me. I urge you to let it be enough for you.

There is a long-established truism that weight loss is all about “calories in, calories out,” and along with it the apparently unshakeable assumption that all calories are created equal. It’s all bunk. Sheer bunk. But it’s bunk with so much weight of belief behind it that it’s very hard to shake people’s faith in it, even people who should know better.

I frequently see questions about cheat days – most commonly, “How often should I have a cheat day?” There seems to be an assumption that cheat days are a good idea, something that should be built into a low-carb diet to keep people from feeling deprived.

Summer is here! And for many of us, especially those of us who live in rural-ish areas, that means a trip to the county fair. Too many folks simply assume that “It wouldn’t be the fair without” and give themselves permission to gobble every carb in sight, many of them deep-fried in questionable oils, for the duration.

In Episode 12 of the CarbSmart Podcast, I am interviewing Christine Moore, a functional nutritional therapy practitioner. Having talked to registered dietitians who embrace carbohydrate restriction about the fact that food corporations are a major source of funding, or college dietetics programs and the effect that has on what they are taught and what they are permitted to say to their clients.

CarbSmart Podcast Episode 11: I found myself thinking about how we came to equate junk food with “fun,” to the point where many people cannot imagine, say, enjoying an awesome movie unless they also have a big bucket of popcorn or bag of chips. How did this happen? Hosted by Dana Carpender.

CarbSmart Podcast Episode 10 - CarbSmart’s Dana Carpender interviewed William Davis, MD for her “3 Questions with” series. Dr. Davis spent an informative hour talking with CarbSmart’s managing editor. Read Dana’s review of Wheat Belly and Super Gut. Includes link to video on YouTube.

You gotta love Memorial Day weekend. Not only is it the official beginning of summer, not only do most of us have a long weekend off, not only will Miss Manners grant you permission to wear white shoes after this weekend, but it's a holiday that isn't centered around junk food.

As many of you know, I'm always striving to enhance your culinary delights while sticking to those important dietary guidelines. In my newest version of the beloved Low-Carb, Gluten-Free No-Sugar-Added Ketchup, I've switched to using allulose as our sweetener. This is a big leap forward from earlier versions!

This episode of the CarbSmart Podcast, hosted by Dana Carpender, explores the ketogenic diet—a low-carb, high-fat diet that aims to trigger ketosis in the body. Dana discusses the scientific principles behind ketosis, shares practical advice for adopting a keto lifestyle, and addresses common myths. Listeners will gain insight from Dana's personal experiences and professional knowledge, gaining tools to make informed dietary choices.