Low-carb authors extol virtues of low-carb beer

Modern Brewery Age, May 10, 2004

Drs. Michael R. and Mary Dan Eades said they would buy a round of low-carb beers for conference-goers at the LowCarbiz Summit in Washington, D.C. The Eades, authors of the book "Protein Power," said they made the gesture to reassure the public that low-carb beer is fine for adults at any stage of a low-carb diet plan.

The Eades were featured luncheon speakers at the LowCarbiz Summit in Washington, D.C., May 6th and May 7th, billed as the first national conference to explore issues facing the booming low-carb industry.

Questions concerning consumption of low-carb beer reached a crescendo in late April, when Anheuser-Busch ran ads nationally to refute statements in the popular "The South Beach Diet" book suggesting that the maltose found in beer is "the king of all sugars" and is therefore best avoided.

"The notion that the carbohydrates in low-carb beer are especially devious and will somehow unhinge a low-carb diet is really a tempest in a beer mug," responded Dr. Michael Eades, who has studied and written on low-carbohydrate diets for more than 15 years.

"There is no scientific rationale to suggest that the 3 or 4 grams of remnant carbs left after the beer fermentation process are different from 3 or 4 grams of carbs from broccoli, green beans, tomatoes, or low-carb toast," Dr. Michael Eades said. "They are all carbs and they all have to be counted. If after eating regular meals dieters still have room in their daily carb quota to add an extra 3 or 4 grams and they want to consume them as low-carb beer, that's fine with us."

The Eades noted that they have long recommended to their thousands of patients and millions of readers on a low-carb diet to "enjoy a glass of wine or a light beer with dinner, because studies have shown that moderate intake of alcohol is beneficial to weight loss and improves the cardiovascular profile as well."

In addition to Drs. Michael and Mary Dan Eades, other keynote speakers at the LowCarbiz Summit included Congressman Ron Paul, M.D. of Texas; Stuart L. Trager, M.D., Chairperson, Atkins Physicians Council; former Congressman Gerry Sikorski (Minnesota) and Dr. Fred Pescatore, author of the newly released "The Hamptons Diet."

The LowCarbiz Summit was hosted by LowCarbiz (www.lowcarbiz.com) and LowCarbiz Magazine, a quarterly business-to-business publication.