A letter published on Jan. 25 asked, "Are you listening to nutrition advice?" One need only to turn to page B1 of that same newspaper to find the answer is no.

If Americans were listening to sound nutrition advice, hospitals might not have to expand their cardiac catheterization services. It is widely accepted that poor nutrition is a significant risk factor for heart disease. Why then are many Americans still taking so many trips to the cath lab?

I believe that part of the problem is the low-carb fad. These so-called "diets" recommend that people eat fewer fruits, vegetables and grains and more fat and protein. This may help with weight loss, but it certainly is not healthy. Low-carb diets have been proved to cause constipation and ketosis (a potentially dangerous state where the brain is deprived of glucose and acid builds up in the body). They also do not meet the recommended daily allowances of many nutrients.

Americans need to heed the advice of nutritional experts and follow more traditional low-fat diets and exercise. Because if "diets" that encourage full-fat mayonnaise as a condiment continue to predominate, then cath labs will soon be on every corner.

Abigail Millikan
Asheboro