I'm doing low-carb, so we'll just have to disagree on that. However, I'd
like to point out an interesting article. You might want to check it out.

http://tinyurl.com/b7myu

I'm sure low-carb is not for everyone, but it works for me.

I have a little carb counter on my keychain. My days of writing and adding
and fussing over what to eat "within x amount of calories" are over. When
I'm hungry, I eat, count the carbs, do my little counter thing and that's
it.

Interesting comments re. weight lifting. Its my favorite form of exercise.
Unfortunately, I don't have room for equipment and there are no gyms close
enough to me.

Why "mild" weight lifting?  You won't get much benefit from lifting
weights that don't challenge you.

Re nutrient ratios:  Opinions vary, and I'm not really interested in
arguing with you about it, but I prefer to get about 40% protein, 40%
carb, 20% fat (and yes, I exercise).  What is your rationale for
limiting protein?

Chris
262/130s/130s

I agree in general with your post including the amount of protein a
person needs and also the 10% fat. The govt. says up to 30% is OK, but
I like the 10% figure. Lots of people are allergic to peanuts. It is
the second leading food allergy after milk, and people can do just
fine and never touch peanuts of course. I don't. Like you say, they
are loaded with fat and calories. I also don't think you can
counteract calories with antioxidants. Once you swallow them, they
stay calories.

There are lots of opinions about what is a good diet. There is also a
whole lot of gimmick health claims where they take one esoteric peice
of research and try to build that into some huge physiologic
process...like Kevin Trudeau does with his "cures", so you have people
becoming religious about green tea, or shark's fin or noni juice, or
chromium, etc. etc. Those folks are just out to make money for the
most part, while others are just not very good at separating facts
from opinions and/or poor or sketchy research.

As an example, for years were were bombarded with ads from the Dairy
Council...and still are, about milk being good because of the calcium
which "help develop strong bones". The fact is however that Africans,
where almost everyone is lactose intolerant and do not drink milk once
they are weaned, have less of a problem with osteoporosis. It turns
out that calcium in milk isn't absorbed so well. Now they put it in
orange juice though, which seems like a better idea if you want or
need more calcium. Another opinion has to do with protein. I'm not
sure why, but people seem preoccupied with how much protein they need
and fears of not getting enough. There again, the govt says about 1/2
gram per pound is enough for 90% of the population....and it is very
easy to get. Then you have body builders, etc. who often take in 5
times that claiming they need it. Protein is easy to get, including
for those of us who are vegetarian and DO need to think a little more
about protein. There again, actual protein deficiencies in this
country are extremely rare. The TV shows starving children in a 3rd
world country with a distended belly which most people think of as
protein deficiency, and it probably is. The problem there is that the
child is STARVING. They aren't getting enough food, period. Feed them
anything.....rice, beans, bananas, and the problem is gone. The moral
here is that if you are getting enough calories and eat anything
approaching a balanced diet, you WILL get enough protein. The facts
are mostly there, but some people put important stuff on the same
level as the garbage research, I think. Anyway, that's my 2 cents
worth on protein, suplements, and a balanced diet. dkw