Don't be fooled by health food industry

Low-carbohydrate pasta is in a category of health foods known in the trade as "lesser evils" - foods with fewer unwanted calories, fat, trans fat, sugars, salt, or carbohydrates.

There is now a whole industry of such products, as well as health foods classified as "natural", "organic", and "functional". But are these foods really better for you?

In the United States, "organic" has a precise meaning established by the US Department of Agriculture. "Natural", however, means whatever the food producer or manufacturer says it means.