Today's topic -- alcohol in a low carb diet. Is it a good idea? Assuming that you're an adult, that you're not an alcoholic, and that you have no religious convictions or drug interactions to worry about, perhaps it is!

According to news reports, butter reserves in Europe have plummeted due to increased butter demand and declining milk production. Butter prices in Europe are doing what prices always do in response to scarcity, they're climbing.

At first glance, chia seeds appear to be a dubious addition to a low-carb diet, even if they are supposed to have been the super-food of the Aztecs. That's because a single serving of chia seeds contains about 13 grams of carbohydrates. However, a closer examination of the food label reveals the chia seed's saving grace . . .

To show the obesity trend on a graph, what data could we use? What would the obesity line look like? We all know obesity has been increasing for decades. But what are the statistical details for the United States?

The data undermines the "let's all become vegetarians to fight obesity" argument. It's hard to convince people that eating meat is making them fat when they have been eating less meat, and more plants, for several decades, without trimming down.

What we all want to know, of course, is whether sleeping more will prevent obesity or even aid in weight loss. Which way does the causal arrow point? Or is there an arrow at all?

Eating low carb, high fat is not just about cutting out foods you once loved, but also about finding new foods to love as you lose weight and achieve ketosis.

As the avocado becomes more popular, plastic surgeons in the United States and the United Kingdom are seeing an increasing number of hand injuries. Apparently, a lot of people try to slice an avocado while cupping it in one hand. That's not a safe method!

Macadamia nuts have long been a go-to snack for low carb dieters. Dr. Robert Atkins was said to love macadamias. He had good reason to, even aside from the buttery deliciousness of the nuts. Now even the FDA sees goodness in the macadamia.

Can the same diet cause some of its followers to lose 50 or 60 pounds while others lose only 5 or 10 pounds, or even gain weight? If so, why does this happen? Does it matter if the diet is low carb or low fat? What can we learn about such individual variance that might be useful?