It's hard to find a grocery store or restaurant that isn't promoting the popular diet trend to eat more protein and fewer carbohydrates à la the Atkins diet. And it's not only eating establishments. Major network television morning show programs, newspapers and even local booksellers are providing more than enough reading material on ways to eliminate breads, pastas and starches from a daily diet.

This popular diet idea was taken to a whole new level for Campbell residents when Castus Low Carb Superstore on S. Bascom Avenue opened its doors in late June. The store offers more than 1,600 products that are all low in carbohydrates and is owned by "Castus-certified low-carb consultants" Cindy Breidenthal and Pat Staab. The two women, who are next-door neighbors in Los Gatos, opened the store on June 24.

Since starting a diet low in carbohydrates two years ago, Staab says, she has lost 20 pounds. When Staab approached Breidenthal about co-owning a Castus—a Latin word meaning clean and pure—in late 2003, Breidenthal says she didn't think twice about it.

"I thought this was a great idea," says Breidenthal. "I can cure any carb crave people have."

For instance, she says if a shopper comes in with a sweet tooth, she will suggest a product low in carbohydrates that can meet the craving, such as Splenda, a no-calorie alternative to sugar.

There are a wide variety of products offered in the store, which Breidenthal says have improved in taste within the last two years, including low-carb flavored soda, margarita and bloody mary mix, bagels, ice cream, pizza and even potato chips.

"Our most popular item so far is the candy from Judy's Candy Company," Breidenthal says.

Both admit that business has been slow so far, but they expect business to increase as the vacation season starts to dissipate.

Besides Castus, there are several other local eating establishments that are promoting their low-carb meals. Fast-food Mexican chain Baja Fresh offers "lifestyle choices," menu items that focus on high protein or reducing fat content. Trader Joe's carries more than 100 different products that boast low carbohydrates, including Soy & Flaxseed Tortilla Chips, Sprouted Multigrain Bread, Atkins Endulge Bars and Smarter Carb Vanilla Rocky Road cookies. And specialty ice cream maker Ben & Jerry's has concocted three ice creams that are allowed under the Atkins diet plan. These ice creams, all listed under the title "Carb Karma," include Chocolate ice cream; Half Baked, a chocolate and vanilla ice cream with fudge brownies and chocolate chip cookie dough; and Vanilla Swiss Almond, a vanilla ice cream with fudge-covered almonds.

And buffet-style restaurant Fresh Choice on S. Bascom Avenue is advertising its "low-carb extravaganza." The restaurant chain recently filed Chapter 11, but Campbell Fresh Choice general manager Gerri Ledbetter says filing for bankruptcy won't affect the Campbell location.

"Our store is still strong," she says. "We're not going anywhere."

Ledbetter says Fresh Choice has always offered many low-carb items in its salad bar, but now it is just marketing them to the public differently. In addition to salad items, bowtie pesto primavera, summer squash soup and Jell-O are all in the buffet.

"Even though we've always had a lot of these items, people feel better coming here with the low-carb advertisements we've been doing," she says. "It has improved business."

The trend may be improving business for Fresh Choice and other restaurants, but registered dietician Stephanie Brooks, who works for Campbell's Bay Area Nutrition on E. Campbell Avenue, says she doesn't think this is a good approach for people trying to lose weight.

"This is just another dieting trend," Brooks says. "It allows some to lose weight but when they stop the diet, they will gain it all back."

She says that the Atkins diet and other similar plans are bad for the body and brain because they restrict carbohydrates, which are needed so the brain can function properly.

"Long-term use of this kind of diet may lead to depression," she adds. "You miss out on a variety of nutrients because there are so many compounds in foods which are not in vitamins."

Brooks suggests that people counting carbohydrates in their daily diet should focus on eating whole-grain bread and rice. She also recommends skipping high-sugar drinks as an easy way to limit unnecessary carbohydrates.

"People need to remember that this is a trend and there is a financial incentive for many businesses to keep this going," she says. "I actually think a lot of Americans are tired of it."

One American who is tired of the low-carb craze is Leslie Funk, owner of Wellness by Design in Campbell. Funk has a bachelor's degree in nutrition science from UC Davis and a master's degree in exercise physiology from San José State University.

She likens the low-carb trend to the fat-free frenzy of the 1990s, saying, "It's like Olestra. People are always looking for a way to continue to overeat. Americans respond to a quick fix. But, if you eat more calories than you need, you still end up fat."

Funk aligns with the American Dietetic Association's recommendation to consume a moderate amount of protein—about 12 to 15 percent of a person's daily calorie intake. "For most people, to eat more than this recommendation is usually too much," she say. "To raise protein higher is questionable and is not proven effective."

Although Funk believes that the majority of individuals don't restrict their carbohydrate intake severely enough to jeopardize their health, she does insists that eating too much protein can have adverse effects on an individual's health, especially for women. She says, "A diet extremely high in protein for women leads to a loss of calcium, which puts them at a greater risk of osteoporosis."

She adds that low-carb diet products, particularly candy, can also cause problems. "Most people don't realize these products carry a warning on their label," she says. "Look out for things that contain sugar alcohol, which can promote gas and diarrhea."

Funk, however, has detected at least one benefit from the consumers' hunger for all things low carb. She says, "The plus side of these diets is that they have improved the quality of breads, tortillas and pastas that are marketed in stores. The products have increased in fiber."

Funk advises dieters to focus on the quality, not just quantity, of the carbohydrates they eat. "I recommend that people take out refined carbs—sugar in all forms. Look out for hidden sugar and white flour, because the body treats that like sugar. But don't take out fruits and vegetables."

For people struggling to take off those last few pounds, moderation might be just what the doctor ordered. And reducing one's caloric intake and total simple carbohydrates in the long run is still a healthy choice.

For more information about Castus Low Carb Superstore, 1777 S. Bascom Ave., call 408.371.0100 or visit www.lowcarb4u.net. For information about Wellness by Design, 1550 Winchester Blvd. #221, call 408.314.2687 or visit www.wellness-design.com. Castus Low Carb Superstore is officially celebrating its opening with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Aug. 18, 5:30 to 7:00 p.m. The store will also be giving away free samples of low-carb beverages and food.