On January 22 and 23, 2004, the first annual LowCarbiz Summit will be held in Denver, Colorado. It's being sponsored by LowCarbiz, an on-line trade journal of the low carb industry, and will be attended by some of the biggest heavy-hitters in this growing field. In fact, our own Lora Ruffner from Low Carb Luxury will be a speaker at the Summit.

Also speaking will be Dr.'s Michael and Mary Dan Eades (who wrote Protein Power), and such leaders as Arne Bey of Keto Foods (a long time alliance of Low Carb Luxury), and Fred Pescatore, MD MPh, formerly of the Atkins Center in New York. We'll be hearing from Carolyn Merkel of McNeil Nutritionals (the makers of Splenda), and Jeff Endervelt, CEO of Blimpies, and so many others...

It's an opportunity for industry colleagues to share information and build rapport. But more importantly, it's indicative of how America is responding to the low carbohydrate-eating regime that's sweeping this nation.

Over the last several months, countless news stories, research studies, and new businesses with a low carb focus have raced to the public's attention. And the public is listening… and more importantly — buying. It's estimated that one in four Americans is now restricting their carbohydrate intake in one way or another, and approximately 65 million Americans now claim to be following a low carb eating plan.

These are numbers no retailer or restaurateur could resist. And with each new major American company that joins the ranks of low carb product suppliers, the movement grows. It's a trend we spoke of three years ago in the pages of this very magazine — though then the movement was only in its infancy. A few brave retailers were dipping a cautious toe in the consumer pool to test the waters. Look how far we've come.

The Low Carb Summit quickly sold out, and in response, a second summit (at this time slated for May 5 & 6, 2004 in Washington D.C.) has been scheduled. This second summit will cover policy and regulatory issues as well as "best practices."

Under the direction of other powers in the low carb field, many other such conferences are planned throughout the year, with more being planned all the time. I think we'll all be able to look back on 2004 as the year when everything changed for the low carb dieter. It will be the year that regulations took shape. The year that food products went mainstream. The year that low carb went from "trendy" or "fad" diet to the accepted plan for good health.

It's an exciting time, alright. And we couldn't be happier to be a part of it. And you can expect a full report on what we learn there in a future issue, as we bring you inside coverage of an event sure to have a huge impact on your way of life!