Thanks in large part to Dr. Atkins, a lot of people have become downright pasta-phobic. At the other extreme are the Pastafarians, who worship a durum flour-based deity known as the Flying Spaghetti Monster.

The just published Gospel of the Flying Spaghetti Monster is flying off the shelves. But there's a noodle with an even bigger cult following; House Foods Tofu Shirataki Noodles.

It's another form of selling sickness. Now more than ever, food marketers are pushing items that fit within the dietary constrictions of various chronic illnesses.

Sick people are the ultimate demographic with more than 70 million suffering from heart problems, 21 million managing diabetes, and two-thirds of American adults struggling with obesity. Low-fat, low-sugar, and other specialty items (don't forget low carb, no salt and dairy-free products) are filling grocery aisles.