I’ve finally finished reading Gary Taubes’ Good Calories, Bad Calories: Fats, Carbs, and the Controversial Science of Diet and Health. Quite the read. Worthy of a slow, considered reading.
Taubes, a journalist with a penchant for writing about public health, nutrition, and diet, spent five years researching the book. It is an exhaustive look at disparate research across time and disciplines and it is a highly useful and sane synthesis of the same.
If you want to understand the research on which our ‘best dietary’ recommendations, those which are touted as in the best interests of public health, are based, read Taubes. If you are about nutrition, weight loss counseling, or dietary health, Good Calories Bad Calories best be on your reading list.
In the Epilogue of the book, Taubes states
As I emerge from this research…certain conclusions seem inescapable to me, based on the existing knowledge.
These conclusions he lists as:
- Dietary fat, whether saturated or not, is not the cause of obesity, heart disease, or any other chronic disease of civilization.
- The problem in the carbohydrates in the diet, their effect on insulin secretion, and thus the hormonal regulation of homeostasis — the entire harmonic ensemble of the human body. The more easily digestible and refined the carbohydrates, the greater the effect on our health, weight, and well-being.
- Sugars — sucrose and high-fructose corn syrup specifically — are particularly harmful, probably because the combination of fructose and glucose simultaneously elevates insulin levels while overloading the liver with carbohydrates.
- Through their direct effect on insulin and blood sugar, refined carbohydrates, starches, and sugars are the dietary cause of coronary heart disease and diabetes. They are the most likely dietary causes of cancer, Alzheimer’s disease, and the other chronic diseases of civilization.
- Obesity is a disorder of excess fat accumulation, not overeating, and not sedentary behavior.
- Consuming excess calories does not cause us to grow fatter, any more than it causes a child to grow taller. Expending more energy than we consume does not lead to long-term weight loss; it leads to hunger.
- Fattening and obesity are caused by an imbalance — a disequilibrium — in the hormonal regulation of adipose tissue and fat metabolism. Fat synthesis and storage exceed the mobilization of fat from the adipose tissue and its subsequent oxidation. We become leaner when the hormonal regulation of the fat tissue reverses this balance.
- Insulin is the primary regulator of fat storage. When insulin levels are elevated — either chronically or after a meal — we accumulate fat in our fat tissue. When insulin levels fall, we release fat from our fat tissue and use it for fuel.
- By stimulating insulin secretion, carbohydrates make us fat and ultimately cause obesity. The fewer carbohydrates we consume, the leaner we will be.
- By driving fat accumulation, carbohydrates also increase hunger and decrease the amount of energy we expend in metabolism and physical activity.
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April 6, 2010 at 8:07 am
South Beach Steve
I am going to have to see if my library has this, or if they can get it on inter-library loan. It sounds like a good book. I don’t buy into the whole “it’s all about calories” argument. If it were that simple, there wouldn’t be so many people overweight.
Good review Wendy.
April 6, 2010 at 8:45 am
thewholeway
Well Steve, Taubes documents all the research that says it is not all about calories and that a calorie is not a calorie.
You’d find a lot to like about the book. I’m sure.
April 6, 2010 at 8:14 am
Diane
I’ve heard of this book. Doesn’t Michael Pollan quote it in some of his works? Sounds quite interesting. May have to grab it when I get back.
I am waiting for the coffee machine. The one located here must be the first automatice coffee machine ever made and takes approx 28 minutes to make a pot of coffee 😦
Have a great day.
April 6, 2010 at 8:47 am
thewholeway
Enjoy the sloooowwwww Diane, there will be coffee at the end of it 🙂
The book is one you’d enjoy and get much out of. After your break.
Love that you are posting fabulous pictures. Thanks. I miss you!!
April 7, 2010 at 7:14 am
Diane
Hi again,
I’ve posted more pics on my family blog.Just in case you want to take a peek (www.downhourfamily.blogspot.com) Trying to keep my mom happy and informed. she wants to visit this area with us and volunteer at Best Friends.
Once again, waiting for the damn coffee machine…
April 7, 2010 at 8:38 pm
RobFitness
Sounds like a very interesting and informative book and I loved hearing your review of it. I agree with the majority of it because I feel that Carbs are my down fall and know try to live the Paleo way as best as can and get must of my carbs from fruits and vegetables. I think the next time I am out shopping I’ll have to pick it up. Do you think the book is an easy read?
By the way another thing I have to add to my list is to pick up those ingredients for those Coconut Crepes/pancakes. Those look delicious and I too think I’ll add some bananas and coco as a topping. Now i am getting real hungry 🙂
Hope the weather is getting warmer and the sun a shining more and more each day!
Take care Xoxo
PS.. Boy am I sore 🙂
April 8, 2010 at 10:58 am
thewholeway
Hey Rob. This book is definitely not an easy read — about 500 pages of research review. Very interesting though and I’m glad I’ve read it.
The pancakes are good. You’ll like them and not have the carb concern.
I know you’re sore. You’ll get over it. 🙂
Our weather is warming. So very nice.
Stay well; soak in the hot tub often.