There are so many things wrong with Taubes theory,it is hard to know where to start. Americans are fatter than ever simply because we are eating more (~500 calories a day more than in the 1970s) and that is from a COMBINATION of processed fats and carbohydrates.
Insulin has many beneficial functions in regards to weight control. It stimulates leptin,increases thermogenisis and signals satiety to name just a few. It is not the only hormone involved in fat storage and to state it as such is an 8th grade level of understanding fat metabolism….funny thing is that throughout his book he accuses the calorie theory of being an elementary level of explaining weight and energy balance.
Taubes is right in the fact that over consumption of refined carbohydrates has contributed to the obesity epidemic. These carbohydrates are a dense form of calories that don’t satiate the body.
Fat,too,in its refined,processed or hydrogenated state has similar problems as do processed meats.
Gary’s new book is another example of cherry picking data and attempting to create a case with a shaky foundation.
I am curious as to why he leaves out studies on some of the leanest,healthiest populations that derive 70-85% of their foods from carbohydrates.
Or,that some protein foods stimulate more insulin than carbohydrate sources.
Food,calories,weight and obesity are not simple. There are many complex factors associated and as a professional in the field I an say with certainty that the overweight clients I have worked with were not exercising regularly and consuming a high carbohydrate diet.
I feel that it is dangerous and irresponsible to claim to know “the answer” to obesity while only reviewing research or manipulating data to support your point of view. I guess there is some incentive when receiving a large sum of money for a book deal. However,I couldn’t compromise my integrity to sell a false concept no matter what amount of money I was offered.
There are so many aspects of weight regulation that we have yet to fully understand.
On another note,I am reading a book about herbs and spices right now. The research on their impact on blood sugar control,metabolism,thermogenisis,immune health and disease prevention is incredible. This is never taken into account with these studies and often the research does not look at whole food diets.
I challenge taubes to find a society that is active and subsists on whole food carbohydrate sources that struggles with an obesity epidemic.
American’s obesity:
- Poor gut health (overgrowth of bad bacteria and undergrowth of beneficial which has been shown in research to change the calorie absorption and metabolism of food,thyroid health and immune function,all of which affect weight control)
- An epidemic of IBS with multiple etiologies. The majority of grains,even whole are genetically modified and the “whole wheat”we eat now is nothing like the wheat from 1970 (40% more gluten and numerous other chemicals and modifications). So,could the epidemic of gluten/grain intolerance be related to this?
- Average American consumes 2-3 pounds of sugar a week! Mostly in the form of HFCS which DOES NOT stimulate insulin. This is part of the problem with fructose. It does not signal satiety or increase leptin.
- Lack of fiber which regulates bowel health,blood sugar,and on and on
- Loaded with chemicals,preservatives and processed foods;all of which affect metabolic pathways that control weight and blood sugar as well as immune health.
- Average steps per day,hmmm,to the car for work and the fridge for food
- Average percent of fat in American diet,over 40% (and Americans are fat from a low fat diet? (I always see obese people eating brown rice,quinoa and multigrain bread,those damn carbs?)
I am not stating that the high carbohydrate diet is the answer. I feel that breaking foods into parts (macronutrients) and not looking at the whole picture and how the packaging (phytochemicals,vitamins,minerals,processing) all affect weight and disease prevention is ignorant and irresponsible.
I eat my grass fed butter,my bread from the local bakery,my meat/poultry and fish are organic or wild and most of my veggies and fruits are from the local farmer. I still enjoy pizza and calamari,just not everyday. I walk my dog daily,do strength training and pay attention to my body’s signals to food and exercise.
Taubes may have some good points but seems to be stuck in his own world of nutrition science. I tried to give his theory another look but when he stated in a podcast that calories do not make you fat and you can eat as much fats and proteins as you want (without carbohydrate) and you will not store fat,I realized it is a lost cause.
I hope I don’t offend anyone. I am not supportive of any one way of eating. I have clients on everything from carb restricted to high carb and this is based on their preferences,metabolism,activity level and physiology. I don’t claim to know “the answer”for I believe it varies depending on the person.
I also believe a large part of what is optimal (outside of variety and whole foods) is enjoying your food,embracing it and paying attention to your thoughts regarding what you are eating,why and giving thanks to both the body and the foods that provide us the energy and nutrients we need to live.
