tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1161145992070861069.post1803399058531740906..comments2024-02-25T07:11:38.732-05:00Comments on Small Bites: You "Ask", I Answer: Gary Taubes/Low-CarbAndy Bellattihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04994079922078627050noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1161145992070861069.post-53135969181730430952008-03-20T14:19:00.000-04:002008-03-20T14:19:00.000-04:00I just noticed that Andy did not respond to a ques...I just noticed that Andy did not respond to a question posed to him about Michael Pollan, because he had not read the book. I think in the future you should follow that rule with Gary. His book is 450 pages long - his articles and speeches are just a small summary of the vast and nuanced argument he provides in the book, so to me your responses have been inadequate and short on content.<BR/><BR/>Keep in mind that I found this blog, because I am actively seeking refutations of the science presented in Gary's book. So far everything I have read is high on rhetoric and low on science.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1161145992070861069.post-36571129078119848252008-03-20T14:11:00.000-04:002008-03-20T14:11:00.000-04:00Dear readers,I suggest you all read "Good Calories...Dear readers,<BR/><BR/>I suggest you all read "Good Calories, Bad Calories" and form your own opinions. It is hardly radical for Gary Taubes to recommend staying away from foods rich in simple carbohydrates.<BR/><BR/>I read the book for myself. Based upon the extensive and meticulously detailed evidence, I decided that avoiding sugar at all costs would provide the most benefit to my health. I also decided to avoid products with refined grains and simple carbohydrates. This included for me bread, pasta, beer, and vegetables stripped of their nutrients (skinless mashed potatoes being a good example). <BR/><BR/>Please bare in mind though - this is not a diet book. His recommendations for what foods to eat compromise all of 2 pages out of 450 pages. He is more concerned with what nutrition science has and has not proven about the effects of sugar and saturated fats on the human body.<BR/><BR/>The long and short of it is this: if you are a non-smoker the single-most important thing you can do for your health is: AVOID SUGAR. Andy claims this is oversimplifying things, but Gary shows over and over in his book what a toxic substance sugar is and how the rise in obesity over the last 20 years is directly related to the introduction of high-fructose corn syrup into the American diet. <BR/><BR/>By 1999 we ate 30%more sugar than in 1983 - how could sugar NOT be causing the obesity epidemic?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1161145992070861069.post-52815459445636748382008-03-16T03:01:00.000-04:002008-03-16T03:01:00.000-04:00"This is a man who places refined white flour and ...<I>"This is a man who places refined white flour and potatoes in the same category. As I have mentioned in the past, potatoes can be eaten in many different ways. Peel off the skin and deep fry them and, sure, you're not getting much nutrition. Leave the skin on, pop it in the microwave, and top it off with a teaspoon or two of olive oil and you have a nutritious side dish containing fiber, potassium, and vitamin C."</I><BR/><BR/>The friend I'm having a good-natured debate with on this subject also believes that oatmeal in any form, and bananas, are "deadly". I'm certain she got this idea from "Good Calories, Bad Calories". She's an intelligent woman, too.<BR/><BR/>I wonder what Taubes would think if a scientist with a background in Nutrition science would stop working in Nutrition, and start working in Physics, and proceed to question the theory of Relativity? Perhaps write a few books about refuting that theory, or some other established theory in Physics?Tom Blogicalhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15063435236501738291noreply@blogger.com