What If It’s All Been a Big Fat Lie?
“If the members of the American medical establishment were to have a collective find-yourself-standing-naked-in-Times-Square-type nightmare, this might be it.”
So begins one of the most thought-provoking articles I have read in a long time. Written by Gary Taube, “What If It’s All Been a Big Fat Lie” was featured in the New York Times back in 2002 and has been causing all kinds of controversy ever since. Today’s post is extremely short because I want you to read this article. That’s right, I’m giving you homework. Read it at work, read it at home, print it out and read it on the toilet, whatever floats your boat.
Being the skeptic that I am, I searched for responses that discredit Taubes. I immediately found Michael Fumento’s rebuttal to this article here, followed by Gary’s rebuttal to the rebuttal here, and then Fumento’s rebuttal of the rebuttal to the rebuttal. Personally, I think we should just put Taubes and Fumento in a steel cage and let them duke it out. Now it’s your turn: I’d love to hear your thoughts on the article and whether you think Gary is absolutely correct, a complete wackjob, or somewhere in between.
I’ll post my complete thoughts on this back-and-forth debate in the comments section at the end of the day (I’ll be away from a computer for the whole day), but I want to hear from you guys before I jump into the fray.
-Steve
PS – Gary has written a book that details this theory more elaborately: Good Calories, Bad Calories.
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One thing that gets a little lost in all the controversy over the article, but which becomes clear once you read the book, is that this is not at all about whether the Atkins diet works. The book is not a diet book – it has no recommendations on what you should eat, recipes, weight loss strategies, etc. It’s really about the hard science behind the effects of dietary fat and carbohydrates on health. The results of that seem to indicate that (most) dietary fat is not the enemy of health we once thought it was, and that carbohydrates (especially refined ones) are not a good basis for the bulk of one’s diet. Unfortunately that doesn’t make for very sensational headlines.
I think they should’ve just agreed on the fact that people eat too much, humans need some fat to be healthy, and excessive amounts of simple carbs screw up your pancreatic functions.
It is hilarious to see them argue though, particularly when Fumento claims he’s a better medical writer because he’s published 3 books instead of Taubes’ 2. Did you really have to get out the ruler when talking about science?
I think this debate could go on indefinitely, that is, unless we use my idea and allow scientific tests on prisoners…
Why don’t we all agree to eat in moderation and exercise more? We could blame corporate fast-food America, a sedentary working environment, television, or the internal combustion engine, but it is all a mindset that we can choose to overcome.
I spent 3 days in Amsterdam this past Spring and was astounded at how much slimmer the Dutch population is. They ride bikes and walk most places, and even have many of the same restaurant options as we do. Hell, I bet they even get the munchies on occasion!!