A Nutrition Book to Get Behind
More than anything else, this book dispels the myth of "calories in should equal calories out." It's just not that simple, as the body does not treat all sources of calories the same. Taubes does an excellent job applying the scientific method to this piece of science journalistic nonfiction. He exposes the "facts" we've been fed by authorities such as the AMA, AHA, and USDA, et al, regarding proper nutrition as based on loose or incorrect science. The actual science points to dietary fats as the framed innocents. Carbohydrates, often considered harmless and beneficial, turn out to be the primary culprit in rising obesity rates and other diseases in civilized societies (eg. diabetes and cancer). Consumption of carbs activates insulin secretion. Insulin is the primary chemical responsible for fat accumulation in the body. Unless you are going to burn those carbs immediately, they are doing you more harm than good. This book is a tome and the style of writing is dry, but it is the most in depth audiobook on nutrition I have heard to date. Taubes leaves no stone unturned and applies the scientific method that is so often ignored by authors of nutrition books. His examination of the science behind the research is so thorough that the book is tedious at times. However, that its strength and lends it the credibility most books in this genre don't possess, aside from an "MD" attached to the authors' names of other books on the market. Also, Taubes doesn't shill any products. That lends immense credibility for me.