Why We Get Fat by Gary Taubes
- Thread starter cyclonenum1
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I know Taubes says no carbs like rice and potatoes; has he ever explained then how Asians have stayed so lean for centuries, while eating rice with almost every meal?
Seems there's a huge hole in his theory there...
Seems there's a huge hole in his theory there...
Small portions? Brown rice instead of white? Nutrition class I took at ISU said 65% of the protein in the Japanese diet was from animals, mostly fish. There is science to back up the theory that a diet high in animal protein reduces the desire to eat and therefore is easier to control calorie intake. Most of the information on human nutrition is based on poor science.
CSI | Science and Pseudoscience in Adult Nutrition Research and Practice
because they are poor and that's all they have to eat.
seriously, I lost 150 lbs, and it wasn't by eating a lot of starch carbs. They are empty calories for the most part, white bread white rice are the equivalent of eating sugar, potatoes are a step up, but high in calories.
Eating no carbs is a common myth... Carbs are essential for a good balanced diet! Lipids are what people really need to watch out for. But then again Lipids are also important as long as you stay away from certain kinds of fats. Your body needs lipids, carbs, protein, all in moderation! They are the macro-nutrients and are essential for a good diet. And actually of the three Carbs, Lipids, and Protein, Carbs are probably the MOST important.
What people struggle with, is eating Nutrient-Dense foods, low calories and high in nutrient. Most tend to eat the opposite, high calorie foods that are low in nutrients, aka fast food.
I just switched to HRI and am taking a few nutrition classes, so my knowledge may not be entirely accurate yet and elementary but I am getting a better understanding on how to eat a more balanced diet. Which I think is a great life skill!
I get next to no exercise, eat like a horse (badly I might add), and haven't gained a pound since high school, even when I almost doubled my intake in an attempt to gain. I'd say genetics has a lot to do with it.
I fall in this group as well, I weigh the same as I did in HS. And I have treated my body pretty poorly.
I'm still fairly new in my nutrition education, but the best change I have made is eating more protein, even when I'm not lifting weights. For me, eating more lean protein gives me more energy throughout the day, curbs cravings, and has made it easier to lose and maintain weight. Things like egg whites, almonds, lentils, beans, and chicken. It makes it easier to stay away from fast food, soda, sugar, and all the common sense bad stuff.
Other tip I have is to occasionally do some guilt free binging. Be honest, everyone eats like crap occasionally. Just accept it, do it every now and then, don't feel guilty about it and move on.
Link to the book: http://www.amazon.com/Why-We-Get-Fat-Borzoi/dp/0307272702/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1298335849&sr=8-1
Other tip I have is to occasionally do some guilt free binging. Be honest, everyone eats like crap occasionally. Just accept it, do it every now and then, don't feel guilty about it and move on.
Link to the book: http://www.amazon.com/Why-We-Get-Fat-Borzoi/dp/0307272702/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1298335849&sr=8-1
Well, I guess it looks like no one else has read the book. I would strongly encourage you to read it...especially if you are concerned with your health (which includes your weight but is not exclusively about your weight).
A few comments directed at some of the previous posts:
+ Asians being "lean"...not all Asians are lean first of all. Secondly, Taubes freely discusses that genetics do play a part in all of this. But I think if you do some more research you will find that rice is not the center of the Asian meal and as another poster indicated they primarily eat a diet high in protein (fish and meat)...all this being on the average, of course.
+ To the person just switched to HRI and is in a few nutrition classes...I strongly encourage you to read this book. It really pokes holes in the so-called "science" around today's generally accepted principals of nutrition. Taubes is not just "anti-carb"...he is anti-bad carbs...ones that come from heavily processed starches and sugars primarily in our diet today. I'm curious as to what kinds of fats they are telling you that are bad and to be avoided? One of the interesting points Taubes makes is that saturated fats (mono) are actually good for you...he believes that part of the reason we have seen such an explosion in auto-immune diseases over that last 25 or 30 years is due to our diets becoming focused on avoiding fats of all types...some of which our cells need more of to remain optimally healthy.
+ To the "we get fat by common sense" guy...you really should read this book if you have an open mind...it will blow to shreds your "calories in / calories out" argument. In fact, two very interesting chapters are "The Elusive Benefits of Exercise" and "The Elusive Benefits of Undereating".
+ Certainly genetics has something to do with it. But our body is a finely tuned machine and the real issue with respect to weight is what kind of fuel we are putting into it and how that fuel affects the hormone insulin.
+ I don't know much about the Paleo diet but I have been told by someone that this book reinforces the thought process of that diet. It should be noted that this book is not really a diet book per se. But Taubes does believe we would be better off if we ate diets similar to our ancient ancestors.
+ To the last poster...I laughed in this book when he said you should "eat when you are hungry and stop when you are full"...the key is making sure you are eating the right things...like meat (regardless of fat content), poultry, fish, eggs, leafy vegetables, etc.
For any of you that are interested in your health (not just your weight) and want to be exposed to some very thought provoking information...this book is for you. For those of you that want to continue to believe the "calories in / calories out" theory that has been shoved down our throats...do not read this book.
A few comments directed at some of the previous posts:
+ Asians being "lean"...not all Asians are lean first of all. Secondly, Taubes freely discusses that genetics do play a part in all of this. But I think if you do some more research you will find that rice is not the center of the Asian meal and as another poster indicated they primarily eat a diet high in protein (fish and meat)...all this being on the average, of course.
+ To the person just switched to HRI and is in a few nutrition classes...I strongly encourage you to read this book. It really pokes holes in the so-called "science" around today's generally accepted principals of nutrition. Taubes is not just "anti-carb"...he is anti-bad carbs...ones that come from heavily processed starches and sugars primarily in our diet today. I'm curious as to what kinds of fats they are telling you that are bad and to be avoided? One of the interesting points Taubes makes is that saturated fats (mono) are actually good for you...he believes that part of the reason we have seen such an explosion in auto-immune diseases over that last 25 or 30 years is due to our diets becoming focused on avoiding fats of all types...some of which our cells need more of to remain optimally healthy.
+ To the "we get fat by common sense" guy...you really should read this book if you have an open mind...it will blow to shreds your "calories in / calories out" argument. In fact, two very interesting chapters are "The Elusive Benefits of Exercise" and "The Elusive Benefits of Undereating".
+ Certainly genetics has something to do with it. But our body is a finely tuned machine and the real issue with respect to weight is what kind of fuel we are putting into it and how that fuel affects the hormone insulin.
+ I don't know much about the Paleo diet but I have been told by someone that this book reinforces the thought process of that diet. It should be noted that this book is not really a diet book per se. But Taubes does believe we would be better off if we ate diets similar to our ancient ancestors.
+ To the last poster...I laughed in this book when he said you should "eat when you are hungry and stop when you are full"...the key is making sure you are eating the right things...like meat (regardless of fat content), poultry, fish, eggs, leafy vegetables, etc.
For any of you that are interested in your health (not just your weight) and want to be exposed to some very thought provoking information...this book is for you. For those of you that want to continue to believe the "calories in / calories out" theory that has been shoved down our throats...do not read this book.