A tale of two books
Reading Gina Kolata's New York Times book review of Gary Taubes' new book, Good Calories, Bad Calories, I'm struck that the book is really two-in-one. The first "book" is the heavily-researched and compellingly-argued critique of the scientific foundation of current dietary guidance. As Kolata summarizes his argument: "nutrition and public policy research and policy have been driven by poor science and a sort of pigheaded insistence on failed hypotheses." Sounds like the sodium and health debate to me. Kolata says "much of what Taubes relates will be eye-opening to those who have not closely followed the science, or lack of science, in this area." The second "book" is Taubes argument favoring low-carb diets.
I fear too many may neglect the impeccable research buttressing "book one" if they don't accept Taubes' answer to the narrower question of the role of carbohydrate, fat and protein as causes of heart disease. That would be a great loss. "Book one" is a great stand-alone read and a devastating critique of the "consensus" method - as opposed to an "evidence-based" method - of formulating dietary recommendations.
Taubes concludes: "From the inception of the diet-heart hypothesis in the early 1950s, those who argued that dietary fat caused heart disease accumulated the evidential equivalent of a mythology to support their belief. These myths are still passed on faithfully to the present day." Kolata adds: "The story is similar for salt and blood pressure, and for dietary fiber and cancer," concluding "Taubes convincingly shows that much of what is believed about nutrition and health is based on the flimsiest science."
There's much more in Taubes' 450-page book. Make sure you read at least "book one."
