Troubled by position on carbs
I find it interesting, as a registered dietitian, that Gary Taubes, a science journalist, finds himself in a position to be touting nutrition and health advice [“He’s Against the Grain and High on Fat,” Oct. 22]. What I find disturbing is that the L.A. Times is advertising a book that is based on completely erroneous and unsound information.
Mr. Taubes and his readers may note that any foods or calories when eaten in excess may lead to various diseases -- there is no such thing as good or bad carbs, just good or bad eating habits. In addition, he may note that carbs are responsible for our brain function and blood glucose stabilization and are necessary to burn fat.
And last, when referring to diets that were consumed hundreds or thousands of years ago, one may also want to consider how long those individuals lived, before advising to follow their meal plans.
Erin Naimi Beverly Hills
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I hope that readers are willing to overlook some of Gary Taubes’ more extravagant claims (e.g., regarding the causes of Alzheimer’s), because I’m convinced he’s right about his fundamental point: eliminating grain products and sugar from your diet can result in dramatic weight loss. That certainly is my personal experience. I began following similar advice about three years ago and lost 25 pounds.
Taubes is hardly the first to make this claim; I’m surprised neither he nor the writer mentioned the work of S. Boyd Eaton and Loren Cordain (“The Paleolithic Prescription,” “The Paleo Diet” respectively), which makes this and other recommendations.
Mark Field
Los Angeles
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As a wellness coach, I am amazed, frustrated and angered by your willingness to delude the public regarding their health. At least Gary Taubes’ behavior makes sense -- he stands to profit financially through the sale of his book.
For the most part, Taubes’ rant against carbohydrates is really aimed at processed white flour, rice, potatoes and sugary foods such as desserts. I am wholeheartedly in agreement with him in this area. But why fail to address the importance of vegetables, fruits and whole grains in the diet? These are also carbohydrate-based foods.
Another concern I have is with the misinformation regarding exercise. As an American College of Sports Medicine-certified fitness professional, I am familiar with the benefits of physical activity, which include exercise, as well as activities of daily living. There are ways to introduce physical activity into one’s daily routine that will not trigger a “calorie deficit response” resulting in weight gain through compensatory eating.
The biggest insult relates to Mr. Taubes’ explanation of why the poor are overweight. Contrary to his stereotype of housekeepers and ditch diggers, most low-wage jobs require that employees are sedentary for long periods of time (phone sales, cashier, etc.) And unlike their wealthier counterparts who hold white-collar positions, the poor do not have a standard appointment with their personal trainers five days a week.
What is available to the poor is high-fat, low-quality fast food.
Jeanne Kuntz
Mar Vista
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Some unscientific opinions in this article may lead your readers into trouble. It has been well-known since the 1950s that a nation’s saturated fat intake correlates accurately with its incidence of coronary artery disease. The more fat per person, the more disease.
With this in mind, numerous clinical trials of low-fat dieting, and later cholesterol lowering using medication, were performed with mostly disappointing results.
It was only when late follow-up studies were undertaken in the drug trials that clear benefits emerged. The implication is that mild to moderate cholesterol-lowering or low-fat diets are beneficial, but it may take 10 to 20 years to translate into fewer heart attacks for most people.
The converse is equally true. Atkins diets (high in fat) are effective for weight control, but the deleterious effects on coronary disease are not going to show up in the two- to five-year studies that have been performed to date.
For long-term health, the best diet is high in complex carbohydrates, fruit and vegetables, with moderate intake of fish and chicken, and little or no meat. The key word here is “complex.” Simple carbohydrates, particularly sugar and its alternatives (e.g., high fructose corn syrup or juices) and white flour cause swings in insulin levels that are undesirable and contribute to obesity.
Peter Marx, MD
Glendale
