This is the weekly digest for my Low Carb Nugget podcast. In the latest episodes of podcast, I discussed solutions to problems big and small. Starting big, I looked at the idea of growing food indoors under artificial light as a way of feeding the world. Then I looked at the most recent research to find that eating lots of carbs and little fat won't extend your life, and may end it. Finally, on a personal level, I considered plans for continuing my blog, my podcast, and my LCHF journey. Each … [Read more...]
High-carb, low-fat diets associated with increased risk of early death
A major new study has found an association between low-fat diets and an increased risk of premature death. The large epidemiological cohort study, published in The Lancet, followed more than 135,000 people in 18 countries around the world to uncover the relationship between dietary macro-nutrients and cardiovascular disease and mortality. High, middle, and low-income groups were included. The researchers documented nearly 5,800 deaths and 4,800 major cardiovascular disease events in the … [Read more...]
This week’s nuggets: June 13-17, 2017
This week on the Low Carb Nugget Podcast, I attacked sugar and defended saturated fat. In other words, it was business as usual, but at least I had my voice back. Take a listen! You can subscribe to the Nugget via any of the following: Apple Podcasts Google Play Music Stitcher TuneIn (If you have an Amazon Echo, try the command, "Alexa, play The Low Carb Nugget Podcast on TuneIn.") #16 What's in a name? Does it make a difference what you call a diet? Should Jim call his diet “low-carb” … [Read more...]
It’s time to fix the dietary guidelines
"If it ain't broke, don't fix it" is age-old advice that's hard to argue with. The problem is, people often disagree about whether a thing is broken or not. That's the case with the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, first foisted on American citizens by their federal government in 1980, and since revised every five years. This year will see the release of the next revision. But will it be a fix? Many see the Dietary Guidelines as seriously flawed and in need of fixing. I'm in that camp -- no … [Read more...]
An about-face on fat in the diet
The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, which calls itself the "world's largest organization of food and nutrition professionals" and probably is, recently broke ranks with the anti-fat brigade, urging that the 2015 Dietary Guidelines for Americans "deemphasize saturated fat from nutrients of concern, given the lack of evidence connecting it with cardiovascular disease" (Press Release). The wording is awkward. I think what the Academy means to say is that we should stop bad-mouthing saturated … [Read more...]
Setting the stage for tragedy: changes in the U.S. diet, 1970-2006
In the years 1977-1984, the U.S. government pushed out dietary recommendations to the American people to cut their intake of saturated fats (as in butter, lard and red meat) and increase their intake of carbohydrates and fiber (as in grains, fruits and starchy vegetables) and of "healthy" fats (as in poly and monounsaturated vegetable oils). The goal was to prevent heart disease. The theory was, dietary fat -- especially saturated animal fat -- causes a build up of fats in the blood, leading … [Read more...]
Petition to end war on fat
It's time to end the war on fat. Dietary fat, that is, not the fat around our waistlines. That's the message of an online petition at SignOn.org: To be delivered to: The United States House of Representatives The decades long war against dietary fat must come to an end. Starting with the McGovern Commission in 1977, we have been told that a healthy diet is low in fat and high in carbohydrates. Despite a lack of scientific evidence to support these claims, the message that fat is "bad" … [Read more...]