A handful of Docs/theories doesn't negate decades of research and thousands of other MDs/researchers/institutions. Lustig's theories are just that...theories.
Lustiq will readily admit he is summarizing the work of many other researchers and doctors. And almost no biochemst would disagree with the way Taubes has described the insulin cycle. These are not whacky theory guys, IMHO.
It's not really 'establishment vs. crackpot."
As Taubes has documented the history of nutrition science is really alot of BAD science - especially recent history. Many of the cherished 'modern' ideas really rely on some suspect stuff.
They don't control their variables - they don't listen to the biochemists and so on and so forth.
You are imagining there is this great body of research behind what these doctors have been telling us. But I believe taubes. It's just not there. It hasn't even been demonstrated that exercise leads to weight loss.
You can absolutely make a good case that the science isn't there yet for Lustiq about sugar or about low carbs. But I tell you what it SURE THE HECK isn't there for the traditional view. I was like you - I thought there was. But even something 'obvious' like exercise makes you lose weight..not alot of evidence.
As Taubes explains quite cleary the problem with saying 'calories in/calories out' is that while true it doesn't really tell us anything.
The question is WHY DO SOME PEOPLE TAKE IN MORE CALORIES then they need? And why are some people fine?
I certainly wouldn't consider myself overweight. But I am not some masterful 'calorie balancer.' Taubes and Lustiq Eades and others point out that what you eat can effect your appetite.
Basically if you eat junk - refined carbs and especially sugars your body gets thrown out of whack. Your fat cells get greedy - you end up taking in more food then you need.
It makes perfect sense to me. Think of it like thirst. I have never had to 'track' my liquid intake. I drink when I am thirsty. I don't worry that I will drink myself to death by mistake. I don't have to say man I better not drink that extra bit of water. No. My body knows how much I need to drink - it tells my mind.
As long as you don't screw stuff up your body will work fine. But eating a whole lot of crap we were never evolved to eat namely fructose and refined carbs. I buy into the idea that screws you up.
Want to get lean? Cut out all refined carbs and sugars. Bodybuilders have been doing it for years. Movie stars do it. It works - and best of all you don't have to go hungry.
Personally I LOVE carbs. It's trite but I love doughnuts. I love candy and the like. I love pasta. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out people who eat alot of that stuff get fat. And they get diabetes. And they get alzheimers..
What these guys say totally square with my experiences. I actually like fatty foods like steak and ribs. There is a reason they don't try those all you can eat stunts with a giant bag of french fries. Eat too much steak and you feel naseous.
Carbs OTOH I can eat non-stop. They just don't fill me up. And the blood sugar/insulin theories explain this. That's why I am a believers..
That's why I favour insulin senstivity supplements like cinnamon and fish oil. Insulin resistance is likely responsible for most of our weight gain problems IMHO. I also am trying out coconut oil - for whatever cooking purposes I can use but not really convinced about it..
All sorts of interesting diabetes research in the last decade, from viral causes to autoimmune reponses.
