Why We Get Fat (and what to do about it)
For the most part of Man's existence, over 99 % percent of our lives of Earth, our food pyramid had been quite different. If now, carbohydrate forms the broadest base of the pyramid, it was never like this before. As hunters and gatherers, our food mainly composed of protein and fat. Carbohydrate constituted a small portion and was found in complex forms, not refined.
Come late 19th century and beyond, we started loads of carbohydrate both in simple refined forms like sugars and complex ones like in potato, wheat and rice. I suppose it must have been quite alright when we were members of an agrarian society but it soon became toxic when our lifestyles became more sedentary with the ease of performing tasks after leaps in science and technology.
So, it is the carbohydrate that makes us fat. Insulin has pushed to the brim that our systems have been hardwired to use glucose as the first resource of energy. Ketones which can be utilised for many important functions, including the brain, stay in the background. Insulin stores extra glucose as unhealthy fat. Instead of using fat for energy at times distress, we instead crave for more glucose via hunger mechanisms or use our protein reserves. On top of that, many endogenous hormones and genetic predispositions determine where fat is reserved in the body. The longer we have fat deposited in our bodies, the harder we find it to get rid.
The author describes the oft-prescribed fat laden food as the villain for the aetiology of various lifestyle diseases like heart diseases, obesity and diabetic as fallacious. He suggests reducing carbohydrates, ketogenic diets and Palaeolithic diets as a way to rein weight loss and healthier living. Exercise keeps fit and increases metabolism but paradoxically increases appetite. Hence, it cannot be used as a modality to reduce weight.
Gary Taubes
For the most part of Man's existence, over 99 % percent of our lives of Earth, our food pyramid had been quite different. If now, carbohydrate forms the broadest base of the pyramid, it was never like this before. As hunters and gatherers, our food mainly composed of protein and fat. Carbohydrate constituted a small portion and was found in complex forms, not refined.
Come late 19th century and beyond, we started loads of carbohydrate both in simple refined forms like sugars and complex ones like in potato, wheat and rice. I suppose it must have been quite alright when we were members of an agrarian society but it soon became toxic when our lifestyles became more sedentary with the ease of performing tasks after leaps in science and technology.
So, it is the carbohydrate that makes us fat. Insulin has pushed to the brim that our systems have been hardwired to use glucose as the first resource of energy. Ketones which can be utilised for many important functions, including the brain, stay in the background. Insulin stores extra glucose as unhealthy fat. Instead of using fat for energy at times distress, we instead crave for more glucose via hunger mechanisms or use our protein reserves. On top of that, many endogenous hormones and genetic predispositions determine where fat is reserved in the body. The longer we have fat deposited in our bodies, the harder we find it to get rid.
The author describes the oft-prescribed fat laden food as the villain for the aetiology of various lifestyle diseases like heart diseases, obesity and diabetic as fallacious. He suggests reducing carbohydrates, ketogenic diets and Palaeolithic diets as a way to rein weight loss and healthier living. Exercise keeps fit and increases metabolism but paradoxically increases appetite. Hence, it cannot be used as a modality to reduce weight.
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