Susan, I've recently gotten hold of a copy of his book. Its a terrifically well researched tome. I agree with much of what he says about why we went wrong with the fat makes us fat message and also his thoughts on exercise. But I think he comes a little unstuck in the science around his conclusions on carbohydrates. Unlike Gary, I don't believe the research backs up carbohydrates in general having an especially evil role in our diet. I believe that much of what Gary attributes to carbohydrates in general are more specifically associated with the metabolic dysfunctions around our metabolism of fructose. What do you think of it? Cheers David.

I should also let you know I have just had to buy my second copy of Sweet Poison. I have to have a copy out on loan and one for myself. Thanks so much.

David Gillespie wrote:

Susan Byrne wrote:I think I will have to buy 'good calories bad calories' and make it my seaside reading for January.My fear is that all carbohydrate will turn out to be a problem. For me it has been really easy to cut out fructose. I am not overweight at all and sugary foods were not a large part of my diet. Having said that, carbohydrates are a large part of my diet.  I love this feeling of 'being saved' by knowing the truth about fructose, but it all seems a bit too good to be true.  I have a degree in biochemistry and feel I should read what Taubes has to say. It could be I am very easily convinced by clever writers such as yourself. I feel I should investigate the science.

I'd be very keen to hear what you have to say once you've had a chance to take a look - another to add to you summer reading list is: Trick and Treat by Barry Groves Cheers David.

I have "Trick and Treat".  Seems a little more extreme than Garry Taubes.  I would be interested in what you think about his views on fructose. I cannot seem to find the page (I am only onto page 110 so it must be earlier in the book that this).  He says fructose becomes glucose and all starches turn into glucose in the end and to be told you can eat lots of carbohydrate of any type is wrong. This is not what I gleaned from your book.

He also seems to be a little dismissive of the importance of immunisation.  I am really very pro-immunisation.  He may lose me on all his messages as he seems to be so extreme.  I have not found this of Garry Taubes so far.

Do you think I should branch out to a bit of fiction. It does seem a bit weird to have 3 biochemistry/diet books on the go at once.

Has anybody actually read the whole of Trick and Treat?  I find much of what he says to be very sensationalist. I am also not too sure about the science.  The parts about sunscreens causing skin cancer sound far fetched.  Anybody got any views?  I really think it makes the reader question all his claims. susan.

David Gillespie wrote:Susan, Barry throws a whole lot of stuff in there and bits of it are just plain wrong (the stuff he says about fructose for example), but he does have some interesting theories and he does cite the studies which support them. I'm particularly intrigues by the things he says about polyunsaturated fats. I plan to look at that stuff in much more detail - I'll post anything interesting I find. Cheers David.

I too would be interested to find out more about margarines etc.. I have now cut out any of the 'processed' fats. Just olive oil and butter for us. There does not seem much down side to being cautious.

The problem I have with some of the information being incorrect in "Trick and Treat" is that I, as the uninformed reader, find it difficult to know what to believe.  We all know it is easy to be selective in the studies and papers chosen to quote.  To me, he just ends up sounding like a crank and I disregard all he says.  Thanks for being such a good reader and researcher. Susan.