‘The Diet Delusion’ by Gary Taubes a must read for anyone with an interest in weight loss and controlling diabetes.

This is a great book. It took years of research, and in my opinion is a masterpiece. I never go more than a week without picking it up, and marvelling at how we got to our present position of type two diabetes and obesity epidemics. As Einstein said. Mans intelligence is limited, but his stupidity is infinite. Gary gives his opinions and appreciates he does not know all the answers. Most of the book is not Gary’s opinion, but draws on thousands of references to peer reviewed papers, interviews and accepted as fact, medical science.

1. Dietary fat, whether saturated or not, is not a cause of obesity, heart disease or any other chronic disease.

2. The problem is refined carbs in diet, their effect on insulin secretion & the hormonal regulation of homeostasis.

3. Sugars - sucrose, high-fructose corn syrup specifically - are particularly harmful, the combination of fructose & glucose simultaneously elevates insulin levels & overload liver with carbs.

4. Through their direct effects on insulin & blood sugar, refined carbs, starches, sugars are the dietary cause of coronary heart disease & diabetes. They are likely dietary causes of cancer, Alzheimer's & other diseases.

5. Obesity is a disorder of excess fat accumulation, not overeating.

6. Consuming excess calories does not cause us to grow fatter.

7. Fattening & obesity are caused by an imbalance in the hormonal regulation of adipose tissue & fat metabolism. Fat synthesis & storage exceed the mobilization of fat from adipose tissue & its subsequent oxidation.

8. Insulin is the primary regulator of fat storage. When insulin levels fall, we release fat from fat tissue.

9. By stimulating insulin secretion, carbs make us fat.

10. By driving fat accumulation, carbs also increase hunger & decrease the amount of energy we expend in metabolism & physical activity.

Extract from the book The Diet Delusion page 454 by Gary Taubes ISBN-978-0-09-189141-1