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GliderGuider

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48. My primary go-to book on nutrition science is Gary Taubes' "Good Calories, Bad Calories"

Thu Aug 7, 2014, 01:53 PM

Aug 2014

It's a remarkable piece of work, even a landmark. The bibliography has over 1400 references. Reading it made me want to cry.

I have metabolic syndrome, just like a third or more of all Americans and Canadians. I've been an occasional low-carber since the Atkins 80's, but my health suffered dramatically from the long stretches of whole wheat goodness in between the short stretches of keto. I'm now a full-time keto-paleo eater. I can't believe the improvement in my health since I stopped eating first wheat and then all starches, sugars and dairy.

Just as we need to keep politics and religion separate, we also need to separate politics and nutrition (yes, I'm talking to you, George McGovern.) Failure to do that will kill us.

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Weight gain in the American population 1960-2000 [View all] eridani Aug 2014 OP

Schools cutting out "real lunches" and gym classes SoCalDem Aug 2014 #1

Is there any actual data on that? n/t eridani Aug 2014 #2

My kids, I guess.. SoCalDem Aug 2014 #3

Our country completely changed since 1960 yeoman6987 Aug 2014 #77

TV remote controls become common? bklyncowgirl Aug 2014 #4

TV remote controls, cable television, VCRs, microwaves Spider Jerusalem Aug 2014 #6

TIVO Skittles Aug 2014 #9

Remotes before 1980 were not the techie wonders that they are now. eridani Aug 2014 #7

My parents got their first remote control in the early '80s when they got cable TV bklyncowgirl Aug 2014 #90

Well, even back then people found ways around it laundry_queen Aug 2014 #46

Ronald Reagan? riderinthestorm Aug 2014 #5

That would be my first choice. Also, obesity is linked with poverty in affluent societies eridani Aug 2014 #8

Agreed. See post #10, below. n/t Laelth Aug 2014 #12

after all he did claim that katchup was a vegetable. Javaman Aug 2014 #21

Cortisol. Laelth Aug 2014 #10

Interesting. CanSocDem Aug 2014 #20

I love the way you look at the world. Laelth Aug 2014 #41

Stress is a big factor marions ghost Aug 2014 #35

Add some pipi_k Aug 2014 #47

In a similar vein... caraher Aug 2014 #55

Spot on. Thanks. n/t Laelth Aug 2014 #59

Grossly unequal distribution of wealth seems to hifiguy Aug 2014 #60

What's really remarkable in Wilkinson & Pickett's work caraher Aug 2014 #69

It's basic common sense. hifiguy Aug 2014 #71

People in "fairer" nations have more leisure time SoCalDem Aug 2014 #86

This is excellent. Do you have a URL? eridani Aug 2014 #91

Here are a few caraher Aug 2014 #96

And regarding the link to obesity... caraher Aug 2014 #98

I'm wondering if this coincides with ... surrealAmerican Aug 2014 #11

the suburbs themselves changed as well in the 80s--they were easier to invest in MisterP Aug 2014 #61

It would be interesting to see a comparison ... surrealAmerican Aug 2014 #65

Two 1980 factors. Corn sugar replaced real sugar in soft drinks and we got Nutrasweet. McCamy Taylor Aug 2014 #13

Thank you! BuelahWitch Aug 2014 #16

I am certain that has more than a little to do with it. hifiguy Aug 2014 #28

The body recognizes fructose as food but absorbs it more easily than other sugars (sucrose, lactose) KurtNYC Aug 2014 #34

Correlation does not equal causation eridani Aug 2014 #94

No, they tested the mechanism after the found the correlation KurtNYC Aug 2014 #110

^^THIS^^ But also add the introduction of the two-liter bottle of soft drinks Turn CO Blue Aug 2014 #49

Are you sure that 1980 was the key year for HFCS? n/t eridani Aug 2014 #93

The size of the portions when eating out newfie11 Aug 2014 #14

Irrelevant. Who says that diners actually eat all of it? eridani Aug 2014 #95

I'm not so sure newfie11 Aug 2014 #107

Interesting. Thanks for posting. cwydro Aug 2014 #15

None of this has been fat shaming Warpy Aug 2014 #85

The OP was actually about vastly higher rates of population weight gain after 1980 as eridani Aug 2014 #97

This is great stuff, I don't know why this post isn't getting more recs BuelahWitch Aug 2014 #17

Unhealthiness is profitable to well-heeled private interests, so we subsidize unhealthiness. Romulox Aug 2014 #18

1980..the year USDA declared war on fat and cholesterol workinclasszero Aug 2014 #19

I believe this is correct. nt Dreamer Tatum Aug 2014 #24

It's also right around the time food companies started using HFCS Fawke Em Aug 2014 #31

Yes sir....HFCS is the lead killer sugar in the SAD... workinclasszero Aug 2014 #38

I try to stay on the Paelo diet as much as possible Fawke Em Aug 2014 #111

Agreed BrotherIvan Aug 2014 #40

Great post workinclasszero Aug 2014 #43

Ever wonder why restaurants serve you bread the minute you sit down? GliderGuider Aug 2014 #50

Bingo! workinclasszero Aug 2014 #82

That's where I'd point the finger as well. GliderGuider Aug 2014 #42

Well said BrotherIvan Aug 2014 #45

My primary go-to book on nutrition science is Gary Taubes' "Good Calories, Bad Calories" GliderGuider Aug 2014 #48

It is unfortunately corporate money and it is the rot in our society BrotherIvan Aug 2014 #57

Thanks. I've heard of the Price book, but don't have it. GliderGuider Aug 2014 #64

It's sometimes hard to find, try your library, but well worth the read BrotherIvan Aug 2014 #80

The Gutenberg Project has it. GliderGuider Aug 2014 #92

That's great! BrotherIvan Aug 2014 #104

This one has the photos GliderGuider Aug 2014 #105

And since the state of your teeth reflects the state of your bones... BrotherIvan Aug 2014 #106

And don't get me started on Statins! BrotherIvan Aug 2014 #58

Red Yeast Rice Extract, the natural source of all statins has been around McCamy Taylor Aug 2014 #73

That's interesting BrotherIvan Aug 2014 #81

and nothing ever keeps the grim reaper away forever SoCalDem Aug 2014 #87

My parents are both suffering because their doctor is an incurious idiot. tridim Aug 2014 #101

You know, another thing.. cwydro Aug 2014 #22

And when I see folks who look healthy Lifelong Protester Aug 2014 #56

I truly hate leaf blowers. cwydro Aug 2014 #62

Very true! Lifelong Protester Aug 2014 #74

I had to use one when I had a house. hifiguy Aug 2014 #108

Another factor: The rise of all-day snacking and the growth of the availability of Arugula Latte Aug 2014 #23

That, and thirst was quenched with simple water, not soda pop Brother Buzz Aug 2014 #26

Maybe early 90s? Arugula Latte Aug 2014 #27

I remember being thirsty, often, and trudging on Brother Buzz Aug 2014 #32

My 1991 Volvo wagon had no cupholders. MineralMan Aug 2014 #53

That's crazy! Arugula Latte Aug 2014 #88

I know. It did seat seven. MineralMan Aug 2014 #89

Fortunately, rates have leveled off in the past 10 years. Brickbat Aug 2014 #25

I'll say cable TV. Before cable, was 'channel surfing' a thing? redqueen Aug 2014 #29

Good point. nt cwydro Aug 2014 #30

Sort of. But once there were only four or five channels hifiguy Aug 2014 #37

The constant, all day long, non-stop marketing of crap food to us . . . Lex Aug 2014 #33

I know cwydro Aug 2014 #44

Yes, we can turn it down, but . . . Lex Aug 2014 #51

Would be interesting to see the last 8 years added KurtNYC Aug 2014 #36

I honestly can not remember the last time I drank soda, but closeupready Aug 2014 #67

My "vote" is for HFCS. Whatever the reason, you can bet we're fatter due to some ChisolmTrailDem Aug 2014 #39

Keep on subsidizing corn (cheap sugar substitute) and red meat. Dawson Leery Aug 2014 #52

keep on subsidizing cheap food grown with agrotoxins, inhumane treatment of animals wordpix Aug 2014 #76

HFCS causes diabetes myth vs science PasadenaTrudy Aug 2014 #54

Thanks so much: I get all my scientific facts from blogs!!! TheSarcastinator Aug 2014 #63

You are very welcome! PasadenaTrudy Aug 2014 #68

I will blame it on people not smoking. dilby Aug 2014 #66

probably a combination of easily available junk food and TV, Video Games, Computers JI7 Aug 2014 #70

Another thing happened in the 1970's Ruby the Liberal Aug 2014 #72

I've heard that sourdough bread is easier to digest Blue_In_AK Aug 2014 #75

There are gluten free sourdough recipies out there Ruby the Liberal Aug 2014 #83

I think it might have been Norman Borlaug. hifiguy Aug 2014 #109

Yes - thank you! Ruby the Liberal Aug 2014 #112

I'll weigh in with this tidbit. I was just thinking the other day about 4 ounce juice glasses. snagglepuss Aug 2014 #78

As for carbs--please be careful not vilify them all! pink-o Aug 2014 #79

Forced busing, and the death of neighborhood schools ... JEFF9K Aug 2014 #84

Took this photo (among many similar others) in Karlsruhe/Germany last week Mira Aug 2014 #99

It boils down to portion sizes growing and food becoming more calorie-dense and tastier. Marr Aug 2014 #100

I gained quite a bit of weight between 1960 and 2000. (nt) stone space Aug 2014 #102

Aspartame probably plays a role. GliderGuider Aug 2014 #103