Good Calories, Bad Calories: Fats, Carbs, and the Controversial Science of Diet and Health | Gary Taubes

Last night, I shared my journey of gaining and losing fat and how a few books profoundly influenced my transformation. “Good Calories, Bad Calories” by Gary Taubes is one such book. So, here’s my takeaway from the book, summarised across three main sections.

Science, Money, and Propaganda:

For the past century, a singular health mantra has echoed through the halls of dietary wisdom: “Fat is the enemy.” It seems straightforward, doesn’t it? I mean, people don’t want to become fat, so shouldn’t it be obvious to cut out fat? And this is where the story of entire science-laden, money-driven propaganda starts. With the increase in obesity and heart-related diseases (especially in the West), it was important to pinpoint the main culprit. After some research, there “seemed” to be some consensus: Fat (saturated fat, to be precise) was the scapegoat. The no-fat doctrine became gospel, and as people sought alternative sources of calories, there was one easy answer for this fix: sugar.

However, beneath this seemingly rational narrative lies a darker truth: the very science shaping our dietary norms was funded by vested interests, namely the sugar industry. Apart from the grave loss we have already suffered because of this evil…