The Case Against Sugar

Review:The Case Against Sugar by Gary Taubes is a great book if you’re looking to read more into the field of nutrition and its history or even just looking for a great non-fiction book. He tells a grand story about sugar in our society and it gives you an opportunity to look into the past with regards to medical practices, and how sugar came to be so prevalent in present times. Taubes weaves his way through the history of nutrition and various studies regarding sugar as part of our diet. He gives us an important insight into the pressures that a private industry put on the government 30 years ago and frames it in a way such that it is very easy to envision these pressures still being exerted on our government today. And although he seems to favor those standing against the sugar industry he is still able to remain subjective throughout. This book will open your eyes to what is happening in your body when you eat poorly and it will motivate you to change if you happen to be needing a kick in the rear to motivate yourself.Using some basic criteria such as information given and ease of reading, all you can ask out of a non-fiction research book in my opinion, this book exceeds all expectations. This book was very easy to pick up as someone with very little background information on nutrition and I’m sure it’ll be just as easy for anyone else. It is a somewhat simple read; but still packs quite the load of useful information in relation to our health. He allows his arguments to build off each other, starting small with basic topics then building until you will have an almost “aha” moment when his argument is connected fully in your mind.Delivery:I ordered this book from Amazon along with a couple others on a Sunday night and selected free two-day shipping. Somewhere along my ordering process I must have clicked something wrong because instead of sending my package to my college address it instead went to my home address 3 hours away. That aside, the package got to my house on a Tuesday which was surprising to me because that was earlier than what even Amazon expected on their tracking site. My family sent it to me on Wednesday and the USPS went off and got it to me the next day. Apart from all the delivery issues, the book arrived without any bends or rips at all despite being a paper back. I hadn’t ordered a book from Amazon before this so I didn’t know what condition to receive it in but I was content. Overall, don’t expect to have the same issue that I did but expect to have a great delivery and receive it in great condition.Final Thoughts:This book is a great investment as I can see myself picking it up sometime in the future when I’m needing something to read. It is an extremely well written, informational book that will benefit you by making you more cognizant of health hazards in the food that you consume. Expect Amazon’s typically fast and efficient delivery on your order and you’ll be into this book in no time.

Two books taken together offer adequate evidence that sugar addiction stands out above all other factors among multiple causes of chronic diseases that became epidemic in recent times. Robert Lustig -- THE HACKING OF THE AMERICAN MIND Gary Taubes -- THE CASE AGAINST SUGARGary Taubes, as a journalist, demonstrates the best of objective science. Often a journalist makes the facts clearer than a scientist ever does. In his previous books, one stands out for public health relevance. That is WHY WE GET FAT.Taubes makes a case for sugar as the main factor that, far above all else, is the reason we have epidemics of gout, high blood pressure, elevated blood glucose, insulin resistance, diabetes, arterial disease, cancer, Alzheimer's disease and more. All of these are hormonally related to metabolic syndrome, the topic that put Lustig in the forefront of nutritional science. Taubes gives a historical background of opposing views fairly, with little condemnation, though much activity of sugar industry representatives could have been judged criminal.Opposing views: "Chronic diseases are caused by overeating and under-activity. (more calories in than out.)" "Eat less and exercise more" has a history of failure, but heavily promoted by the industry with massive publicity efforts over many years. Some observers were not fooled, but they were few, and did not have the media presence of Frederick Stare and Ansel Keys.My crude accusation: The industry-government-medical-media complex that tried to make sugar into a health food and denied its role in disease may have caused over 100,000,000 to die short of their normal life span, living their last years in misery. The death count and misery is rapidly growing even now.Taubes quotes a reason for this opposition, other than self (selfish) interest: "As soon as we think we are right about something," as New Yorker writer Kathryn Schulz noted in the 2010 book BEING WRONG, we narrow our focus, attending only to details that support our belief, or ceasing to listen altogether."Fortunately, Gary Taubes understands this.This is my understanding of THE HACKING OF THE AMERICAN MIND by Robert Lustig: Sugar has the same neurohormonal paths in the brain as opiods. Sugar is addictive with brief hits of pleasure, but not satisfying, with long-range health consequences. We want more because a little is not satisfying. We crave more to the point of leaving other nutrients lacking, and food without sugar becomes tasteless. The book is not about sugar, though that may be Lustig's most vital point. It is about addictions, hormones of pleasure and hormones of happiness that do not lead to contentment. Though I have studied nutrition and endocrinology for many years, that is not my main interest. I am interested in what Lustig says about sugar. I am author of an orthomolecular nutrition textbook, but my greater interest is in the health and welfare of many people I know who suffer from chronic diseases, or are heading that way.I have a problem with Lustig's writing about drugs. He overstated the value of psychoactive prescription drugs and seemed unaware of the extent of harm. I have seen too many lives destroyed by these to let that pass. His suggested that cannabanoids and even limited use of LSD may be more effective. They could hardly be worse.I expect Taubes's book to be the one that makes a difference in the world, with Lustig's as vital scientific background, with both giving accounts of how the powers of this world hack the minds of all of us.My conclusion:1. Sugar excess is the major cause of modern chronic diseases.2. Sugar is addictive and not satisfying. Excess leads to disappointment, not happiness or contentment.3. Sugar substitutes have little evidence of benefit.4. We can benefit greatly in prevention and treatment by reducing sugar to near the level used by our ancestors or non-industrial populations. Skipping deserts is a useless token, not a solution. Fruit is good, not fruit juice. Sweet drinks of all kinds are out. Most processed foods have sugar added, and must be regarded as toxic.5. We need fat, even saturated fat, a spectrum of natural fats. Coconut oil, fish oil. bacon. Fats add flavor, satisfaction and satiety.6. We need phytonutrients and minerals which are scarce in modern food.7. Changing is hard. Changing is scary to anticipate, pleasant to remember.If these two books are too much for you, try a fun but scientific book by Denise Minger: DEATH BY FOOD PYRIMID.

Excellent book. VERY thorough. It’s taking me awhile to read though, because it’s very sciency for a lay person like me. But I LOVE Gary Taubes! I will finish it eventually, but I’m also reading the book, “Pure, White and Dangerous,” and I feel that’s an easier read.

Sugar is poison, great book highly informative. A must buy.

Gary Taubes nunca decepciona. Siempre quieres más. ¡Lo único que no me ha gustado del libro es que se acaba!

This is a highly informative book. It is well researched and written and has led me to have a new opinion on nutrient science.

El libro es bueno a secas pero si no te interesa mucho la historia te lo puedes ahorrar de leer. Su hipótesis principal es que las enfermeras como cáncer, hipertensión y diabetes están relacionadas con la obesidad y está su vez con el azúcar, hace un recorrido histórico desde la revolución industrial para mostrarnos como la occidentalización de la comida con mucha azúcar y carbohidratos va de la mano con la aparición de las enfermedades ya mencionadas, viene en un inglés entendible si tanto hacerle al cuento con metáforas y lenguaje difícil, para practicar lectura en inglés está bien.

Questo libro e veramente interesante mi e piaciuto il consento che hanno svolto nel raconto della historia

This book was a fascinating read, despite the scientific information. It has opened my eyes and makes so much sense to my personal situations. I now want to go out, stand on street corners and tell everyone to stop eating sugar - it’s killing you!