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In part three of Marika Sboro’s four part investigation of the Dietitian’s Association of Australia she looks at the problems associated with self regulation and the unavoidable conflicts of interest that arise from accepting ‘Big Food’ funding. “Usually, sitting at the table with industry means that industry sets the table, chooses the menu and leaves the health organisation with the bill – and its reputation in tatters.”

This article from The Russells is an extremely detailed and well-researched exposé of the ties between dietitians and Big Food in South Africa. “To some, the Noakes trial may look like fascist speech repression in promotion of toxic products, but for Coca-Cola and its proxies, it is just good business”.

A recent interview with Gary Taubes in which he looks back at his infamous 2002 article published in The New York Times Magazine. A fantastic history lesson for those new to Low Carb, High Fat the article is particularly pertinent in relation to what is currently being experienced by Prof. Tim Noakes and Dr. Gary Fettke.

The Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency have issued a lifelong ruling to Dr. Gary Fettke, who despite being a qualified orthopaedic surgeon, is now no longer allowed to speak publicly on matters of nutrition. Interestingly, the ruling does not allow Gary to even do research in the area or gain further qualification because that would involve him communicating in the area of nutrition. Scottish doctor Malcolm Kendrick offers his take on the matter here.

Further examples have emerged of ‘Big Soda’ using corporate philanthropy to undermine public health measures and silence calls for a soda tax. In one instance, the mayor of Philadelphia proposed a soda tax in 2010 and the beverage industry offered $10 million to the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia if the tax proposal was dropped.

A nice article from theatlantic.com on the history of breakfast and the confusion and anxieties that surround the ‘most important meal of the day’. “It was presumed that if one ate breakfast, it was because one had other lusty appetites as well.”

Molecular Biologist Cynthia Kenyon talks about the discovery that led to a revolution in our understanding of the ageing process. “We gave our worms a tiny bit of sugar and it shortened their lifespan by revving up the insulin pathway.” Kenyon now avoids all sugar, except dark chocolate, as well as bread, and sticks to low-GI foods.

Here’s a nice overview from The Telegraph on the recent joint report issued by the U.K.’s National Obesity Forum and the Public Health Collaboration which claims that thirty years of official health advice urging people to adopt low-fat diets and to lower their cholesterol is having “disastrous health consequences”.

Marika Sboros investigates why carbohydrate restriction isn’t officially recommended as a tool in the management of diabetes, despite it repeatedly proving to be effective. “One of the biggest reasons health organisations give for not recommending low-carb diets is lack of evidence on long-term safety. The problem is that there wasn’t any evidence on long-term safety of high-carb, low-fat diets when they were first introduced either”.