Blog

An interesting look at how the world’s largest food company, Nestlé wants to invent and sell ‘food medicine’. Sales in Nestlé’s confectionery business have fallen every year since 2012 and the companies response to this has been to invest heavily in research to create product lines designed to treat specific medical conditions. In other words, Nestlé would sell a problem with one hand and a remedy with the other.

An intriguing story from a doctor who has transformed her approach to practising medicine by adopting a nutritionally orientated approach to treating patients. Dr Joanne McCormack is part of a a global movement of doctors and scientists who are treating chronic diseases in a non-interventionist way based ultimately on the very simple idea that if a food has been eaten for millions of years, it must be safe.

New data released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics found that in 2011-2012, Australians were consuming an average of 60g of sugars each day, or the equivalent of 14 teaspoons of white sugar. Sugar intake was highest among teenage males, who consumed an average 92g.

Calls for a tax on sugar sweetened beverages in Australia are increasing. The Medical Journal of Australia takes a look at the pros and cons of implementing such a tax and the impact it would have on obesity in Australia. Jane Martin, executive manager of the Obesity Policy Coalition, argues that “The public is over the line, it’s the politicians and the public health groups who need to catch up.”

An excellent article published in The Guardian looking at the history of bad science and egotism which has lead us to our current epidemics of obesity and Type-2 Diabetes. This article serves as a vindication for the years of hard work in fighting mis-information from people such as Dr. John Yudkin, Dr. Robert Lustig, Gary Taubes, Nina Teicholz and Zoë Harcombe.

Dr. Keith Runyan is a retired physician who has been living with Type-1 Diabetes since diagnosis in 1998 at age 38. In this article for ‘A Sweet Life’ Dr. Runyan explains the research that led him to begin a very low carbohydrate, ketogenic diet in 2012 to control his hypoglycemic episodes and dramatically improve his glycemic control.

An interesting summary of the current controversies around sugar consumption and the role it plays in obesity. The article highlights the impact ‘That Sugar Film’ has made on the public perception of sugar around the globe which in turn has helped force some governments to finally start taking action.

An excellent article from the New York Times detailing the growing acceptance of fasting around the world. Looking at the millions of people who fast periodically for religious and spiritual reasons as well as the popularity of fasting in celebrity culture it is quickly being seen as a source of health and longevity.

A great new post from Prof. Grant Schofield about becoming ‘metabolically flexible’ and the LCHF journey of Sam Wallace, Television NZ’s roving weather man. He went from being a carb burner to ‘Sam The Fat Burner’; 4.5kg weight loss, feeling full of energy and any anxiety around harder TV segments had disappeared.