I was delighted to hear, Vicky Newman, Tom’s guest on July 24 mention that too many carbohydrates, especially sugars, is a major contributor to obesity.  I would recommend reading Gary Taubes’ book “Good Calories, Bad Calories” to gain a deeper understanding of the science (or lack thereof) of nutrition.  For a quick fix (without the notes and bibliography found in his book), here are some interesting links:

http://www.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/full/291/5513/2536 Gary Taubes: “The Soft Science of Dietary Fat”
http://nymag.com/news/sports/38001/ Gary Taubes: “The Scientist and the Stairmaster”
http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9F04E2D61F3EF934A35754C0A9649C8B63 Gary Taubes: “What if it’s All Been a Big Fat Lie?”
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=4362041487661765149 Gary Taubes lecture video at Stevens Institute of Technology
http://webcast.berkeley.edu/event_details.php?webcastid=21216 Gary Taubes lecture webcast at UC Berkeley

Reading Taubes’ book changed the way I look at food.  After reading it, I no longer believe the assertion that dietary fat is in any way responsible for the obesity epidemic in this country.

It is so rare to hear in the mainstream media both sugar and refined carbohydrates blamed directly as a primary cause for obesity.  My congratulations and sincere gratitude go to Tom Fudge, Vicky Newman, and KPBS for bringing this vital issue to public broadcast. 

The western professional medical community seems to have finally found it’s backbone and started to admit it’s mistakes (Vicky mentioned the 90’s and their center’s failed practice of limiting fats). 

Now maybe the rest of the medical professionals, schools, hospitals, and companies can finish getting out of the pockets of the FDA, food, pharmaceutical, and insurance companies, moving back to true medicine’s roots of prevention, not simply treatment and profit. 

Gary Taube’s latest book, “Good Calories, Bad Calories,” has the most definitive research done on how the majority perceives nutrition today, outlining the bad reputation fat has received, while noting how many diseases did not exist before agriculture, processed foods, sugar, and other refined carbohydrates. 

If I could have one wish before I go back to Iraq, it would be that Tom interview Mr. Taubes on his show.  While his message is not conventional, it is certainly the most progressive I have heard on the subject since Dr. Atkins.

Thanks so much for letting me discuss some common ground that vegetarians and meat eaters can agree on. 

The voters of California put Proposition 2 on the statewide ballot to address cruel treatment of farm animals that are being confined cages barely bigger than their bodies. 

By voting YES on PROP 2 in November, we can eliminate some of the worst cruelties endured by animals on factory farms. 

A Yes Vote on Prop 2 essentially says that it’s simply wrong to treat animals, including those raised for food, inhumanely.

Check out YesOnProp2.com for more information!

I would like to hear a bit on “fake sugar”.. aspartame.. what it is.. is it really bad? is it better than sugar? I’d like to know more about this issue because the idea of ‘sugar-free’ is becoming more and more relevant.