The Case for Keto: Rethinking Weight Control and the Science and Practice of Low-Carb/High-Fat Eating

I’ll open by saying that I support keto as an effective way to lose weight. I’ve seen many people find success with it, losing large amounts of weight and fat and staying on it for years. So, Mr. Taubes Case for Keto is strong, but his argument for the cause of obesity is weak, and throughout the book contradictory. He spends a lot of time talking about Keto being ideal for “those who fatten easily” and dismisses excess calories as the cause. He would call people like me “naturally lean”, but that is not the entire story.I am fit, 5’-8” and 145 pound male and I’m that way because I weigh myself everyday and adjust calories as required. I had the good fortune to learn this in high school when I wrestled and had to remain under the upper limit of my weight class else face an opponent that would be ten pounds heavier. I’ve also been weightlifting continuously since high school (I’m 62) and there is evidence that that is helpful in maintaining weight. But I can also fatten easily! All I need to do is eat more, mostly carbs; add some chocolate milk and Pepsi and boom – the pounds come on. I’ve done it. As much as 20 pounds in a year but reversed it without the benefit of Keto.If only some people were predisposed to fatten, that could not account for the nearly 75% of the people in the United States who are overweight. What could account for it is the more than 3,600 calories that Americans consume every day – a 24 percent increase since 1961. And, as Gary would agree, most of the increase has been in carbs.In the pre-COVID days when I worked in an office, it wasn’t unusual to come to work after having had breakfast to find a few boxes of donuts scattered around. In the office kitchen area, there were vending machines like you’d find anywhere that contained absolutely NOTHING nutritious or that even really be called food. And with Starbuck’s just a block away, some people would walk over twice a day for a latte or seasonal sugared coffee drink before lunch. Then after lunch, to celebrate someone’s birthday, we would all eat cake. Once I was on a project that required meetings for eight hours a day for three months. The flow of snacks and drinks was continuous, as if we needed extra calories because we were sitting so long.The anecdotal evidence points to the causes of obesity being cultural, economic, and environmental, not genetic or hormonal. How else would one explain the higher incidence of obesity is some parts of the country like Mississippi, or Corpus Christi as Gary points out. The marketing of food-like substances is highly successful, and the space dedicated to these substances where we shop is enormous, another major contributor.Eliminating dietary carbs is probably the best approach to reducing the rate of obesity in this country. We should be grateful to Mr. Taubes for his years of work researching and investigating this topic and for writing this very helpful book for everyone and anyone who is interested in their own health or that of their loved ones.

I had expected to skim the portions that I was already familiar with -- the basic history of keto. Instead, I read it all -- because it was all presented with a new and impressive angle on the science, plus enough new information to keep me interested. (I have read probably 20 books on Keto, including Taubes" earlier works.) Taubes presents a scathing indictment of government-sponsored scientific group-think. Luckily for the large portion of people in the world who are not naturally lean, opposing research is still being done and published, albeit ignored by the nutrition establishment. He also fairly presents opinions an all sides. Just as he presents the full range of low carb/keto life style options from Carnivore to Vegan. I have done Keto in the past and am revisiting it now. I found that I am, like Taubes, one of the ones who cannot stray far from the Keto farm without gaining back the weight I have lost. Something I knew from my own experience that was true, but for me reading it in this form, really brought it home. I also got a good review of how to do Keto and new ideas of how to make it work for me. I read the book primarily to give myself a "pep-talk" about getting back into the Keto lifestyle. I was so impressed with the overall presentation, that the "pep-talk" almost feels secondary to the wealth of information presented. I would also recommend giving this book to family, friends and, perhaps most importantly, physicians. It is the most concise and intelligent argument for a Keto lifestyle I have read in the past 20 years.

I listen to Gary Taubes in podcasts and was looking forward to hearing a well-researched take on Keto. WARNING - If you feel the same way you'll be disappointed in this book - Even Gary admits the title was a compromise and the book is not so much about Keto.That said... This book is a must-read for someone struggling with their weight or obesity. Gary understands the shame of being overweight and explains the metabolic factors that literally cause fat to want to be fed and how messages of the processed food industry, the FDA, and medical establishment emphasize a high-carb, low fat diet that makes the situation worse. Getting the body into ketosis through a lifestyle change that eliminates sugar, and replaces processed food carbs with healthy fats and vegetables leading to improved health with little to no effort. Gary advocates a simple approach just about anyone can follow without having to buy supplements or some kind of program.

In September of 2022, I decided that I will go low carb. Why ? Because I couldn’t bend to tie my shoelace. I had a really big belly and it was getting in the way.So I eliminated all carbs 100%. Consumed fats and meat Of all kinds..at first it was hard since the neuroglypenic signs would pop up every now and then. Cheese helped in these instances.I’ve moved from 174 lbs to 157 by eating all the calories found in foods that does not contain carbohydrates.I found Mr Taubes book on Kindle and I read it very carefully. The explanation provided, I had known for a while. But he offered it a different way.My summary is:Prevent the body from producing insulin by not eating starch. Amino acids can cause insulin production. But this requires energy and for me it doesn’t stop the body from making ketones though as explained in the book there are exception.Starch and insulin are the main contributors to most illnesses.How do I feel ?Well most of my clothing can’t fit, and when you are fuelled by ketones you function like a Caterpillar machineYour brain is clear and you literally see the pounds peel off without much effortLastly, there is always the temptation to eat carbs since it’s ubiquitous.. brave it. This requires will. Once you do this your body transforms itself.

This is an informative book regarding the physiology of the keto diet. I first read this book as a library loan but realize I need to have it to refer to (and high-light and underline). Taubes goes into detail regarding the human physiology and therefore how healthy this way of eating truly is. Excellent primer on the ketogenic diet!

Libro interessante e utile!

Ich hoffte das Buch auf meinen Rechner lesen zu können. Ging leider nicht.

Excellent Book..Great insights...Thoroughly researched and neatly explained..Anyone interested in the subtle distinction in Human Metabolism shall read this book, to get their answers...Author isn't a fanatic in that, he does not insist that Keto is for everyone..However, he wants the mainstream nutritional authorities to understand that, neither is carb ...

Anyone who wants to understand why and how keto would work for them in managing their sugars and losing and maintaining weight will find the book and excellent read full of information, why keto works