Good Calories, Bad Calories

Fats, Carbs, and the Controversial Science of Diet and Health

Gary Taubes

Book Synopsis

In "Good Calories, Bad Calories," renowned science writer Gary Taubes delves into the complex world of nutrition, challenging traditional beliefs about weight gain and loss. Taubes presents an extensive review of scientific literature, dissecting studies and exposing flawed theories that have shaped our understanding of caloric balance.

Taubes questions the widely accepted idea that obesity is simply caused by consuming more calories than we expend. He meticulously examines the metabolic effects of carbohydrates, fats, and proteins, shedding light on how different macronutrients influence our body's storage and utilization of calories.

By exploring the science behind low-carbohydrate diets, Taubes challenges the prevailing belief that fat consumption is detrimental to our health. Delving into the history of dietary guidelines and industry-sponsored research, he unravels the misconceptions surrounding fat and sugar, emphasizing the importance of critical analysis when evaluating nutritional recommendations.

Through the exploration of evidence concerning insulin, obesity, and metabolic disorders, Taubes highlights the limitations of calorie-counting and the role of genetics in weight regulation. He challenges the notion that all calories are equal, emphasizing the importance of understanding how different foods affect our hormones and metabolic processes.

While "Good Calories, Bad Calories" offers a comprehensive analysis of the controversy surrounding nutrition, Taubes also provides practical advice for maintaining a healthy lifestyle. By debunking common myths and providing a scientific foundation, Taubes empowers readers to make informed choices about their diets, ultimately leading to better overall health and wellness.

Explore More Books

See All
A History of Western Technology
Taxes Have Consequences
The Box
The Healing Journey
The Oxford History of Britain
The River of Doubt
Road to Wigan Pier
The Opium of the Intellectuals
Fewer
Academically Adrift
Raising Girls
Sourdough Culture
The Immateriality of the Material
My Forty Years with Ford
The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao
Visual Explanations
The Uterus Is a Feature, Not a Bug
More Than You Know
Prisoners of Geography
Netflixed
The Origin of Consciousness in the Breakdown of the Bicameral Mind
The Big Score
Trading Bases
Living With A SEAL
Trauma
Walden
Primed to Perform
Don't Shoot the Dog!
Flu
Getting to Maybe
Reminiscences of a Stock Operator
The Poems of Dylan Thomas
The Farming Ladder
Harvesting the Biosphere
Red Notice
Confessions of a Philosopher
The 80/20 Principle
Leapfrog
How To Turn Down A Billion Dollars
The Plot Against the President
Check Your Financial Privilege
Knowledge and Decisions
Hagakure
City of the Century
An Apology for the Builder
Army Of None
Solution Selling
Andrew Carnegie
Essentialism
The Iliad
The Great Crash of 1929
Exit Interview
The Seventh Sense
First a Dream
The Fatal Conceit
The Way of Kings
True Enough
The Creative Curve
Rework
Alexander Hamilton
Portfolios of the Poor
The City In History
The House of Rothschild
Seeing Like a State
Paradigms Of A.I. Programming
Alpha Girls
The Story of Civilization: The Age of Voltaire
Well
Liberty Under Seige
I Seem To Be A Verb
The Hand
Race Matters
Empires of Light
Ask The Dust
The Eden Project
The Things They Carried
The Myth of the Rational Voter
Moby Dick
On Writing
The Great Challenge
Daring Greatly
The German Generals Talk
I Will Teach You To Be Rich
Hansel and Gretel
Expert Political Judgement
Bossypants
The Sleepwalkers
Lean In
Fooled By Randomness
New Power
Whole Earth Discipline
Ham on Rye
Brave New Words
Hoover Dam
Out of Many, One
Travels with Charley
Cold Calling Techniques
Hamlet
The Black Jacobins
The Choice