The Diet Myth
The Real Science Behind What We Eat
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4.8 • 4 Ratings
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- $9.99
Publisher Description
Tim Spector, one of the leading scientists in the field, reveals the extraordinary connection between our gut and our health
'Completely fascinating' Sheila Dillon
'A great book . . . very convincing' Alex Renton, BBC RADIO 4
'The Diet Myth is fascinating, and I'm now obsessed with microbes!' Nigella Lawson
FULLY REVISED AND UPDATED EDITION
Why do most diets fail? Why does one person eat a certain meal and gain weight, while another eating the same meal loses pounds? Why, despite all the advice about what to eat, are we all still getting fatter?
The answers are much more surprising - and fascinating - than we've been led to believe. The key to health and weight loss lies not in the latest fad diet, nor even in the simple mantra of 'eat less, exercise more', but in the microbes already inside us.
Drawing on the latest science and his own pioneering research, Professor Tim Spector demystifies the common misconceptions about fat, calories, vitamins and nutrients. Only by understanding what makes our own personal microbes tick can we overcome the confusion of modern nutrition and achieve a healthy gut and a healthy body.
THE FOOD PROGRAMME (BBC RADIO 4) BOOK OF THE YEAR
'I don't read diet books and I certainly never plug them, but The Diet Myth is a worthy exception that provides new insight into why we should think twice about what we put in our mouths' The Times
'Ground-breaking' Bee Wilson
See what readers have to say:
'If you read one book about diet and your health, this should definitely be it' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
'This book is an absorbing read; a clear explanation, in layman's language, of why diets so often don't work' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
'Very rarely do I come across a book so valuable I feel compelled to by again and again. I'm afraid my family and friends will find it in their Christmas presents whether they like reading or not' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
'A masterpiece . . . You owe it to yourself to read it' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
'I found it very empowering . . . I think it would be very uplifting and thought provoking for anyone who struggles with weight and mental health issues relating to food' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
British research physician Spector (Identically Different) posits a provocative yet sound take on dieting and how there is no one-size-fits-all plan. After suffering a mild stroke, he set out to research the healthiest diets in order to avoid a relapse. Spector claims that the microbiomes in our bodies are the real culprits behind weight loss or gain, and these can be manipulated through what we eat. He explains how probiotics and different mixes of food can positively or negatively affect the mix in one's gut, and why certain ethnic groups can tolerate purportedly unhealthy substances, offering as an example the French and their love of cheese and red wine. Diversity of food choices is key, he believes. Spector takes a discerning eye to how calories, fats, trans fats, different types of protein animal, non-animal, and milk products carbohydrates, fiber, artificial sweeteners, vitamins, and various kinds of food affect biomes, and why the rise in antibiotics, sugars, and salt in food has raised the incidences of allergies and other negative health factors. He tested many of his theories on groups of identical twins, who theoretically should always react in the same way, but don't. This fascinating work makes a persuasive claim to potentially both expand readers' nutritional knowledge and shrink their waistlines.
