“One of the most controversial papers – and one of the most exciting – presented at the recent low-carb, high-fat summit in Cape Town was on the metabolic model of cancer presented by Australian orthopaedic surgeon, Dr Gary Fettke. What does an orthopaedic surgeon know about oncology? Well, lots as it turns out.  Fettke, a  senior lecturer at the University of Tasmania, does ongoing research into the role of diet in diabetes, obesity and cancer. He is also a cancer survivor.” (from Marika Sboros in the Health Matters coverage of the Cape Town LCHF Health Summit February 2015) Continue reading →

It is time for a change to dietary guidelines. The combined opinion of the speakers at the First World Low Carb High Fat Health Summit agreed unanimously to support the following statement:

“The mainstream dietary advice that we are currently giving to the world has simply not worked. Instead it is the opinion of the speakers at this convention that this incorrect nutritional advice is the immediate cause of the global obesity and diabetes epidemics.

This advice has failed because it completely ignores the history of why and how human nutrition has developed over the past three million years. More importantly, it refuses to acknowledge the presence of insulin resistance (carbohydrate intolerance) as the single most prevalent biological state in modern humans.

Persons with insulin resistance are at an increased risk of developing a wide range of chronic medical conditions if they ingest a high carbohydrate diet for any length of time (decades).”

My further opinion is that the addition of high levels of polyunsaturated processed oils and the specific properties of fructose (still a carbohydrate) complicate the health issues further.

The speakers endorsing the statement were:

Dr Ann Childers (USA)

Christine Cronau (Australia)

Dr Robert Cywes (USA)

Dr Michael Eades (USA)

Dr Andreas Eenfeldt (Sweden)

Dr Gary Fettke (Australia)

Dr Jason Fung (Canada)

Dr Jeffry Gerber (USA)

Dr Zoe Harcombe (UK)

Dr Aseem Malhotra (UK)

Jimmy Moore (USA)

Professor Tim Noakes (South Africa)

Dr Stephen Phinney (USA)

Dr Eric Westman (USA)

Dr Jay Wortman (Canada)

I have an enormous respect for all of these people both professionally and from an integrity perspective. We have all been challenged for our stand on this issue but the science is there to support the above statement. It just needs to be acknowledged if we are seriously going to address our current public health issues.

My Cancer and Nutrition talk rocked the proverbial boat yesterday.

The Cape Town LCHF First World Summit is nothing short of amazing – I am teaching and learning in the same environment.

My official lectures finished yesterday and what followed was a flurry of activity. Questions from delegates from South Africa and around the world.

It has been fascinating to see so many medical professionals ready to listen and learn. Ready to listen to the science of LCHF with open minds. It does give me hope for the future, and Cape Town has been the catalyst. I am sorry to say that Australian doctors have a bit of catching up to do.

My lecture preceded the lunch break which is often the one where half the audience is asleep. I think I managed to keep everyone awake!

I proposed a new overview of cancer linking up the ‘Nutritional Model of Inflammation and Modern Disease’ with the little known ‘Metabolic Model of Cancer’.

I think we need to rethink our whole approach to cancer prevention and treatment and after the talk the feedback was incredibly positive. The ‘lunch’ break hour disappeared with the questions. Two national newspaper interviews and a television interview followed. Continue reading →

“What then do we wish to achieve with this LCHF summit? Simple. We wish to make a statement that will be heard around the world. That statement is this:

“The mainstream dietary advice that we are currently giving to the world has simply not worked. Instead, it is the opinion of the speakers at this summit that this incorrect nutritional advice is the immediate cause of the global obesity and diabetes epidemics. This advice has failed because it completely ignores the history of why and how human nutrition has developed over the past 3 million years.

“More importantly, it refuses to acknowledge the presence of insulin resistance (carbohydrate intolerance) as the single most prevalent biological state in modern humans. Persons with insulin resistance are at increased risk for developing a wide range of chronic medical conditions if they ingest a high carbohydrate diet for any length of time (decades).

Armed with this knowledge we have two choices. Either we can continue to ignore the evidence presented at this summit, and go on blaming the obese and diabetic for their sloth and gluttony (that is supposedly the sole cause of their obesity and diabetes). Or, if we are ever to reverse this epidemic that has become the greatest modern threat to human health, we need to admit that we have been wrong for the past 40 years, and must now change.”

Simple as that. All of the speakers are committed to education. Once you have the information it is up to you as what you want to do.

Read the rest of Tim Noakes’ statement http://www.biznews.com/lchf-health-summit/2015/02/18/banting-began-tim-noakes-history-hope-lchf-health-summit/

How much does the food industry control research and as a result influence medicine and the medical profession? Too much is the answer.
http://www.bmj.com/content/350/bmj.h231

Just when I thought the day was crazy enough.

The Mercury Tasweekend has put up our story with a 4 page spread in the In Focus section.

‘Food for Thought’ tells my story and where we need to go as a community.

“We have found a significant key to a significant health issue and if don’t embrace it we are in strife.”

“It will be the turning point in diabetes management and we badly need one because the complications of diabetes are wrecking our society both economically and socially.”

I have to thank Gill Vowles for bringing this topic to the community and to Chris Kidd for not being too harsh with the photos of an ‘old codger’ 🙂

The online link will be up in a week apparently.

How on Earth were low fat diets ‘forced’ onto the world in the 1970’s and 80’s?

There was just no proof. That was just one big wrong decision!

“Dietary recommendations were introduced in the US (1977) and in the UK (1983) to (1) reduce overall fat consumption to 30% of total energy intake and (2) reduce saturated fat consumption to 10% of total energy intake.

No randomised controlled trial (RCT) had tested government dietary fat recommendations before their introduction. Recommendations were made for 276 million people following secondary studies of 2467 males, which reported identical all-cause mortality. RCT evidence did not support the introduction of dietary fat guidelines.”

The world just got it wrong 🙁

The full article at http://openheart.bmj.com/content/2/1/e000196.full