#nutritionforlife

Are smokers idiots? Are they informed about the health risks? YES to both.

Are you an idiot if you eat processed food?

I used to get cranky about people smoking when I knew the health risks of the habit. Some years ago I actually looked at the known health costs in comparison to taxes paid and calculated that smokers were holding the Australian economy to ransom  to the tune of several billion dollars per annum. They still are. The health costs of cigarettes are still in excess of the tax revenue raised.

But as time has gone on, I have come to realise that smokers have been clearly told of the risks of continuing their habit.  It is common knowledge that over time cigarette smoking is associated with a wide spectrum of diseases. Watching someone die from these conditions is not pretty. But they knew about it along the way. They were definitely ‘informed idiots’ as are those that continue to smoke today.

What about most of the population eating processed food containing too much sugar, too much refined carbohydrate and polyunsaturated oils? Continue reading →

Has anyone noticed this week that politicians and economists are discussing how to raise taxes to pay for the increasing burden of health costs in Australia? Increasing the GST from 10% TO 15% has been discussed along with raising taxes but that will not even get halfway to covering the expected costs of health care. Numbers are being plucked out of the air from all commentaries.

I have not heard a single comment about how we can decrease the costs of health care in Australia. It’s all about spending more and more on treating the outcomes. It’s quite simple – we don’t have enough money to keep treating disease in a reactive fashion.

Is there good evidence that saturated fat is the cause of cardiovascular disease? My take on it is no.

Virtually all studies on this topic have been association studies, that is, not causation proof. It is really hard to look at a single macronutrient over time and blame it or celebrate it.

Some of the earlier ‘saturated fat is bad for you studies’ even grouped cake and biscuits in with saturated fat intake. Completely different nutrients and makes a mockery of those guidelines that developed accordingly. Continue reading →

I regularly get asked what LCHF is.

Low Carbohydrate Healthy Fat eating is the science behind JERF – Just Eating Real Food.