This week, we summarize the top five news articles and studies in the low-carb realm, plus the wall of shame.
- Unfortunate headlines abound. A new epidemiological study, published in The Lancet Public Health, makes waves with its claim that carbohydrate levels of 50-55% of calories are associated with a longer life. Of course, confounders and design flaws are abundant and easy to spot. Doctors Andreas Eenfeldt, Zoe Harcombe, Georgia Ede, Aseem Malhotra, and John Schoonbee each take a closer look and explain why this sort of study should be ignored.
- The Guardian runs an op-ed by George Monbiot that sets out to debunk many of the common myths about obesity."It's not that we're eating more, that we exercise less, or that we lack willpower. The shaming of overweight people has to stop."
- A new, large cohort study of Swedish patients with type two diabetes finds that managing five risk factors-elevated glycated hemoglobin level (HbA1c), elevated low-density lipoprotein cholesterol level, albuminuria, smoking, and elevated blood pressure-into the normal range eliminates most excess risk for illness and death. Treating patients with diabetes with a low-carb diet has been shown to normalize HbA1c and blood pressure in RCTs.
- The American Journal of Preventative Medicine takes a look at recent trends in the prevalence of diabetes in American adults. Between 2000 and 2016, Fang reports total diabetes incidence grew from 7.7% to 13.3%. Among Mexican-American adults, incidence more than doubled, growing from 8.3% to 18.4%.
- In just three years, England and Wales report a sharp (41%) increase in rates of type 2 diabetes among young people. "Type 2 diabetes is a disaster for the child and their family and for the NHS," said Dr. Graham MacGregor, a professor of cardiovascular health at Queen Mary University of London.
Wall of shame
- Are Americans cutting back on sugar? It depends. "Taste rules," said a sugar analyst. "Health and natural take a backseat to taste."
- In Australia, Kellogg's markets "Nutri-Grain To Go Protein Squeezer," a foil pouch full of sugar and less than 6g of processed protein powders. It's like the opposite of real food.
- As manufacturers offer more plant-based proteins in bars, shakes, and other processed products, experts worry about consumers not getting what labels promise due to incomplete proteins and bioavailability concerns.
- Insulin maker, Novo Nordisk, teams up with the American Association of Diabetes Educators to produce a booklet with enough carbs in each meal to keep those with diabetes buying insulin. When will the ADA end the insidious relationship between Big Pharma and diabetes education? HT: @DikemanDave.
- Can you spell "bicentennial"? An unfortunate "typo," in butter, on the Illinois State Fair's butter cow exhibit. ☺️
- Man riding New York subway EATs THE BUTTER. And "gheeing" becomes a verb.
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About
This news gathering is from our collaborator Jennifer Calihan, who also blogs at Eat the Butter. Feel free to check out the keto meal-idea-generator on her site.
