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Nutrition in crisis. Almost every day a new study shows that you are at risk for diabetes or cardiovascular disease or all cause mortality brought on by a newly appreciated toxin which turns out to be something that you just had for lunch (excerpt from Chapter 16). Most of us no longer know what to eat or who to believe. The World Turned Upside Down offers the perspective of a distinguished biochemist with a gift for making accessible the intricacies of biochemical pathways. At the same-time, the book is unsparing in criticism of the nutritional establishment, an establishment which it seems must inevitably be overthrown. Scientifically accurate and entertaining, this book paints a broad picture of the nutrition world: the beauty of the underlying biochemistry and the embarrassing failure of the medical establishment, the practical value in low-carbohydrate diets and what s wrong with the constant reports that normal foods represent a threat rather than a source of pleasure. Richard David Feinman, Professor of Cell Biology at SUNY Downstate Medical Center, is one of the leaders in research in nutrition and metabolism and their role in the education of medical students. The book tells the story of the first low-carbohydrate revolution, twelve years ago, how it started, what killed it and why another one is happening. It explains how type 2 diabetes can be virtually cured for many people by a reduction in dietary carbohydrate and why you need to know about it even if you don t have diabetes. The World Turned Upside Down takes on the fear-mongers: Chapter 8 Sugar, fructose and fructophobia explains that that sugar is not a poison but it is a carbohydrate and Chapter 9 gives you a perspective on Saturated fat. On your plate or in your blood? Finally, The World Turned Upside Down gives you information and the tools to decipher the nutritional medical literature on your own. Irreverent and witty, this book boils down all the facts from different angles to a simple message on what to eat and why.
About 10 years ago, I received a call out of the blue from a biochemist who had written a paper explaining the fallacy in a calorie is a calorie. He wanted to discuss the topic and asked for advice on publishing in a nutrition journal. He seemed fairly eccentric but had many good ideas and, of course, if anybody had listened to him we wouldn t still be burdened with the energy balance story. Over the years, Feinman and I have been colleagues and collaborators. He has expanded my vocabulary and deepened my understanding of low-carbohydrate nutrition. Feinman is truly a brilliant mind and an excellent writer. The World Turned Upside Down gives you an opportunity to read the entertaining and scientifically accurate insights and observations of an important contributor to the nutrition scene. --Jeff S.Volek, Professor, Department of Human Sciences, Ohio State University.
Fascinating book, full of original, interesting material, by one of the original low-carb researchers whose grounding in the field goes back decades. Feinman combines a unique perspective with the experienced eye of a scientist. He's had a front-row seat to developments in the field of carbohydrates and metabolism over the past decades, which has given him key insights into the latest research. --Nina Teicholz: author of the best-selling The Big Fat Surprise
Nutrition is really applied biochemistry, and who better than a professor of biochemistry to explain it. The World Turned Upside Down is a biochemist s view of the world of nutrition, which has suffered years of dogmatic adherence to faulty premises and shoddy research. His teaching will get you in the game even if you hated science in school. Dr. Feinman and I have always shared a low tolerance of the film-flam that unfortunately is most of professional nutrition today. The World Turned Upside Down is not just highly critical of the corruption of statistics and lack of common sense, it provides reliable information for making intelligent nutritional choices. Among your guides will be wide range of characters, including Bradford Hill, the unsung hero of epidemiology, Rossini, the gourmet, and the lascivious Earl of Rochester. The least doctrinaire of low-carb researchers, Dr. Feinman has written a book promoting healthful, whole-food nutrition. Not everyone needs a low-carb diet. But he makes clear the underlying science showing carb restriction is a must for those with diabetes and metabolic syndrome. The book describes Gary Taubes s Good Calories, Bad Calories as analogous to Thomas Paine s Common Sense in the American Revolution. The World Turned Upside Down may play the same role in the second low carb revolution. --Michael R. Eades, M.D.: author of Protein Power and other best-selling books
About the Author
RICHARD DAVID FEINMAN is Professor of Cell Biology at the State University of New York Downstate Medical Center in Brooklyn, New York where he has been a pioneer in incorporating nutrition into the biochemistry curriculum.. A graduate of the University of Rochester and the University of Oregon (PhD), Dr. Feinman haspublished numerous scientific and popular papers. Dr. Feinman is the founder and former co-Editor- In-Chief (2004-2009) of the journal, Nutrition & Metabolism. His blog is at:
One look at the whimsical cover illustration makes it clear that this is going to be a fun read, not a dry discourse on biochemistry. Basically, "The World Turned Upside Down," is the story of how we obtain energy from our environment, told by a talented teacher who explains it so even those of us who don't know much chemistry, "can see the beauty in the life machine." Sadly, it is also an expose of the irresponsible behavior of those in the medical establishment, the very people we trust to give us good advice, to tell us the truth and, at the very least, to do no harm. It is at once a memoir, a manifesto, and a call to arms about what must be done to save ourselves and heal our nation.
Dr. Richard David Feinman is a Renaissance man, one with expertise and knowledge in many fields, including philosophy, music, history, gastronomy, and art (his avatar is a self-portrait), as well as biology, chemistry, and thermodynamics. His writing is enriched by his wide range of interests and accomplishments.
He first became interested in nutrition while studying the scientific literature in preparation for teaching metabolism classes to medical students at SUNY. He discovered that something was terribly wrong and found himself plunged headlong into a world of shoddy science, self-deception, and scandal as bad as any in the entire history of medicine; a perfect storm of flawed research, assumptions accepted as proof, and science corrupted by grandiose egos, greed, and special interests. The fox was not just guarding the hen house, but selling rotten eggs for profit.
Dr. Feinman has long been a larger-than-life hero in the world of nutrition and a champion of truth in science. He takes extraordinary care to never state anything as fact that cannot stand up to scrutiny and he expects no less from others. (Be forewarned: anyone who crosses swords with him on matters of science is not likely to escape unscathed.)
He has worked tirelessly to raise public awareness about the lack of research integrity, especially in regard to the therapeutic benefits of carbohydrate restriction for the treatment and prevention of obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and their related maladies, called collectively, the Metabolic Syndrome. He is not dogmatic in his views and does not favor one-size-fits-all dietary advice, but since two-thirds of Americans are now overweight, obese, or diabetic, he recommends that carbohydrate restriction should be the default diet, the first thing to try. Nowhere is the advantage more obvious than in the treatment of type 2 diabetes, a condition of carbohydrate intolerance. Diabetic patients are routinely told to eat low-fat/ high-carbohydrate food and take medications to counteract the diet. As the complications inevitably worsen, medications are increased, leading to even more complications. This system contradicts a mountain of evidence and defies common sense. (Steve Cooksey, who blogs as The Diabetes Warrior, celebrated World Diabetes Day by wearing black for all those who listened to the American Diabetes Association, Joslin Diabetes Center, and the American Association of Diabetes Educators.)
Dr. Feinman has been a leader in the grass-roots campaign to spread the message about bad science, statistical manipulation, vested interests, and the behavior of medical authorities who stubbornly cling to outdated beliefs that perpetuate the status quo. The tide has finally turned and the war is essentially over. We can no longer be fooled so easily. Change came from the bottom up--from word of mouth, popular books, independent documentaries, blogs, and social media and from a few brave men like Dr. Feinman, who refused to be silenced or to cave in to pressure even when it cost him personally. Read this book and join his rag tag band of rebels. There is a lot of work yet to be done to reverse the damage inflicted by the misguided war on fat and prevent more casualties.Read more ›
This may well be the most important diet book ever written. This is not written as a diet book ...but it is. It will tell you why low carb is the secret to weight loss. Like most people with a weight problem I have tried dozens of diets. Then a few years ago I came upon a copy of the old Atkins diet. For the first time I had a diet that worked. I lost weight ...and I kept it off. Then my (over -weight) doctor that this weight loss method was unhealthy. I went off the diet and not only gained back the weight I lost but I felt tired and cranky. Last year I came upon some articles by Feinman and learned why my doctor was wrong. This book was the next step. It explains in layman's terms the science beyond the low carb diet. For the first time I learned that the body has no needs for carbs. Why the pyramid chart is as wrong as most other information that comes from the government. How a low fat diet will actually cause weight gain! And Feinman should know. He is a science researcher that teaches at a medical school. In addition to being filled with important information it is a fun read. Feinman has a bright breezy style. If you have any interest in diet, nutrition and health don' miss this book. There are few fields where misinformation passes for insight as in diet and weight loss. This book sets the record straight.
You do not have to have a weight problem to really enjoy reading The World Turns Upside Down: The Second Low-Carbohydrate Revolution by Dr. Richard Feinman. Dr. Feinman strikes an excellent balance between scientific analysis and practical discussion. Many people try to eat a healthy diet, yet most people have a tough time knowing which diet recommendations are better and why. Dr. Feinman uses clear and plain English to not only explain what a healthy diet consists of, but also the science behind it. Dr. Feinman leads the reader through the maze of confusing and sometimes misleading research. I particularly appreciated his emphasis on deciphering nutritional lingo that many people use but do not truly understand, such as various “dietary fat”. Regardless of your science background, you will find yourself reading and understanding the discussions of biochemistry, thermodynamics, statistics, and clinical studies because they are seamlessly incorporated in the text and explained in understandable language. For the more clinically oriented readers, this book also devotes a significant portion to discussions of the relationships between low-carb diets and diabetes (Type I and Type II), metabolic syndrome and cancer treatment. As you read this book, you may want to try some low-carb cooking at home. The book provides some easy to follow recipes too. Enjoy!
This is a great book. A must read for anyone interested in human metabolism and why we have a diabetes epidemic across the western world. Prof Feinman has been working in this field for years and has inspired many others to carry out research in this field. He has influenced many of the better known low carbers who are more frequently in the press. The Nick Drake of the low carb world... ( although fortunately not dead.!) . Thank
How is this book different from the myriad currently on the market? Most importantly for me - it's based on the principle of "show, don't tell." The author doesn't position himself as an omniscient guru, there's no Brand-Feinman to push. It doesn't ask you to believe, it just shows you how human metabolism works and gives you the tools to work out how they apply to your particular case, because there's no 'one size fits all' in nutrition. Written in a witty, accessible style, it doesn't intimidate with long fancy words and overly scientific descriptions. It doesn't try to sell anything - doesn't peddle supplements, detox programmes, miracle diets or cures etc. It's bare bones science, slow cooked in commonsense and spiced up with a generous dose of humour and anecdotes.
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