Was reading Taubs' "Why we get fat" this morning and found this page

[Moochy]

A low carb doctor a decade ahead of Atkins charged with a crime for promoting a low carb diet, lol!!!!

Herman Taller

In 1961, Dr. Herman Taller, an obstetrician, published ''Calories Don't Count,'' which preached that one could banish fat while eating three full meals a day - provided that one ingested three ounces of polyunsaturated vegetable oil daily, along with a high-protein and low-carbohydrate diet. The Government denounced that diet as a ''worthless scheme foisted on a gullible public,'' and Dr. Taller was eventually convicted of fraud and conspiracy for using the book to peddle a particular brand of safflower capsules. Meanwhile, the book sold 2 million copies.

Calories Don't Count

I am wondering when Mark will be led off in chains for the horrendous sales he has promoted? Seriously, what a world!?!

(Of course conventional doctors were happy Taller was arrested and convicted)

arrest.jpg

[magicmerl]

Perhaps because calories do count?

[Forgotmylastusername]

I'm glad he was arrested and convicted too. Sounds like a total shyster.

[Quarry]

Vegetable and corn oil....ewww.

[Artichoke]

Within a few years of the publication of that book was Dr Carlton Fredericks' book on low carb dieting which also sold millions. I have a copy somewhere which I picked up in a charity shop (surprising as it's the US edition). I haven't used it because the recipes use artificial sweeteners, stuff like that.

[tfarny]

Well, first of all Taubes is wrong and everyone from Robb Wolf to Stephan Guyenet has written detailed and insightful articles about it. Low carbing is useful for weight loss for many people but insulin is not the bad guy and the picture is a lot more complex than Taubes is willing to admit. Calories matter, so does diet quality. The details of why this guy was sued for fraud are beyond us, we don't really have the whole story and it was a long time ago so why get upset?

[RitaRose]

Low carbing is useful for weight loss for many people but insulin is not the bad guy and the picture is a lot more complex than Taubes is willing to admit. Calories matter, so does diet quality.

I have to say, figuring that out was a huge wakeup call for me. While I still probably go lower than the average SAD guy on the street, when I go too low I'm a shrew and more prone to binging. If I focus on better quality food, making sure I get enough good fat and not worrying about the amount of (quality) carbs at all, that's when I'm at my best.

[Vanbiesbrouck]

Perhaps because calories do count?

"Calories don't count calories, People count calories."

[brahnamin]

I am wondering when Mark will be led off in chains for the horrendous sales he has promoted?

Meh. Mark will just use his chains as a piece of impromptu workout equipment.

[lambchop]

Well, first of all Taubes is wrong and everyone from Robb Wolf to Stephan Guyenet has written detailed and insightful articles about it. Low carbing is useful for weight loss for many people but insulin is not the bad guy and the picture is a lot more complex than Taubes is willing to admit. Calories matter, so does diet quality. The details of why this guy was sued for fraud are beyond us, we don't really have the whole story and it was a long time ago so why get upset?

Oh no, I was working on the assumpton Taubes got it right and insulin control was key and low carb is why Dhukan diet is so successful. I am so confused...