How can I get up to speed on the science?

(Cookie ) #21

I noticed that the Art and Science of Low Carbohydrate Living is a 2011 book. Is the science in it still valid or have some concepts been superseded?

#22

How can we get MDs up to speed on the science?
They seem to be stuck in the 1980s.

Yeah, I know my comment isn’t helpful but we have real problem with outdated doctors.

(Richard Morris) #23

The biochemistry is still the same. Some clinical trials have been run since that have confirmed some of the hypotheses … for example the Authors work for a company called virta who have funded an RCT into testing a ketogenic diet for type 2 diabetics. The hypothesis that this diet would be good for diabetics in the book was based on understanding the mechanisms and projecting expected results. The Virta RCT confirmed those.

virtahealth.com/research

Buy them a copy of Art and Science … that’s what I did.

(Meeping up the Science!) #24

@richard is exceptionally more knowledgeable than he gives himself credit for - an observation I am rarely able to make. I trust few individuals’ knowledge without much hesitation and he is one of them.

As for learning biochemistry, start learning by picking a topic. Pick one idea. Read voraciously, pursue all information even if it contradicts what you believe, and question your assumptions. You can spend a lifetime trying to understand biochemistry. Start with what interests you, just one thing, and doggedly follow it until you are bored. Really, to understand biochemistry you must first understand organic chemistry on a macro-level. On the micro-level, pursue your interests to pique your study. Eventually, physics and org chem are needed for many of the nuances, however any start is a good start.

The Medical Biochemistry Page is a good free resource, however it also has biases and poor nutritional advice here and there. Still, it’s not bad to pick up the basics quickly.

We have actually known many of the principals of biochemistry for decades…almost a century in some cases. Little of the basic knowledge has changed. What has transformed is the application and hypotheses about what they mean regarding the whole organism. However, we’ve known a lot of it for decades. Some things are newer (Ghrelin was discovered when I was in school the first time in the 90s, for instance) however the foundational chemistry has not changed.

Acceptance is of course very different than the scientific accumulation of knowledge, and cognitive dissonance exists in science no different than any other discipline. Robb Wolf talked about this in one of his books, how he could speak to anthropologists who immediately would point out that it was our modern diet that was disastrous biologically for humans, but the biochemists were in denial even though they knew the science.

You must also realize that food is a highly emotional thing. We invest culture and belief into it, as well, and challenging the food status quo challenges identity at the core for many people - scientists are no exception.

However, sometimes to pursue health doggedly, we must challenge our nature lest it quite literally kills us. Sadly, not all people learn this lesson, scientists and doctors included.

(CharleyD) #25

Richard David Feinman is a Great Communicator in biochem:
The World Turned Upside Down

While not a textbook, this book by Steven Rose is perfect to give a foundation in human biochem/metabolism. It’s short, sweet and accessible:
The Chemistry of Life

I’ve read both and consider them necessary reading if you are going to do this self-experiment. Know why what you’re doing is going to make your body happy.

Edit: Ah, I see you listened to Ivor recommending The Chemistry of Life as well. Good!