The Art and Science of Low Carbohydrate Living: An Expert Guide to Making the Life-Saving Benefits of Carbohydrate Restriction Sustainable and Enjoyable

There are so very many in depth and all inclusive reviews I see no reason to parrot what they have all said, but I'll say that I agree enthusiastically. Jimmy Moore's review in particular is a gem!As a person who is fascinated with this subject and who eagerly devoured both of Gary Taubes' books, this one offers yet a deeper and more clinical examination of the science of low carbohydrate eating from two doctors who have been immersed in this field for 30 years. This is most definitely NOT a book for the casual reader interested in following a low carb diet. Rather, this is a book that will be understood and appreciated by someone who has a great deal of personal interest in learning more about this subject and who enjoys the deeply scientific explanations and discussion, and additionally, a person who has already done a fair bit of reading on this subject. This book is most definitely targeted at someone with a scientific and medical background, specifically doctors, and there are things that I had to read a few times to fully comprehend and absorb, but if you have the inclination and interest, this is a very rewarding and enlightening discussion that is quite unique in the current low carb literature. One would be hard pressed to deny the absolutely overwhelming and glaring evidence arguing for low carb diets when the vast body of proof is presented as compellingly and clearly is it is here. Low carb's undeniable superiority as a way of eating is nothing short of amazing to read about in all its historic and fascinating glory. My own personal observation and experience (also success) with eating low carb left me with vaguely formed ideas and I was self-identified as perhaps a "carb sensitive" person, and yet I couldn't put it all together in terms of how it ultimately affected me until I read this book, which discusses this subject at great length. Carb sensitivity is apparently a matter of degree within each individual, and I now understand the hows and whys of its effects on me as related to my own independent observations over the years. It's now clear why a low carb diet works so superbly and easily for me (when nothing else works) and why it has so vastly improved my health in myriad ways.Another important discussion was that of individual variability, which explains why not every diet works for everyone equally, why some don't gain weight on a high carb diet and why some can lose weight equally well on various types of diets. One shoe obviously does not fit all, and for some, only one shoe fits!Despite my own success with weight loss and good health eating low carb, I still had this nagging worry about fats in particular, especially in light of the deafening chorus of low carb detractors out there who railed endlessly about the dangers of fat. My insecurity about this aspect of low carb eating has now been entirely put to rest because of how fully the authors explain the body's use of fat in all its aspects. This alone make this book a valuable asset.As it was when I was reading the two Taubes books, I continue to be dismayed and disgusted by the narrow mindedness and yes, dishonesty of the general scientific/nutrition community. The word "sheeple" comes to mind, but it's even more than that. It's about politics, money, influence peddling as well. It is nothing short of amazing how so many of us lay folks out in the trenches can quite clearly see all the evidence for what it is and relate it to our own experiences, and as a result we draw such a different conclusion from the so-called "experts" with regard to the merits of low carb eating. Many, maybe even most of the diet gurus continue to march down that same old highway chanting their tired mantra of low fat/high carb/grains are great, all while totally ignoring or at least remaining oblivious to decades of increasing obesity rates that are the result of their recommendations. Do they never connect any dots or examine the evidence? In the popular media, it is a continual frustration to hear them continue to hawk diets full of the very foods that keep their patients overweight, increasingly diabetic and unhealthy. Virtually everything I come across that is not written within the low carb framework is jam packed with misinformation and downright untruths, proclaiming as desirable, healthy and effective the very approaches and strategies that were long ago shown to be just the opposite. Old habits and beliefs die hard, apparently.So if you have already done a fair bit of reading on this subject and thirst for a deeper, more thorough knowledge and understanding of the history and actual body mechanics of low carb nutrition, then this is definitely a book you will want to read and enjoy. In addition, it provides you with a huge new database of ammunition with which to make your own case and defense of low carb nutrition! Overall a very fascinating, enlightening, comprehensive and well presented discussion that delves deeper than anything I have yet to come across in this field. Despite the rather high cost of this book, it is well worth owning.

I have been very impressed by this book, what an important topic, so important to the health of us all in making good choices in a world of abundant foods of all kinds and perversions, and imagine the impact on a portion of our population as high as 20% who would benefit greatly from the excellent science in this book. ( I really believe Banting had a blood sugar metabolism problem, and he was not entirely reflective of all people ) I am about half done with this book, and find it engaging, it is a book that requires some background in biology, but an interested reader can use wikipedia and other sources to follow the reasoning. I will update this review when I finish the book and also my first two weeks of Low carb living especially with any changes in my opinions and comments.Two rebuttals to the impressive research offerred thus far in this book, this is no attack on the authors only something to consider in evaluating the research. ( the authors included )1. It is becoming fashionable to talk in terms of the "Paleo" diet, but while this is a very important point, there are some counter arguments that should be considered. I think the most important anomaly to this avenue of reason is "mother's milk" which is composed of a substantial amount of carbohydrates, so if carbohydrates are so inferior, why did nature evolve the current composition of mother's milk. The child is forming a great deal of important cells and bioinfrastructure and this seems to defy the countervailing argument about how our diet consisted of very little carbs for optimum living in our past. ( there may be a good explantation, but I could not think of one to square it with the Paleo reasoning that leads us to consider a low carb diet as superior because we evolved on this other diet, the human machine does use carbs for this process of sustaining the newborn, why?.)2. The book thus far has mentioned the brain, but none of the research tests seems to have tested brain function on the low carb diet, which concerns me, I use my brain often, more than as an athlete uses their body, so for me the brain function on a low carb diet is very important. The Brain needs quite a lot of calories and it prefers carbs, now the authors mention that ketones can be used, but having been in the adaption period, I do not feel good, and my brain is not optimum, some would say I need to wait longer, but I think the liver is very adaptable and does not require the full two weeks, where as maybe the muscles might need to change the machinery over a bit and require a full adaption period for the low carb adjustment. So I am lead to believe that my body and other folk's bodies are using the protein for creating the fuel for the brain, not the fat, which concerns me since protein is needed for other activites and this is not optimum for fueling the brain, and I might not be considering my protein intake in relation to my fat intake as encouraged in the book. I agree that a winter can be survived acceptably using the low carb option, but is this truly optimal considering the importance of brain function, on this point I am skeptical, but open minded.I find the book compelling in considering the dangers of excessive sugars and starches, this it would seem applies to everyone, where as a smaller portion of metabolically challenged folks might need to consider the more extreme diet proffered in this book. I think we should think in terms of "SLOW carbs" more than "LOW carbs", and I do agree a decent amount of good fats and lean proteins should be part of a good diet for most, but the low carb diet is extreme and I am not yet sold this is optimum for all people. I think the authors do highlight the fact that sugar and fat control are a lot more complex than just fat control, and that there are limits to sugar assaults on the body, and some people are a lot more sensitive than others, which might be one of the most important factors in wide spread obesity( truly a groundbreaking point ) and should not be diminished even if the low carb option is not optimal for all.I really hope the good work of these authors and their research is continued, especially using genetic markers to help the mass population in tailoring their diets to optimize their living. I also hope the authors do more brain function testing in their research, unless I discover this later in the book, this is lacking.It really takes some moxy to advocate a high saturated diet with extra sodium, I must admit I could not let my prejudice go immediately even with the well reasoned argument, old habits and prejudices die hard :-). Thank you for this excellent contribution to science.

I am a doctor and am interested in exercise and nutrition. This book was interesting. I agree with some reviewers who complained that it is very technical, but this is what I liked about it. Lots of theory, biochemistry and physiology - a good job at explaining how low carb diets work.As commonly happens with this kind of literature, this book somewhat one-sided. Authors discuss advantages of low carb ketogenic dieting in detail, but do not address its negative side-effects, which can include mood swings, thyroid suppression, loss of muscle mass in athletes etc. To be fair, all other types of diets have side-effects, however in-depth review of the topic like this one should have discussed the negatives.In any case, there is definitely a place for low carb diets. It never made sense to me that dietitians recommend diabetics to consume mostly complex low GI carbs and avoid fat: if you have too much sugar you have to avoid... sugar, or anything that turns into sugar in your body. Low carb seems to be more satiating than other diets, so it is useful for weight loss in overweight patients. I also liked the notion that nutrition should be individualized, and no approach is universally suitable for everyone.Overall, this is a good book. I would go as far as to state that most of my colleagues (and myself before reading the book) are not clued up on the intricacies of fat and carbohydrate metabolism explained in this text, and that is why I recommend it. It does get somewhat too technical at times, but you can skip technical material without compromising the essence.

I’m reading (or listening to) so many books on keto diet, ketosis, & fasting right now (I wish this book was in Audio format - the audio version of highlights & analysis goes way too quickly for me & I cannot retain the information). So far, this (paperback) book is the most comprehensive I’ve read & is explained over & over so that I am retaining the information. The talking style is personable, the information so well explained (& backed up) that I am pleasantly entertained as I take in complex information. Although this book published in 2011 & much new science might tweak the information, I believe I am being given a solid basis of understanding the phenomenon of low carb living. One of very best books on this topic that I have read, just wish there was full audio version.

Livre à lire et relire concernant le régime cétogène. Tres intéressant mais malheureusement non traduit en français. Un peu ardu sur les explications scientifiques, il faut y revenir plusieurs fois pour intégrer ces informations. Donc bouquin de référence sur la question

Physiologische Grundlagen der ketogenen Ernährung. Auf Deutsch finde ich kein so informatives Buch. Viele der angeführten Studien haben die 2 Autoren selber durchgeführt und besprechen diese und auch andere sehr gut. Nach diesem Buch hat man eine Ahnung, um was es bei ketogener Ernährung geht. Das Nachfolgebuch ... The Art and Science of Low Carbohydrate Performance liest sich dann leichter.

I, like many others, was a loyal follower of the low-fat diet as recommended by "The Guidelines", yet I found myself feeling forever hungry, putting on weight despite severe caloric restriction and now, as a final insult I have been diagnosed as a type 2 diabetic. Sadly, my doctor gave me little advice but he did give me a bundle of prescriptions and a glucose monitoring device. The nutritionist I was lucky enough to speak to merely assured me that it was Okay to keep eating as I had before the diagnosis because the meds would take care of the glucose levels in my blood. The essence of Einstein came to mind - it is foolish to think that a problem will be solved by the same thinking which caused the problem in the first place. Besides I had witnessed most of my family slowly and miserably go into decline and die because of this advice. I began looking for information on managing my blood glucose levels using food. I found this book very helpful in explaining the macronutrients and their effects on the body. Yes, it is a difficult read, but it is well worth the effort. It is not a prescriptive book - you won't get lists of foods which are banned from the diet, but with a bit of basic knowledge (which one can find on the internet) one can work out what to eat and what to avoid. It does take a lot of fine tuning and patience to work out what works on an individual level, but one is quickly rewarded by rapid and sustainable weight loss. Of course, lasting success depends on adopting a low carb lifestyle rather than seeing this as a short term fix.

Excellent scientific proof of LCHF. Diet!Very useful for me ; a type 2, diabetic .Proper use of fat and protein explained