Metabolical: The Lure and the Lies of Processed Food, Nutrition, and Modern Medicine

I am a recently retired concerned family doctor for the past 40 years and although I have read only the first few chapters of his book, I know this story well as I have been following the discussed principles since 2003 and was blown away particularly when Dr Lustig delivered the sugar science in 2010. Let me assure you that he is correct in his presumptions. I have seen dramatic results with many of my patients -particularly diabetics who are very happy to take the nutritional route rather then all those medicines. Furthermore for the doctors out their, getting the patients started on this can be done in 20 minutes and handing them one piece of paper instructions. I admire Dr Lustig taking this strong approach and know what he is up against with the opposition he is encountering. I worked with 9 other doctors in a very busy practice for the last 10 years and they mostly don’t get it or more likely don’t believe they have the capacity to incorporate all this into their very busy lives. Don’t be naive when criticising Dr Lustig -he is a scientific endocrinologist from one of the top universities in the USA. He is obviously sincere and meticulous in the statistics he is quoting and very brave to be taking on the “powers” involved. If you interested in your health and have the responsibility of others in your care believe what you read in this book. From academic inclined, concerned family doctor -New Zealand.

The book starts off with what seems like an alarmist rant, almost screaming at you that you are CONSUMING POISON! Dr. Lustig really wants to hammer home that eating processed foods is not just less-than-ideal, but it is extremely dangerous, and slowly killing you. While I think he comes on a little strong, after looking at his credentials and reading about his past, I can understand how someone that has worked for so long on fighting obesity could feel like they need to be extreme to get people's attention. Even the book's title “Metabolical” is a combination of the words metabolic and diabolical. His message is that food producers, pharmaceutical companies, and even the federal government are all actively working against you; to benefit themselves while they knowingly cause you to remain unhealthy.The book is divided into five main parts, containing a total of 28 chapters. Dr. Lustig covers a wide variety of topics, from problems with modern medicine, to nutritional fallacies, to issues with food production and FDA regulations. There is really so much information contained in this book that it is hard to summarize. With each topic though, Dr. Lustig comes off as somewhat angry and frustrated, and in some instances almost seems like a conspiracy theorist. He does make very convincing arguments though, and references data in well documented sources on his website. His experience as a doctor that has seen the same issues in his patients for so many years, is evident in the sense of urgency in his writing.I can look past the somewhat abrasive delivery, and appreciate the amount of information contained in this book. This took me a while to get through, and I wouldn't exactly describe it as a “fun” read, but there really is a ton of valuable info here, with even more references on the website.

I appreciate the research behind this book and the impeccable credentials that Dr. Lustig has. While one reviewer claims the book is somewhat strident it is understandable Dr. Lustig would be angry with what big Pharma the federal government and the large food companies are doing. If there is a rebuttal to what is proposed in metabolical I would be very interested in seeing it and the research behind it. He does a great job of synthesizing the results of his research and showing how food should be our medicine.

Despite the inordinate amount of money that Americans spend on “healthcare” every year we remain amongst the sickest of all nations according to many rating agencies including WHO, the Commonwealth Fund, and the World Population Review. 44% of all Americans take at least 1 prescription medication and 17% take 3 or more meds. Dr. Lustig does an exemplary and accurate assessment of our dire situation and exposes our food and medical industries as taking an active part in our poor performance. Read with an open mind and appreciate the relevant references cited. While it may appear Dr. Lustig is “angry” or “emotional” I see the writing of a man who is fed up (no pun intended) with how poorly we Americans take care of ourselves. Someone has to open our eyes and Dr. Lustig does so in the book which all healthcare providers should read and then incorporate these findings and recommendations into their patient care plans. It truly is a must read. Then you can decide for yourself what is right.

Most of the book presents nothing new, in pointing out the deep and systemic flaws of modern medicine and Big Pharma, and the health risks of processed food and sugar. The remainder of the book is devoted to bashing, belittling, criticizing, and doubting the various well credentialed experts who have advocated plant-based diets--without offering a truly credible alternative. For those who look for actual solutions and recommendations for preventing chronic diseases, the author offers only a well-trod mantra: eat Real Food. But we already knew that. I waited in vain for the author to present an actual, detailed plan for eating healthy, beyond repeating the bare phrase "eat Real Food." I returned the book for a refund because I was offended by so much hubris and so little merit.

Mind blowing how the effort of one man stands to change what we think we know. Dr. Lusting calls for us to get out of our own way and return to reality concerning our nutritional choices.Thank you Doctor.

Another must-read book by Robert Lustig. If you want to know about how the food industry (Big Food), the pharmaceutical industry (Big Pharma) and various medical bodies and governments collude to deceive us, whether deliberately or otherwise ( you'll be able to judge for yourself) the sad truth is that our food is polluted and it's polluting us - but you can do something about it! A good place to start would be with readingthis book, which is informative and clearly written. And fascinating! Take it to heart (pun intended) and you may do yourself the best favour healthwise that you could do. Genuinely essential reading.

Although this book predominately centres on the US processed food industry, Dr Lustig does make reference to the UK and other countries. Dr Lustig brings his own style of humour in what is a meaty tome. This book pulls no punches when it comes to the responsibility or lack of from big Pharma, big Agri, big Food Corporations, the Government, the whole Medical Establishment. The central theme being 'it's not what is in the food but how the food is made'.Take your time reading this book to fully digest its contents.

excellent book which takes the general suspicion that food processing is somehow detrimental to the consumer and puts real evidence and proposed mechanisms of harm in explicit terms.I thoroughly enjoy the way the statement "its not whats IN the food, its whats been DONE to the food" cuts through the otherwise heated Vegan/Carnivore/Paleo/Low Fat etc etc diet arguments. By avoiding food that has been adulterated (by processing to ultrapulverized pap, or by the addition of preservatives and sugars, salts and nitrates), we can greatly improve our health. Just how much this needs to be taken into account is really revealed in the book - you wouldnt give alcohol to children, yet fructose is manifestly just as damaging when overconsumed and at least alcohol makes you feel drunk if you overconsume it! fructose just turns your liver and internal organs into foi gras with "fatty liver" being a common finding on abdominal ultrasound scans these days.I, for one, have taken a fresh look at my food choices - sausages, chorizo, store bought sauces (mayonnaise, chutney, ketchup), commercial yoghurts, let alone the more obviously processed foods (pringles crisps, protein powders, "snack bars"). it is fascinating to see how much of our regular food intake promotes chronic disease.with this thought in mind, i am happily focusing on minimally focussedhighly highly recommended!

This book really does it take a tin-opener to the relationship between the global food supply-chain and the indisputable increase in ill-health we are experiencing across the globe. Never have we had so many calories available to us, yet never have we had such a steep increase in noncommunicable disease. With this in mind it would be irresponsible of us not to at least seek to examine the relationships between Big Food and illness. Lustig points out in a very lucid way that whatever our opinions about what a ‘good’ diet may be, an awful lot of people are making an awful lot of money out of feeding us processed food filled with sugar and chemicals. Are these people really our friends? Possibly not entirely…

This is all about the US whose food industry differs a lot from the UK so not much help.