{"id":3890,"date":"2010-08-30T06:58:24","date_gmt":"2010-08-30T04:58:24","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blog.ultimatefatburner.com\/?p=3890"},"modified":"2015-12-07T11:51:24","modified_gmt":"2015-12-07T16:51:24","slug":"neal-barnard-strikes","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ultimatefatburner.com\/ufb-blog\/neal-barnard-strikes\/","title":{"rendered":"Neal Barnard Strikes Again"},"content":{"rendered":"

Dr. Neal Barnard – head of the vegan-promoting, so-called\u00a0“Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine” is at it again, this time with a CBS News slideshow with the over-the-top title “15 Food Myths That Can Kill You<\/a>.”<\/p>\n

Wow… sounds dire.\u00a0 Trouble is, if you click through it, you won’t actually find much that’s deadly.\u00a0 Let’s take a closer look…<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

1. “Myth: Kids Need to Drink Cow’s Milk<\/strong>. Parents often insist that their children drink milk, but why? Kids who don’t drink cow’s milk are just as healthy as those who do, studies show. In fact, research suggests that milk-free kids may be less likely to develop colic, ear infections, and asthma.”<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

No, kids don’t need to drink cow’s milk, but the association between milk intake and conditions like asthma are a lot shakier\u00a0than Dr. B would like people to think. He also fails to make any distinction between “kids” and “kids diagnosed with cow’s milk allergy” –\u00a0it’s the latter that\u00a0appear to be at\u00a0higher risk for\u00a0recurrent otitis media<\/a> and asthma<\/a>, not\u00a0your average milk-drinking tyke.\u00a0This is why the American Academy of Pediatrics – as Dr. Barnard\u00a0reveals – does not recommend cow’s milk for feeding infants: it’s\u00a0to reduce the risk of developing allergies to milk proteins.<\/p>\n

In addition, Dr. Barnard is deliberately\u00a0blurring the\u00a0distinction between\u00a0“kids” with “infants.” “Kids” don’t get colic, lol.<\/p>\n

FWIW, milk can be problematic for many… but\u00a0I fail to see the connection\u00a0to how this particular\u00a0“myth”\u00a0will\u00a0kill me.\u00a0 I drank milk as a kid (my mother certainly believed milk was important), and still\u00a0drink some now – as well as use dairy foods (cottage cheese; Greek yogurt) and supps (whey protein and casein hydrolysates). I’m past the half-century mark, and still going pretty damn strong. My kids – believe it or not – are still alive, too. \ud83d\ude09<\/p>\n

2. “Myth: It’s Easy to Exercise Off Extra Calories.<\/strong> It’s a bigger challenge than many people realize. Next time you’re at the gym, hop on a treadmill and run for a mile, then check how many calories you’ve just burned. It turns out to be only about 100.”<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Well, no argument here – but does anyone really believe this particular “myth?” I can’t think of too many folks – even habitual exercisers – who think exercise is an “easy” path to weight loss. In fact, I\u00a0could’a sworn that\u00a0the “contrarian” argument (i.e., exercise is useless) was the one that was currently in fashion<\/a>.<\/p>\n

But be that as it may… will belief in this myth kill anyone? Personally, I’m inclined to think that anyone\u00a0believing\u00a0this would be disabused of the notion long before morbid obesity kicked in. It’s a little thing known as “reality” – you can only deny it for so long. \ud83d\ude00<\/p>\n

3. “Myth: To Lose Weight, You Must Avoid Carbs<\/strong>. Bread, pasta, beans, and other high-carbohydrate foods are lower in calories than fatty foods, like cheese or French fries. That’s one reason why people whose eat carbohydrate-based diets – people living in rural Asia and vegetarians, for example – tend to be thinner than people whose diets are based on fatty foods.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Oh… so much for the Inuit Paradox<\/a>. Dr. Barnard sez diets based on fatty foods are bad, so that’s that.<\/p>\n

And no, to lose weight you don’t have to avoid carbs… but carbs are certainly a variable you can – and often should – manipulate. And while I’m sure it gives Dr. B heartburn, low-carb diets can actually improve health<\/a>. So – while I don’t believe in this myth, per se, I fail to see how it could kill me if I did.<\/p>\n

4. “Myth: It’s Essential to Drink Eight Glasses of Water a Day<\/strong>.”<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Yeah, it’s a myth – one-size fits all prescriptions typically are.\u00a0 But, for the sake of argument, let’s say that I really do believe this one.\u00a0Where’s the\u00a0harm? I don’t believe anyone’s ever developed water intoxication or hyponatremia drinking 8 glasses of water a day. The worst thing that could happen is that you’ll have to make a\u00a0few extra trips to the bathroom.<\/p>\n

5. “Myth: Fish is Full of Good Fat<\/strong>. Up to 30 percent of the fat in fish is omega-3 (good) fat, which helps prevent blood clots and reduces inflammation. But the other 70 percent or more is a mixture of saturated fat that tends to raise cholesterol levels and various other fats that are little more than a source of concentrated calories.”<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Oh, give me a &%$#@!! break. Show me ONE single study that suggests eating fish\u00a0in the recommended ways\/amounts<\/a>\u00a0raises cholesterol or makes anyone fat. It’s not the percentages that are important, it’s the total amounts – and even so-called “fatty” fish don’t\u00a0contain massive amounts of fat or calories.<\/p>\n

So how does this “myth” place me in harm’s way?\u00a0 Anyone?<\/p>\n

6. “Myth:\u00a0Exercise Lowers Cholesterol<\/strong>. Exercise does boost “good” (HDL) cholesterol–but only slightly. It has almost no effect on “bad” (LDL) cholesterol.”<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

FWIW, I’ve never heard this particular “myth,” but what the heck – I’ll give him this one. I know a lot of people who exercise hard, but eat tons of crap. I’d hate to see the blood tests of some of the powerlifters that frequent my gym.<\/p>\n

7. “Myth: Meat is the Only “Complete” Protein<\/strong>.”<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

I’m sorry – methinks he made this one up. I’ve been around tons of protein-obsessed bodybuilders, and I can’t think of a single one that has ever held this belief.\u00a0 Yes, some bodybuilders believe that only animal proteins<\/em> are complete – but this is a category that includes eggs, fish and dairy – not meat alone.<\/p>\n

But once again, I gotta ask: this will kill me… how???<\/p>\n

8.\u00a0“Myth: Organic produce is no better than conventional produce<\/strong>. Organic and conventionally grown produce have about the same level of nutrients. But organic fruits and vegetables are less likely to have traces of pesticides and other chemicals. Parents take note, because recent studies show that certain pesticides can increase the risk for ADHD.”<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Yes, if pesticide avoidance is desired, then organic produce is the way to go.\u00a0 But – when it comes to public health – I have a sneaking suspicion that the experts would rather have us eat conventional produce than no produce at all – even the conventional stuff is associated with reduced risk of\u00a0various\u00a0diseases. And while I don’t want to make light of ADHD – I thought the subject of this piece was about stuff that was gonna kill me! How will believing that organic produce is no better than conventional produce do that???<\/p>\n

9. “Myth: Soy Products Cause Cancer<\/strong>. Though the connection between soy and breast cancer remains controversial, recent evidence suggests that soy products reduce the risk of breast cancer, provided they are consumed early in life.”<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

I’ll give him this one, too: the “soy nuts” are waaaaaay over the top about the health risks, although personally, I\u00a0find zero compelling reasons to consume the stuff, either.\u00a0 IMHO, it’s neither devil nor angel.<\/p>\n

And do I have to ask the question again??? Believing that soy products cause cancer may be kinda crazy, but how does it damage anyone’s health?<\/p>\n

10. “Myth: Olive Oil is “Good” Fat<\/strong>.”<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

He’s being disingenuous again here, by focusing solely on the fat and cals, and not on the polyphenols present in less-refined versions (virgin and extra virgin oils). But once again, I gotta ask, how will believing in this “myth” kill me??? Inquiring minds want to know. It’s not like anyone’s gonna drink the stuff like Chianti.<\/p>\n

11. “Myth: Cravings Are Your Body’s Way of Telling You What You Need.<\/strong>“<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Oh, c’mon, doc – get real. The only time I’ve ever heard this one advanced was as a (weak) explanation for why pregnant women get cravings for\u00a0weird foods. But no one craving junk food, chocolate, ice cream, etc. actually believes their bodies “need” that stuff.\u00a0 At least no one sane.<\/p>\n

12. “Myth: To Get Enough Iron, You Need Plenty of Red Meat.”<\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

LOL – perhaps this is a myth… but red meat can certainly be a useful – and highly bioavailable source – of this critical nutrient. As noted in current research, iron availability is low in vegetarian diets<\/a>.<\/p>\n

13. “Myth: A Glass of Wine Every Day Promotes Good Health<\/strong>. Alcohol is a double-edged sword. People who drink modestly live longer than teetotalers, studies show. But there is a danger: Women who drink daily – even one drink per day – have a higher risk of breast cancer, compared with women who avoid alcohol entirely.”<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Funny how he doesn’t mention reduced risk of dementia<\/a> and other benefits associated with moderate\u00a0wine intake<\/a>. BTW, the increase in breast cancer risk is relatively small<\/a>. So it could fairly be argued that moderate wine drinking is, overall, a reasonably healthy habit.<\/p>\n

Is this dude a killjoy or what?<\/p>\n

14. “Myth: Margarine is Better Than Butter<\/strong>.”<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Ummm, no.\u00a0 This line was pushed years ago (particularly by the industry), but has since been walked back – especially in the wake of the whole trans fats business. And even Dr. B admits this one is a bit of a red herring, since he concludes that both<\/em> should be avoided.<\/p>\n

15. “Myth: The More Protein You Eat the Better<\/strong>.”<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Yes, I know a few misguided wannabe bodybuilders (aka “chunkheads”) who seem to believe this, but even those dudes don’t seem to be keeling over from either osteoporosis or kidney disease.\u00a0 He’s right that “more is not necessarily better,” and that people with pre-existing kidney disease are at risk… but honestly…The whole “higher protein diets are dangerous<\/em>” myth has been debunked so many times, it’s really quite tiresome.<\/p>\n

So here we are at the end of the list… and I’m still waiting to learn\u00a0how believing in any of\u00a0these “myths”\u00a0will kill me.\u00a0\u00a0Ok, I’ll concede that\u00a0it wouldn’t be so good\u00a0if I believed in all of them at once…\u00a0For example,\u00a0if \u00a0I spread margarine on my T-bone steak;\u00a0serve it alongside a\u00a0lettuce-and-sardine-salad dressed with olive oil and Raid vinaigrette, and toss it all down with a glass of milk and a\u00a0flagon of wine\u00a0before going\u00a0for\u00a0a run to get rid of the calories and lower my cholesterol – I’d probably get pretty damn sick. But otherwise, I have a hard time seeing\u00a0a use for this\u00a0overwrought article… it’s just another “stealth” attempt to promote\u00a0Dr. B’s extreme version of vegetarianism<\/a>. You’d think that CBS News would issue some sort of disclaimer before featuring this guy and\/or the organization he represents.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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