Stating the facts on nutrition

Re Say Cheese, Dec. 30

On Dec. 30 you ran a dangerously misinformed piece on lowcarb, high-fat diets. The information flew in the face of established research that readers should know about. Groups like the CCTN have little original or long-term research. The two spokespeople themselves provided anecdotal evidence.

Meanwhile, thousands of peer-reviewed studies have shown, for decades, why or how whole-food, plant-based (WFPB) diets are healthiest. Large meta-analyses (millions of participants, years of follow up) have shown that unrefined carbs (fruits, vegetables, legumes) all lower risks of dying while high fat foods (cheese, steak) increase these risks.

The keto diet can raise your risk of dying up to 24 per cent! WFPB diets can prevent disease. In 1991, Dr. Dean Ornish’s research showed that heart disease is preventable and reversible through diet and lifestyle. His reversal program works so well it’s covered by Medicare. Fat, not sugar, is responsible for Type 2 diabetes by blocking insulin from delivering glucose into the cell.

The high-fat camp’s use of doubt and confusion is reckless. A Canadian dies every seven minutes from heart disease or stroke and diabetes is becoming an epidemic. Plant-based diets are vital to optimal health. The Food Guide is absolutely on the right track.

Nital Jethalal, Toronto