I heard this interview with Gary Taubes today. He is the author of a new book which reviews scientific evidence on and is titled "Why we get fat and what to do about it".

This is definitely good news for cattlemen. In a quick summary he says it is carbohydrates (such as in eating pasta, potatos, anything with refined flour or sugar) that causes the body to create more insulin and it is the insulin which controls the fat in our bodies.

Protein, fats and non carb calories in foods do NOT lead to obesity....  He quotes study after study where people were on a high carb/low fat/low calorie diet  and compared to people who were on a normal diet except for low carbohydrates and the normal diet except low carbohydrates lost weight and kept it off...

I can't and won't quote the entire interview but over all it totally debunks the idea that eating beef or other meats is bad for you, quite the opposite - a beef diet and reduction in carb intake is very good for you and would control weight.... It's the pasta and baked potato and breads and rolls that are building insulin which builds fat and leads to obesity and also contributes to an increase in diabetes in the US. My own summary: the hamburger is great, the french fries and bun are what are going to get you.

He says much of the weight loss advice in this country is given by very non-scientific sources. The science says that insulin is the key to obesity control and a high protein, low carb diet is the way to control insulin...or something to that effect. He quoted a number of examples of different cultures and how they have changed as their diet changed away from meat and proteins towards carbs and refined grains and sugars.

I think this is a further positive for the beef industry in the US. 

Here is a link to the book on the subject if anyone is interested. The podcast of the interview is here.

Jim at Dawn

Another related link with more discussion on the book effect of carbohydrates on the body