Although there is much to like about this book, there are also some glaring inconsistencies. While it may well be true that the healthy societies presented in the book live on plant-based diets with little animal protein or fat, other societies in which the population eats high proportions of fat from animal sources are similarly healthy but not mentioned. Robbins set out with his own prejudice and excluded research that did not coincide with his hypothesis. To conclude that a low-fat, plant based diet is optimal for everyone based on these few examples is by no means conclusive proof. Even in Okinawa, the population eats plenty of pork and uses lard in their cooking, something Robbins conveniently omits from his discussion.
Additionally, Robbins praises the Okinawa diet and the Asian diets in general for their high intake of whole grains. Yet he never gives us an indication of what these whole grains might be and how much is consumed. Actually, Asians eat white rice, often three times each day. There is a saying in Japan that “white rice is easier on the stomach.” But Robbins makes no mention of the high intake of white rice in the typical Asian diet. So when he can’t explain something that blatant, he ignores it.
I think it’s time for Americans to stop looking for the magic bullet answer to their diet woes. We only need to look at our own history to see where we made a turn for the worse and correct our course. A mere century ago, we did not have an obesity crisis or epidemics of modern chronic disease. And at that time, we were NOT consuming a low fat, plant based diet. What’s changed? Plenty.
If you want a very thoughtfully written, well-researched book that busts the low fat myths wide open, read Gary Taubes’ new book, “Good Calories, Bad Calories.” Robbins is one who has bought the low-fat myth hook, line and sinker, even when faced with his own contradictions.
The portions of “Healthy At 100″ devoted to exercise and lifestyle are quite nice.
Filed under: Reviews
