The World's Best Book Summaries
Does meat make you fat? How does eating meat contribute to weight gain? When it comes to meat’s fattening potential, there seems to be a division of opinion, even amongst scientists. Some say that meat (especially, lean meat such as chicken breast) is great for weight loss because it contains no carbs. Others say that eating meat is associated with weight gain. Here’s what Dr. Jason Fung says on the matter.
What is Jared Diamond’s theory about food production and farming in Eurasia? What factors created the Fertile Crescent? According to historian, geographer, and ornithologist Jared Diamond, Eurasia developed and thrived thanks to its food production. One huge factor in that food production was the fact Eurasia was located in the Fertile Crescent, a geographical location perfectly suited for domesticable plants. Here’s a closer look at Jared Diamond’s theory on Eurasia and the Fertile Crescent.
When did calorie counting come about? Do calories matter when it comes to weight loss? Calorie-counting as a method for monitoring weight loss has been around since the early 1900s. In the 1950s, early studies concluded that weight gain was the result of excess calories. Given this, researchers believed that dietary fat—a high-calorie food—causes weight gain. Here’s how the “calories in, calories out” myth came about and why it’s wrong.
What are the main causes of malnutrition? Why are the poor malnourished in spite of the efforts of policymakers? In Poor Economics, MIT professors Esther Duflo and Abhijit Banerjee discuss a well-known problem among the poor: malnutrition. They argue that this problem doesn’t stem from lack of food per se, but from lack of nutrition. In other words, the poor are not starving for calories, they are starving for nutrients. Here’s what MIT professors Esther Duflo and Abhijit Banerjee have to say about the causes of malnutrition amongst the poor.
How should you break your fast? What foods should you avoid eating after ending your fast? When it comes to breaking your fast, don’t be too strict on yourself. As much as possible, opt for unprocessed or minimally processed foods. But since fasting is quite hard psychologically, you should allow yourself some treats every now and then. Here are some things to keep in mind when breaking your fast.
What is Gin Stephens’s Fast. Feast. Repeat. about? How does adopting intermittent fasting (IF) as a lifestyle help you improve your health? Fast. Feast. Repeat. is a practical self-help guide that explains intermittent fasting (IF) as a lifestyle and approach to overall well-being. Among other benefits, Gin Stephens argues that IF can help you lose weight, feel better, fight disease, and live longer. Below is a brief overview of Fast. Feast. Repeat. by Gin Stephens.
Are you considering adopting intermittent fasting (IF) as a lifestyle? What are some things you should keep in mind when beginning your transition to the IF feeding schedule? Transitioning to intermittent fasting (IF) is a big step, especially if you’re used to following the standard three-meal feeding approach. According to Gin Stephens, the author of Fast. Feast. Repeat., the key to successfully transitioning to the IF lifestyle is to adapt your body to the IF feeding over a four-week period. Keep reading to learn how to start fasting by committing to a four-week adaptation period.
How does fasting induce fat loss? What are the benefits of intermittent fasting apart from weight loss? In the fasted state, your body converts your fat stores into ketones, a fat-based energy source. Put another way, you burn your fat as fuel (a state called ketosis). In addition to fat loss, intermittent fasting has other health benefits. Keep reading to learn about the health benefits of intermittent fasting.
What is the best intermittent fasting schedule? How should you time your fasts for maximum effectiveness? There are many things to factor in when deciding on which fasting schedule suits you best: your lifestyle, work schedule, how long you can go without food, etc. As a starting point, you may want to begin with time-restricted eating (TRE) and move to a more advanced alternate-day fasting (ADF) schedule once your body has acclimated to extended periods of not eating. Here’s how to time your fasting cycles using the TRE and the ADF approaches.
Do any diets actually work? Why does food- or calorie-restrictive dieting not work in the long term? According to Gin Stephens, the author of Fast. Feast. Repeat., dieting for weight loss doesn’t work in the long term. However, decades of contradictory advice about how and what to eat for weight loss has created immense confusion, a tangle that she calls “diet brain”: When you no longer have any clue how to eat “properly.” Here’s why dieting doesn’t work in the long term, according to Stephens.