Cereal Killer

by Alan L. Watson

Cereal Killer, part 1, the test of time, documents the unintended consequences of the low fat diet, describing how food pyramid schemes and sugary cereals are directly associated with insulin resistance, high blood sugar, and widespread diabetes. Part 2, life in the fat lane, combats decades of extreme fat-bashing by providing a definitive analysis of the value and wholesome nature of saturated fat and foods rich in cholesterol.

Genres: Health

144 pages, Perfect Paperback

First published October 15, 2008

Reviews

[Sylvia Trouwborst · Rating 5 out of 5]

We can't deny the truth!

[Deeanna · Rating 3 out of 5]

As a book this is....scattered. And a little sensationalist. The author clearly has a lot of great information and ideas, and it seemed like they all just sort of tumbled out instead of getting organized cohesively.

I think my main problem with this book was it wasn't what I thought it was going to be at all. The back of my copy says "Cereal Killer is a stinging indictment of the big cereal companies and drug industries who enjoy huge profits as Americans of all ages suffer from failed 'low fat' federal nutrition guidelines and record levels of chronic disease". I was psyched. I was ready to learn about how highly processed foods are made, why they're so detrimental, and how much raw nutrition is lost in the process. I was ready to learn about the movers and shakers directing our false ideas about nutrition, and how corporate spending is affecting our perception.

But what we have here is a diet book. And it's a pretty good one (it doesn't mention vegetables nearly enough in my opinion, and besides one very out of place chapter on raising animals on pasture, doesn't emphasize the wild differences between the 'good quality' animal products it wants you to eat and what the vast majority of people are actually eating). It just isn't what was advertised. Cereal here is used as a symbol, and even then is only mentioned in the first few chapters.

I knew literally nothing about cholesterol and how it works in our bodies, nor did I know anything about the American Heart Association and what they are promoting. Most of the diet-related advice seemed pretty sound. I found that very interesting as its not the usual fare I read with food-related books. I also thought it was well cited on the topics it did address.

Just not what I thought it'd be.

EDIT: Also, chapter 10 starts out with the rare but always cringey self-quote. Yikes.

[Angela Rosales · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent read! There's even info in the appendix to help explain your lipid evaluation (total cholesterol, triglycerides, LDL & HDL.) The lowfat diet is crap & we need to go back to how our great-grandparents ate!

[Pcallist · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very good and short. If you don't have time to read Taubes, 'Good Calories, Bad Calories' read this and see the DVD 'FAT HEad'

[Elaine · Rating 2 out of 5]

I plan to follow up with the scientific claims made in this book. I expected the author to support his claims about the food industry and it's influence on government nutrition guidelines.