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Eten Als Dieren. Wat de natuur ons kan leren over gezond eten.
Onze voorouders bezaten ooit het vermogen om precies te weten welk voedsel hun lichaam op welk moment van de dag nodig had. Van bavianen tot schimmels, bijna alle levende organismen weten instinctief wat ze moeten eten voor een optimale gezondheid. Maar wanneer en waarom zijn wij dit vermogen kwijtgeraakt en - nog belangrijker - hoe kunnen we het terugkrijgen?
David Raubenheimer en Stephen Simpson beantwoorden deze vragen in een meeslepend verhaal over evolutionaire biologie en voedingswetenschap, gebaseerd op jarenlang baanbrekend onderzoek. Hun kleurrijke wetenschappelijke reis brengt lezers over de hele wereld, van de uitlopers van Kaapstad tot de woestijnen van Arizona, tot een ultramodern onderzoekscentrum in Sydney.
Dit verrassende, wetenschappelijke avontuur resulteert in een voedingstheorie die diepgaande gevolgen heeft voor de huidige epidemie van metabole ziekten en obesitas. Raubenheimer en Simpson geven daarnaast advies om de ongewenste bijwerkingen van populaire dieten te begrijpen en controle te krijgen over onze voedselomgeving en laten zien dat lekker en gezond onlosmakelijk verbonden zijn aan goed eten.
David Raubenheimer en Stephen Simpson beantwoorden deze vragen in een meeslepend verhaal over evolutionaire biologie en voedingswetenschap, gebaseerd op jarenlang baanbrekend onderzoek. Hun kleurrijke wetenschappelijke reis brengt lezers over de hele wereld, van de uitlopers van Kaapstad tot de woestijnen van Arizona, tot een ultramodern onderzoekscentrum in Sydney.
Dit verrassende, wetenschappelijke avontuur resulteert in een voedingstheorie die diepgaande gevolgen heeft voor de huidige epidemie van metabole ziekten en obesitas. Raubenheimer en Simpson geven daarnaast advies om de ongewenste bijwerkingen van populaire dieten te begrijpen en controle te krijgen over onze voedselomgeving en laten zien dat lekker en gezond onlosmakelijk verbonden zijn aan goed eten.
272 pages, Paperback
First published April 7, 2020
99 people are currently reading
843 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 61 reviews
May 2, 2022
Fascinating in the beginning, but lapsed into sort of romantic, fetishising “paradise” of “tribal” people type yarns, before talking about how bad industrial food is. I think it’s clear they’ve wandered out of their area of expertise here as the book shifts from laying out methodology, experiments, results, and interpreting the data with caution, to something quite different in the final third. if you have read any book about the dangers of industrialised food or whatever then this concluding third will likely be boring to you.
i felt uneasy about them hand wringing about remote populations relying on a single food source (yak cheese) supplementing with some shelf stable foods such as biscuits and noodles to be kind of sad like there are obviously negative implications but god who am i to say these people can’t have some two minute noodles if it gets them through a back breaking winter ?
i felt uneasy about them hand wringing about remote populations relying on a single food source (yak cheese) supplementing with some shelf stable foods such as biscuits and noodles to be kind of sad like there are obviously negative implications but god who am i to say these people can’t have some two minute noodles if it gets them through a back breaking winter ?
September 3, 2020
Die Ernährungswissenschaflter Raubenheimer und Simpson haben mit Hilfe von Wanderheuschrecken herausgefunden, welche Rückschlüsse wir von dem Essverhalten auf den Menschen ziehen können.
Tiere können genau entscheiden wie viel Proteine und Nährstoffe sie brauchen und können das Essen und ihren Nährstoffgehalt erschmecken.
Auch wir Menschen haben diese Fähigkeit. Doch prozessierte Lebensmittel dessen Geschmäcker künstlich sind, können unseres Bedarf verfälschen.
Das Buch ist inhaltlich spannend und bietet wissenschaftliche Fakten.
Tiere können genau entscheiden wie viel Proteine und Nährstoffe sie brauchen und können das Essen und ihren Nährstoffgehalt erschmecken.
Auch wir Menschen haben diese Fähigkeit. Doch prozessierte Lebensmittel dessen Geschmäcker künstlich sind, können unseres Bedarf verfälschen.
Das Buch ist inhaltlich spannend und bietet wissenschaftliche Fakten.
July 15, 2021
Good read,
>Alligned what I already thought and my own basic understanding of my health.
>Reinforced the message around eating healthy
Conclusion :
1. Estimate your protein intake : per the book protein is one of the key levers which are used by our body to regulate weight, health, aging.
2. Avoid ultra processed foods
3. Choose high protein foods from a variety of animals and/or plant.
4. Fibre is important to reconnect and regulate diet, seek it out
5. Don't obsess about counting calories, get the diet right and protein will manage the calories for you.
6. Be restrained when adding sugar and salt to food, and choose healthy added fats, such as extra virgin olive oil
7. Listen to your appetite. If you're craving salty, umanmi flavours then it's your body telling you that you need protein. This is when you're most likely to snack, don't be seduced seek out high quality protein food instead
8. Don't eat more protein than you feel you want. There is a downside from eating too much protein may lead your body not to repair itself as well.
9. Exercising and building muscle, science suggest 20 - 30 grams of protein best activates new muscle proteins.
10. Help boost cellular & DNA repair and maintenance, fast overnight & limit snacking between main meals.
11. Sleep well
12. Get active and social
13. Learn to cook
14. Eat what you like
>Alligned what I already thought and my own basic understanding of my health.
>Reinforced the message around eating healthy
Conclusion :
1. Estimate your protein intake : per the book protein is one of the key levers which are used by our body to regulate weight, health, aging.
2. Avoid ultra processed foods
3. Choose high protein foods from a variety of animals and/or plant.
4. Fibre is important to reconnect and regulate diet, seek it out
5. Don't obsess about counting calories, get the diet right and protein will manage the calories for you.
6. Be restrained when adding sugar and salt to food, and choose healthy added fats, such as extra virgin olive oil
7. Listen to your appetite. If you're craving salty, umanmi flavours then it's your body telling you that you need protein. This is when you're most likely to snack, don't be seduced seek out high quality protein food instead
8. Don't eat more protein than you feel you want. There is a downside from eating too much protein may lead your body not to repair itself as well.
9. Exercising and building muscle, science suggest 20 - 30 grams of protein best activates new muscle proteins.
10. Help boost cellular & DNA repair and maintenance, fast overnight & limit snacking between main meals.
11. Sleep well
12. Get active and social
13. Learn to cook
14. Eat what you like
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 19, 2023
Easily one of the best books I've ever read. With food being such an integral part of our lives, we've all heard of and believe all kinds of stories, myths and facts. Given the fact that we have to eat to survive, it's a safer bet to understand what you are eating.
10/10
10/10
June 6, 2020
I enjoyed this book, and found it fascinating to read about the many and varied research experiments and observation of creatures in the wild that led the authors to their conclusions.
Their thesis is that most creatures, including humans, eat to reach a certain level of protein in their diet, regardless of the protein intensity of the food they eat. So a low protein diet will lead you to eat more calories than a high protein diet, and hence put on weight. And the evidence shows that modern diets are lower in protein than they used to be, by an amount that apparently accounts for the rise in overweight and obesity in developed countries during that time.
All well and good, and as a vegetarian I was starting to feel somewhat concerned that I wasn’t getting enough protein according to the calculator they provided. But then when I read on I got somewhat confused.
You’d think the obvious answer was to eat high protein foods, like the Atkins or Paleo diets. But then they cite research showing that animals fed too much protein died younger and had more health problems. This maybe accords with the current nutritional advice to eat a more plant-based diet, and limit animal protein consumption.
However, I was left with a question. If humans are so good at regulating their protein consumption levels, how would anyone end up eating too much protein in the first place? And, contrary to the authors’ assertions, it is well known that as diets westernise, levels of meat consumption increase, in conjunction with increasing levels of obesity. We all know people who eat massive steaks and large quantities of meat who must surely be eating too much protein, and are often overweight. Studies have shown that vegetarians tend to be lighter than meat eaters, and vegans lighter than vegetarians, which seems to contradict the protein satisfaction theory. And why do nutritional experts need to advise us to eat less meat if our appetites self-regulate protein levels?
The nutritional advice at the end seemed to have nothing new in it - just the usual “eat plenty of fruits and vegetables, unprocessed foods, and moderate amounts of protein”. So that was underwhelming. They also didn’t seem to account for the fact that many foods have protein in them, not just the obvious ones, so there is a cumulative effect from eating a wide variety of plant-based foods. For example, grains, mushrooms, green vegetables, nuts, seeds and so on may not be high in protein per serve, but they all contribute to total protein over the course of a day. There was also no mention of protein quality. Plant food protein tends to be deficient in one or more essential amino acids, so there needs to be certain amount of complementary protein mixing in these foods to ensure all essential amino acids are covered.
All in all, an interesting book, but with a few questions left unanswered.
Their thesis is that most creatures, including humans, eat to reach a certain level of protein in their diet, regardless of the protein intensity of the food they eat. So a low protein diet will lead you to eat more calories than a high protein diet, and hence put on weight. And the evidence shows that modern diets are lower in protein than they used to be, by an amount that apparently accounts for the rise in overweight and obesity in developed countries during that time.
All well and good, and as a vegetarian I was starting to feel somewhat concerned that I wasn’t getting enough protein according to the calculator they provided. But then when I read on I got somewhat confused.
You’d think the obvious answer was to eat high protein foods, like the Atkins or Paleo diets. But then they cite research showing that animals fed too much protein died younger and had more health problems. This maybe accords with the current nutritional advice to eat a more plant-based diet, and limit animal protein consumption.
However, I was left with a question. If humans are so good at regulating their protein consumption levels, how would anyone end up eating too much protein in the first place? And, contrary to the authors’ assertions, it is well known that as diets westernise, levels of meat consumption increase, in conjunction with increasing levels of obesity. We all know people who eat massive steaks and large quantities of meat who must surely be eating too much protein, and are often overweight. Studies have shown that vegetarians tend to be lighter than meat eaters, and vegans lighter than vegetarians, which seems to contradict the protein satisfaction theory. And why do nutritional experts need to advise us to eat less meat if our appetites self-regulate protein levels?
The nutritional advice at the end seemed to have nothing new in it - just the usual “eat plenty of fruits and vegetables, unprocessed foods, and moderate amounts of protein”. So that was underwhelming. They also didn’t seem to account for the fact that many foods have protein in them, not just the obvious ones, so there is a cumulative effect from eating a wide variety of plant-based foods. For example, grains, mushrooms, green vegetables, nuts, seeds and so on may not be high in protein per serve, but they all contribute to total protein over the course of a day. There was also no mention of protein quality. Plant food protein tends to be deficient in one or more essential amino acids, so there needs to be certain amount of complementary protein mixing in these foods to ensure all essential amino acids are covered.
All in all, an interesting book, but with a few questions left unanswered.
June 10, 2024
Good book, I would recommend to read it, however, I would like to point out a few issues that stood out in my opinion.
1. The authors had mentioned a few times that LDL is a bad/harmful type of cholesterol and associates with poor cardiovascular health.
This is inline with Ancel Keys and his lipid hypothesis, which is of course the narratives of the BigPharma.
However, there are recent data showing that people with low LDL still have poor cardiovascular healths.
I urge readers to explore more on the “response to injury” hypothesis, and comparing this new hypothesis with the lipid hypothesis.
2. I definitely agree with the authors about the point he made about highly processed food
However, the authors seem to be a bit biased against “meat” industry.
I agree that feedlot meats are not the best choice but what about meats from regenerative/holistic farms?
It would be fair to mention that most vegetable oils are highly processed. (Industrial oils?)
3. The authors mentioned on “more on nutrients” section that “saturated animal fats are wildly considered to be less healthy than unsaturated fat”.
“Widely considered by whom?” This seems very unscientific. Science is not democracy, is it?
Thank you
1. The authors had mentioned a few times that LDL is a bad/harmful type of cholesterol and associates with poor cardiovascular health.
This is inline with Ancel Keys and his lipid hypothesis, which is of course the narratives of the BigPharma.
However, there are recent data showing that people with low LDL still have poor cardiovascular healths.
I urge readers to explore more on the “response to injury” hypothesis, and comparing this new hypothesis with the lipid hypothesis.
2. I definitely agree with the authors about the point he made about highly processed food
However, the authors seem to be a bit biased against “meat” industry.
I agree that feedlot meats are not the best choice but what about meats from regenerative/holistic farms?
It would be fair to mention that most vegetable oils are highly processed. (Industrial oils?)
3. The authors mentioned on “more on nutrients” section that “saturated animal fats are wildly considered to be less healthy than unsaturated fat”.
“Widely considered by whom?” This seems very unscientific. Science is not democracy, is it?
Thank you
October 17, 2020
Really interesting and has me questioning my diet (current and past).
June 12, 2024
The book started weird, talking about locusts and their eating habits, even designing experiments to study those habits more. But with each chapter, I was more and more intrigued in the experiments with different animals, the way they reach the findings and if the results were as expected or not were like a suspense novel. I really enjoyed it! But more importantly, the knowledge I gained about different food groups, how we eat and why we eat what we eat. Its my first encounter with the science of food and its components!
July 27, 2023
A cadre of cricket-lookers looked at their crickets for a few years and decided that cricket dietary observations could generalize to every other animal. This is absurd. What's more absurd is, in this instance, they were right.
Protein and carbs is the name of the game. Those are your choices. Too much protein and not enough carbs, you become ripped, but sickly and ineffective. This is why people on Carnivore always look shredded to the bone and like they haven't slept in a long time, as well as why common colds are suddenly life threatening illnesses to them.
Too much carbs and not enough protein? Turns out not enough protein is not an option. You'll keep eating more carbs, because they have a little bit of protein in them. You'll eat as many carbs as necessary to hit your protein set point. This may result in you eating way, way more carbs than necessary for your actual energy needs, as protein requirement trumps every other requirement. Which makes you fat as hell.
Crickets, too.
Here is the sliding scale of your dietary options. High protein with some carbs makes you brolic and virile, but it shortens your life span. Live fast, die young, leave a jacked corpse and a throng of offspring.
High carb with some protein makes you a little fatter, but a little fat is good. A little fat lets you survive the hard times. It keeps away the plagues. It fosters a strong immune system and you'll probably live through famine. Your own life extends, but you'll be less powerful, and less prolific.
This concept can be observed in Arnold Schwarzenegger. When he was young, dumb, and full of horse steroids, all he did was eat steak and eggs, and impregnate whoever was nearby. Now he's old, and "95% vegan" or whatever that cringe Netflix documentary about vegetarian MMA fighters called it. He claims to eat mostly impossible garbage, which I don't buy at all. Seed oil patties are not for people in his tax bracket. Still, he's low protein and high carb, and impossibly old for a bodybuilder.
Choose your destiny.
Protein and carbs is the name of the game. Those are your choices. Too much protein and not enough carbs, you become ripped, but sickly and ineffective. This is why people on Carnivore always look shredded to the bone and like they haven't slept in a long time, as well as why common colds are suddenly life threatening illnesses to them.
Too much carbs and not enough protein? Turns out not enough protein is not an option. You'll keep eating more carbs, because they have a little bit of protein in them. You'll eat as many carbs as necessary to hit your protein set point. This may result in you eating way, way more carbs than necessary for your actual energy needs, as protein requirement trumps every other requirement. Which makes you fat as hell.
Crickets, too.
Here is the sliding scale of your dietary options. High protein with some carbs makes you brolic and virile, but it shortens your life span. Live fast, die young, leave a jacked corpse and a throng of offspring.
High carb with some protein makes you a little fatter, but a little fat is good. A little fat lets you survive the hard times. It keeps away the plagues. It fosters a strong immune system and you'll probably live through famine. Your own life extends, but you'll be less powerful, and less prolific.
This concept can be observed in Arnold Schwarzenegger. When he was young, dumb, and full of horse steroids, all he did was eat steak and eggs, and impregnate whoever was nearby. Now he's old, and "95% vegan" or whatever that cringe Netflix documentary about vegetarian MMA fighters called it. He claims to eat mostly impossible garbage, which I don't buy at all. Seed oil patties are not for people in his tax bracket. Still, he's low protein and high carb, and impossibly old for a bodybuilder.
Choose your destiny.
June 4, 2020
This was a well-written, interesting book. The book starts with what locusts eat and the writers build on the biological insights they gained researching that into discovering what has caused the obesity epidemic and what might be done about that. It is refreshing to read a book on this subject written from the perspective of biologists rather than nutritionalists, which (at least to me) made their reasoning much easier to follow.
The book is written as popular science and indeed it is entertaining and the points are made mostly with stories and anecdotes but backed up with numerous graphs and tables. It was a bit unclear what level of background they were aiming at. At one point they explain how a basic graph works but there are certainly quite some parts of the book which would not be comprehensible to someone who needs that explaining. I suppose the popular scope of the book is why they don't go into the biological mechanisms of eating a specific amount of protein. I would have found it interesting and it would have made the story more convincing, but maybe it was too difficult to cover that aspect in an accessible way. The other thing I missed was any comment at all on the effects of exercise on weight control and diet.
An unusual aspect of the book was that each chapter ended with a short summary. That made it feel a bit more like a text book than something I was reading for pleasure, but nevertheless was quite helpful to keep my thoughts on track.
To summarize my own review: it was nice to read a book about diet based on biology rather than vague correlations or ill-founded ideas.
The book is written as popular science and indeed it is entertaining and the points are made mostly with stories and anecdotes but backed up with numerous graphs and tables. It was a bit unclear what level of background they were aiming at. At one point they explain how a basic graph works but there are certainly quite some parts of the book which would not be comprehensible to someone who needs that explaining. I suppose the popular scope of the book is why they don't go into the biological mechanisms of eating a specific amount of protein. I would have found it interesting and it would have made the story more convincing, but maybe it was too difficult to cover that aspect in an accessible way. The other thing I missed was any comment at all on the effects of exercise on weight control and diet.
An unusual aspect of the book was that each chapter ended with a short summary. That made it feel a bit more like a text book than something I was reading for pleasure, but nevertheless was quite helpful to keep my thoughts on track.
To summarize my own review: it was nice to read a book about diet based on biology rather than vague correlations or ill-founded ideas.
February 23, 2024
Logical, easy to follow and not the type of nutrition book that has any biases to the specific foods that you should be eating. A pure focus on the nutrients and simple explanations as to where the majority of the world is going wrong.
I read and study a lot about my own nutrition and usually the content I read is more affirming what I already believe or follow. However, in this book. I certainly obtained some new knowledge surrounding protein ratios and how the amount of protein consumed influences one’s body.
Sadly, I doubt the people most in need of receiving this information will be picking up this book, instead we’ll be paying more tax to support their uses of the NHS or the big pharma in private healthcare states will continue to cash in.
At least by taking in and passing this valuable information we may influence the next generation.
I can relate well to parts of the book exploring the global issue on the topic. I’ve recently lived in the super-fast developing cities in China while also have spent time in the incredibly underdeveloped communities of Aboriginal Australia. The sad thing is that ultra-processed foods are taking over. The students I have taught have very little concept of real food and are used to gulping down a bottle of coke and a ‘sausage’ on a stick for breakfast.
I very much recommend.
I read and study a lot about my own nutrition and usually the content I read is more affirming what I already believe or follow. However, in this book. I certainly obtained some new knowledge surrounding protein ratios and how the amount of protein consumed influences one’s body.
Sadly, I doubt the people most in need of receiving this information will be picking up this book, instead we’ll be paying more tax to support their uses of the NHS or the big pharma in private healthcare states will continue to cash in.
At least by taking in and passing this valuable information we may influence the next generation.
I can relate well to parts of the book exploring the global issue on the topic. I’ve recently lived in the super-fast developing cities in China while also have spent time in the incredibly underdeveloped communities of Aboriginal Australia. The sad thing is that ultra-processed foods are taking over. The students I have taught have very little concept of real food and are used to gulping down a bottle of coke and a ‘sausage’ on a stick for breakfast.
I very much recommend.
April 22, 2020
TL;DR: Eat less junk food, you'll be leaner and healthier.
"Disappointing" is my general impression of this book. Some of this is perhaps from my previous familiarity with the authors' scientific publications, which are generally top-notch, and this book doesn't live up to that expectation. I have two main gripes against it:
1. The mere suggestion that FFQ-based nutritional epidemiology is useful for anything except lighting your stove. Food fantasy questionnaires and data analyses done on them prove only one thing - humans are terrible at knowing and remembering what they eat.
2. Fear-mongering against "excessive" protein consumption in humans based on invertebrates and grainivore rodents, despite the literature consistently proving that even actually excessive intakes are safe for just about anything that was measured. If anything, the authors' own work on canine macronutrient self-selection is highly suggestive of what a healthy macronutrient spread is for the human animal.
That said, the reference material - studies done by the authors especially - is still excellent.
"Disappointing" is my general impression of this book. Some of this is perhaps from my previous familiarity with the authors' scientific publications, which are generally top-notch, and this book doesn't live up to that expectation. I have two main gripes against it:
1. The mere suggestion that FFQ-based nutritional epidemiology is useful for anything except lighting your stove. Food fantasy questionnaires and data analyses done on them prove only one thing - humans are terrible at knowing and remembering what they eat.
2. Fear-mongering against "excessive" protein consumption in humans based on invertebrates and grainivore rodents, despite the literature consistently proving that even actually excessive intakes are safe for just about anything that was measured. If anything, the authors' own work on canine macronutrient self-selection is highly suggestive of what a healthy macronutrient spread is for the human animal.
That said, the reference material - studies done by the authors especially - is still excellent.
February 5, 2021
Through the lens of evolution, biology and human history, these two scientists did a great work explaining why we eat, what drives our hunger and what went wrong with all of that.
As I encounter this before, it's clear that the "mismatch between what we evolve to, and what we did to our diet" is one of the most important causes of our diet/disease crisis.
After I read their paper "Obesity: the protein leverage hypothesis", my interest to know about their work has expanded. There is no such pleasure as reading from scientists following their curiosity to the end, with a scientific orientation and integrity, with carefully sentenced conclusions.
The way these scientists waited for many years to formulate their results is impressive. To put in the book from basic science to practical tips/guideline is an optimal example and answer to the meaning an the role of science in our life.
An essential read to everyone has an interest in the intersection between biology-evolution-human history.
As I encounter this before, it's clear that the "mismatch between what we evolve to, and what we did to our diet" is one of the most important causes of our diet/disease crisis.
After I read their paper "Obesity: the protein leverage hypothesis", my interest to know about their work has expanded. There is no such pleasure as reading from scientists following their curiosity to the end, with a scientific orientation and integrity, with carefully sentenced conclusions.
The way these scientists waited for many years to formulate their results is impressive. To put in the book from basic science to practical tips/guideline is an optimal example and answer to the meaning an the role of science in our life.
An essential read to everyone has an interest in the intersection between biology-evolution-human history.
July 25, 2021
Fascinating how research on the feeding habits of locusts can be connected to our feeding habits and our current epidemic of obesity. I also think that it's quite obvious that eating ultraprocessed foods has caused this problem. An interesting point that they bring up through their research is that we have a protein set point that we are trying to get to, so if we eat low protein processed foods, we need to eat more to get to that 15% of protein in our diets. Although they advocate eating mostly plant-based diet that is made up of Whole Foods I felt that they took a bit of a derogatory tone towards a vegan diet at the end (equating it to a fad like the keto diet). I think that Michael Pollan said it best: Eat food. Mostly plants. Not too much. This ain't rocket science.
I also think that ultimately it's our decision how we spend our consumer dollars. The food industry wants to sell us these poisonous foods the damage our health so that they can make more money. It is up to us to say no.
I also think that ultimately it's our decision how we spend our consumer dollars. The food industry wants to sell us these poisonous foods the damage our health so that they can make more money. It is up to us to say no.
June 2, 2021
Well written and yet packed with information, with detailed explanations of the experiments that allowed the authors and other scientists to produce that understanding. Shows that the subject is nuanced, and that we still have much to learn about nutrition, but that we can still apply some rules to avoid the pitfalls of our very complex modern food environment (providing, in theory, everything we need in abundance, but also, making it very easy to fall prey to bad intuitions).
I'll certainly need to reference the tables later to get a more intuitive judgment of which food to pick, to cover my needs of proteins/carbs/fats and micro nutriments, especially as I've been eating a mostly vegan diet (which I'd like to keep — although the authors seem more cautious about it than a vegetarian one —) for some time, and covering all the needs effectively requires attention.
As far as science/topical books goes, this one is quite enjoyable to read, as well as useful.
I'll certainly need to reference the tables later to get a more intuitive judgment of which food to pick, to cover my needs of proteins/carbs/fats and micro nutriments, especially as I've been eating a mostly vegan diet (which I'd like to keep — although the authors seem more cautious about it than a vegetarian one —) for some time, and covering all the needs effectively requires attention.
As far as science/topical books goes, this one is quite enjoyable to read, as well as useful.
November 8, 2021
Every living organism intuitively knows how to balance its diet—except for humans. Discover how the craving for protein is universal and diet-determining, in addition to appetites for carbohydrates, fats, sodium, and calcium. To test their protein-leverage hypotheses, years of groundbreaking research are shared regarding mold, locusts, crickets, mice, cats, dogs, and primates. How is this applicable to us? The authors provide key takeaways to take charge of your nutrition, food environment, and appetites to enjoy your journey toward a healthy and satisfying diet. Hint—prioritize protein.
Fourteen chapters cover their experiments, basics of nutrition, the protein leverage hypothesis, food environments, vicious cycle to obesity, putting lessons into practice, and more. If you are fascinated by scientific animal studies and how they may explain in what way physiology, evolution, and feeding behavior affect our current situation, then this book is recommended for you.
Fourteen chapters cover their experiments, basics of nutrition, the protein leverage hypothesis, food environments, vicious cycle to obesity, putting lessons into practice, and more. If you are fascinated by scientific animal studies and how they may explain in what way physiology, evolution, and feeding behavior affect our current situation, then this book is recommended for you.
January 22, 2023
At its most interesting when talking about the authors' extensive experimental research into appetite, protein and ageing across the animal kingdom, which at its best is woven into an engaging pop-sci treatise (albeit one that left me wishing I could have read the same material from one of the great essayists like Stephen Jay Gould). The way in which successive studies are laid end to end to create a narrative - almost a mystery - is well done. Less interesting by far is when the book veers into more prescriptive self-help territory at the end, which feels desultory and tacked on. I'd guess that this might have been the publisher's suggestion, given how the book has been marketed and presented.
Bottom line for me: interesting research interestingly presented, with plenty of food for thought that stayed with me weeks after finishing it - but a bit inconsistent and unnecessarily trite in places, making this three stars rather than four for me.
Bottom line for me: interesting research interestingly presented, with plenty of food for thought that stayed with me weeks after finishing it - but a bit inconsistent and unnecessarily trite in places, making this three stars rather than four for me.
June 1, 2021
Fascinating book based on serious scientific evidence collected over several years. The authors are fully aware of how inaccurate epidemiological data and self-reported food intake can be and so set out to fully document the intake and output of their experimental subjects.
Lots of evidence regarding 'protein appetite' and how all animals have a set point based on this.
The last chapter is about human modern diet and why people get fat but the one thing they only touch on and don't make clear is that all their results apply to people with normal healthy metabolisms - they only barely touch on what happens if you develop insulin resistance (at which point all their conclusions go out of the window)
Still very much worth reading though if you are interested in diet as a scientific subject. This is NOT a diet or a 'how to eat better' book
Lots of evidence regarding 'protein appetite' and how all animals have a set point based on this.
The last chapter is about human modern diet and why people get fat but the one thing they only touch on and don't make clear is that all their results apply to people with normal healthy metabolisms - they only barely touch on what happens if you develop insulin resistance (at which point all their conclusions go out of the window)
Still very much worth reading though if you are interested in diet as a scientific subject. This is NOT a diet or a 'how to eat better' book
April 28, 2023
1,5⭐️
Urgh. This book was published in 2020 and cites the blue zones studies as if it hadn't been copiously criticized over the years, calls LDL cholesterol "bad", forgets that while we have the same molecular biology as yeast and mice, we also have the molecular biology as lions and wolves, completely ignores the problem with seed oils and still calls them "healthy" and more.
I'll come back with more details when I have time to write and further review the studies cited.
I'll give a .5 for the interesting part about our need for protein being more influential than our need to limit sugars and such, which can explain overeating.
But these men have barely dipped their big toe in the fucking ocean of nutrition research and craziness that it's obvious that they're no experts in the field. They're experts in insects btw. That part was interesting.
Urgh. This book was published in 2020 and cites the blue zones studies as if it hadn't been copiously criticized over the years, calls LDL cholesterol "bad", forgets that while we have the same molecular biology as yeast and mice, we also have the molecular biology as lions and wolves, completely ignores the problem with seed oils and still calls them "healthy" and more.
I'll come back with more details when I have time to write and further review the studies cited.
I'll give a .5 for the interesting part about our need for protein being more influential than our need to limit sugars and such, which can explain overeating.
But these men have barely dipped their big toe in the fucking ocean of nutrition research and craziness that it's obvious that they're no experts in the field. They're experts in insects btw. That part was interesting.
Read
January 2, 2023Starting out the new year with a banger. I was sitting in bed about a month ago and I couldn’t get a question out of my head: “how the fuck do animals just know what to eat but like once a week I feel like shit after meals?” And unlike a lot of the other questions I ask myself in bed, I decided to get answers. I started doing some research and found this book sited in an article I was reading and decided to give it a read. I expected it to give me some answers but mostly get me started. I didn’t think it would give me so much. I’m not a health nut and I don’t ever want to be. I just don’t want to feel like shit after I eat anymore. And this book made me feel like maybe I can achieve that someday
December 2, 2025
The book is for lay readers, therefore the description of experiments and results is a bit simplistic. The protein leveraging theory is intuitive, appears to be common across various forms of life. This will make one think that it is valid for all ethnicities across Homo Sapiens. However, the author themselves mention that humans and their diets have evolved. They also mention that mixing of food into recipes makes it even more complicated. Besides, agriculture changed a lot over the years and has influenced dietary habits. Given these factors, I am still doubtful of this theory's validity to various ethnicities.
The authors have explained the challenges faced during core research extremely well
The authors have explained the challenges faced during core research extremely well
September 14, 2020
Fascinating stories about the Herculean efforts of meticulously measuring hundreds of locust/rat/cockroach/dog/monkey feces for tens of macronutient combinations to arrive at the conclusion: most mammals seem to prioritize protein and will eat until *that* is fulfilled.
It sheds light on asking the wrong question about what we should eat, because diet was always a function of age, time since last meal, season, nutrional load of the available ingredients, activity level, etc.
I would have given it 5 stars, had the authors not echoed back the deprecated views about salt, red meat and cholesterol.
It sheds light on asking the wrong question about what we should eat, because diet was always a function of age, time since last meal, season, nutrional load of the available ingredients, activity level, etc.
I would have given it 5 stars, had the authors not echoed back the deprecated views about salt, red meat and cholesterol.
March 20, 2023
nice, short book, lots of food for thought ….
I wanted to read a SIMPLE book about nutrition, which is hard to find in a world where nutrition advice is monitored.
so it was good to read a science based book by fellow ecologists rather than some specific diet/fad.
I actually would have enjoyed some more science… a whole chapter just about the food industry is good info, but something I’ve read about in other sources. Would have been nice to learn even more about how animals choose and process their foods.
But the anti-Nestle soapbox is so irresistible.
I wanted to read a SIMPLE book about nutrition, which is hard to find in a world where nutrition advice is monitored.
so it was good to read a science based book by fellow ecologists rather than some specific diet/fad.
I actually would have enjoyed some more science… a whole chapter just about the food industry is good info, but something I’ve read about in other sources. Would have been nice to learn even more about how animals choose and process their foods.
But the anti-Nestle soapbox is so irresistible.
April 26, 2020
This book was very well designed and flowed very nicely from chapter to chapter. I loved the presentation of animal studies and it felt like you were a graduate assistant taking part in the studies! Very complex thoughts were broken down into a series of interesting questions and answered by excellent research! Loved the end of chapter summaries to help with retention of important ideas presented! Really enjoyed the book and the excellent information provided. A lot of “good food for thought”!
September 17, 2020
A book on nutrition written by two entomologists, has to pique your curiosity if nutrition is of interest. Their focus is the balance of macronutrients driven by biology but I think they fall short attributing extreme longevity simply getting a correct balance. The source of the macronutrients is also important, the story is not yet over but it’s a great start and provides a solid explanation for the obesity epidemic.
February 12, 2022
A fascinating read. Easily the most scientific, *facts* based book I’ve ever read about nutrition. Turns out, a protein driven appetite is almost universal across the animal kingdom! We will keep eating until we’ve had our fill of protein, and if the proportion of protein in the diet is too low, we will end up overeating.
January 12, 2024
At first I was a little skeptical of this book. The author started out by researching insects and their eating habits, but as the book progressed I found the research somewhat fascinating. Eventually the scientific evidence moved onto humans and how to optimize our health. Informative book with interesting evidence to back it up.
May 15, 2023
What we all need to know
A tough but very interesting read. Some great research by many scientists that clearly sets out what we should be eating to bring us back to being really healthy. I’ll give it a try.
A tough but very interesting read. Some great research by many scientists that clearly sets out what we should be eating to bring us back to being really healthy. I’ll give it a try.
May 2, 2024
"Eat like the Animals" is one of the best reads in 2024 for me. It will for sure influence the way I look at food. The science of food, nutrients, organs and animal bodies working on food is something that has been talked about in this book.
Taking away some learning in my everyday plating. 🎯
Taking away some learning in my everyday plating. 🎯
May 24, 2024
This book could have been a great New Yorker article, it did not need to be 213 pages. Everything was in chapter 14, and it seems to boil down to eat the correct proportion of protein and then you won't overeat.
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