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Don’t forget this!
So when you read things like this:
“Carbophobia: The Scary Truth About America’s Low-Carb Craze.” A diet containing hefty amounts of saturated fat, which is prevalent in red meat, processed meats, dark-meat poultry, high-fat cheeses and butter is associated with a significantly increased risk for high cholesterol, hypertension, arterial blockage, stroke and heart attack.”
Don’t get worried! Understand that this does not mean that eating red meat or saturated fats causes hypertension, arterial blockage, stroke and heart attack.
In fact, it means nothing at all.
Observational studies are just that – observational.
I observe that all people who have cancer, sneeze, breath and go to the bathroom.
Therefore, sneezing, breathing and tinkling are associated with cancer.
Got it? Good.
I've been involved in exercise ever since I became a member of The Charles Atlas Club when I was 10 years old. In 1998, I founded and established Serious Strength on the Upper West Side of NYC. My clients include kids, seniors (and everyone in between), top CEOs, celebrities, bestselling authors, journalists and TV personalities.
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{ 12 comments… read them below or add one }
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Correlation_does_not_imply_causation
Exactly. But so many experts including Dr. Oz commit these logical fallacies all the time.
true, but telling my wife that I’m God, IS the causation for me sleeping on the couch.
Mark – You’re supposed to tell HER she’s god!
Great post, Fred. It’s like deja vu, I had just posted a similar article on my blog. The media just loves to use the word “linked”. It gives the impression of causation, when in reality it means nothing at all, as you correctly pointed out.
Here’s my take:
http://roarofwolverine.com/archives/689
I would take bets that the reason low carb diets are associated with so many risk factors for health is because a lot of low carb dieters have turned to the diet as a way to relieve the obesity they have been carrying from years of over consuming the S.A.D. Of course the medicine is always going to be associated with the disease, that doesn’t mean it caused it. My intake of Flonase is associated with my sinus infection, oh no, better throw it out!
Someone should go tell all the Vegans who worship at the alter of The China Study that it was an observational study and hence no causation can be implied. Start with Dr. Campbell who ironically seems the most confused on the subject since he’s written regarding other people’s research that experimental studies are a necessary prerequisite for making causative claims but is perfectly happy to make them based on his own observational research. And as Denise Minger pointed out, he can’t even get his bogus causation claims right.
Campbell is enjoying his fame and fortune. Honesty and integrity would have gotten him none of that.
The world is full of hacks.
Vartan – it’s much more than just fat loss.
Fred,
The archevore says that tube/starchy veggies like yams and potatoes are ok. He also has no problem with white rice (recommends brown over it, however). He does recommend limiting carbs to 50-70g/day if you need to lose weight. What’s your opinion? I assume you don’t recommend eating these foods?
Yams are OK. Potatoes not. White rice is better because the husk is completely gone and the husk is where the anti-nutrients lie.
But they are ALL pure starch. Fat does NOT burn in the flame of carbohydrates. It burns in the flame of amino acids.
Better to get your 50-70 grams from non-starchy veggies.
And you don’t NEED carbs to lose fat. How illogical.
Fred,
Thanks for the answer. Perhaps the Carb allowance by the archevore is to make the diet a bit easier. I think some folks believe that people can tolerate different levels of carbs and perhaps that’s where this comes from. I haven’t studied his site enough to know.