The Myth of Diet Myths

A high-ranking op-ed in today's NY Times (based on most-viewed and most-emailed) is titled "The Myth of High-Protein Diets" and was written by Dean Ornish, an outspoken proponent of a low-fat diet and critic of high-protein, low-carb diets like Atkins.

Headlines are usually written by editors, and this one was clearly written to be provocative. But the antenna-raiser on this one is that Ornish has an agenda, which makes me skeptical that the op-ed will be objective. To be fair, op-eds typically aren't objective, but when it's allegedly dispelling a "myth," it really shouldn't be filled with misinformation. And yet...

I knew there would be counterpoints (to put it mildly) and was pleasantly surprised to find a good critique very quickly. I was a little skeptical here, too, since the URL is proteinpower.com (would it be all defensive about protein?) but was satisfied with the overall presentation of the post which, although rather dismissive of Ornish and his opinions, used very clear and persuasive evidence to point out the bias of the op-ed.

For example, citing statistics from the USDA that don't say what he says they say. (Nicely put!) Even if one agrees with his positions, there should be accountability to present the case factually. There's so much misinformation about nutrition as it is, seeing more of it so prominently distributed (and attracting so much attention) is a bit disturbing. It reminds me of the adage about repeating something often enough to make it "true." (Gary is a great guy. Gary is a great guy. Gary is a great guy. Is it working?)

And these things don't operate in a vacuum. CBS News quickly put out an online article titled "Is low-carb or low-fat better for your health?" (I refuse to link to it.) As if it's an either-or proposition (the false dichotomy fallacy).

But back to the op-ed. I'll leave the research rebuttal to the previously cited post (and maybe some future ones--stay tuned). Poor (or dishonest) arguments aside, the general premise of these kinds of articles is kind of annoying. Why does it always have to be "low-fat" vs. "low-carb" vs. "high-protein" and so on? Where's the middle ground? And why does one and only one approach have to be "right"?

This is one of the big reasons I decided to get certified through Precision Nutrition: they don't advocate one special diet. Different people have success with different approaches. Humans are very adaptable. Why all the dogma? There are some things we can all generally agree on (trans-fats are bad, cheese stinks...literally), but no single "right" way to eat.

So when you see articles or op-eds or books or movies or 8-track tapes claiming that one way of eating is best (or another way is worst), just chillax. And have a low-carb, low-protein, low-fat snack. Like a glass of water.

Be seeing you.

-gary