Metabolical

The Lure and the Lies of Processed Food, Nutrition, and Modern Medicine

By: Robert H. Lustig

Narrated by: Charles Constant

Length: 12 hrs and 3 mins

Publisher's summary

The New York Times best-selling author of Fat Chance explains the eight pathologies that underlie all chronic disease, documents how processed food has impacted them to ruin our health, economy, and environment over the past 50 years, and proposes an urgent manifesto and strategy to cure both us and the planet.

Dr. Robert Lustig, a pediatric neuroendocrinologist who has long been on the cutting edge of medicine and science, challenges our current healthcare paradigm which has gone off the rails under the influence of Big Food, Big Pharma, and Big Government.

You can’t solve a problem if you don’t know what the problem is. One of Lustig’s singular gifts as a communicator is his ability to “connect the dots” for the general listener, in order to unpack the scientific data and concepts behind his arguments, as he tells the “real story of food” and “the story of real food”.

Metabolical weaves the interconnected strands of nutrition, health/disease, medicine, environment, and society into a completely new fabric by proving on a scientific basis a series of iconoclastic revelations, among them:

• Medicine for chronic disease treats symptoms, not the disease itself
• You can diagnose your own biochemical profile
• Chronic diseases are not "druggable," but they are "foodable"
• Processed food isn’t just toxic, it’s addictive
• The war between vegan and keto is a false war - the combatants are on the same side
• Big Food, Big Pharma, and Big Government are on the other side

Making the case that food is the only lever we have to effect biochemical change to improve our health, Lustig explains what to eat based on two novel criteria: protect the liver, and feed the gut. He insists that if we do not fix our food and change the way we eat, we will continue to court chronic disease, bankrupt healthcare, and threaten the planet. But there is hope: this book explains what’s needed to fix all three.

Supplemental enhancement PDF accompanies the audiobook.

©2021 Robert H. Lustig (P)2021 HarperCollins Publishers

Very good, but…

The author uses a lot of “science” but the vast majority of it flew by so quickly I got no benefit from it. Formation of various chemical compounds etc. I’m sure I could go back, take notes and make sense of it but my point is this book seems to struggle to decide if it’s a work for scholars and researchers or for consumers. Both are addressed but it often felt less focused than I wanted it to be.

I didn’t see the need to paint the Obamas as victims of the system nor Trump as a liar. Neither advanced his case and felt like political plugs.

I also didn’t see the point of reiterating his position on global warming. It added nothing to the book and detracted a bit from it’s credibility. Climate change is way more complicated than can be shoehorned into a couple paragraphs of (highly disputed) data, as if ‘here’s the answer’. If he would like to do a book on climate change, do that, but this just seemed to be an airing of opinion (which related tangentially at best)

All that said, I found his main points easily understood, well presented and well supported (as best I am able/willing to analyze that… and the background information was generally very interesting as well.)

Truth be told, those points could have been said in a single tweet, so, for me, I thought the information density was low but those points were well worth learning (and I doubt you could charge book prices for a tweet ;-) )

Fantastic book

This really gives insight into the problems in our food supply system. I am 2 years now with no sugar and no processed food. I now cut up veggies every night and garnish with a side amount of wild fish or grass-fed beef. So yes, he was preaching a bit to the choir. But I feel it is important to continue to read/listen to his side of the story and reinforce the message. Because Big Food is continuing to inundate us with the opposite message. As some people have mentioned in their reviews - the book gets political. And many people don’t like that in a “health” book. Those people are missing the whole point. Much of our food problem originates or is exacerbated by our government and the exact regulatory agencies the government creates to supposedly protect us. So government is half the problem. We need to be educated on this so we can hopefully fight it. I did not interpret the book as Lustig trying to push his political views on us, as much as he was trying to inform us the problems that the government creates in our food supply system. I thoroughly enjoyed the book.

Great book displaying the truth of processed food.

Thank you Mr Lustig for this book exposing the truth about the poison of processed food. All this fear people have of what is going on in the world with health, but very little is mentioned about changing our diet and making sure we get the right supplements in our body. Sugar is destroying our health, being aware of this and seeing what we can do to change things for our own health and loved ones is an eye opener. I thought I knew a lot but learned so much more with this book.

A must read

Perhaps the most important book in decades to get your eyes and ears on. This could be the impetus for a shift our culture desperately needs.

Wonderful and informational!!

This book is full of up to date health information backed by many peer reviewed studies as well as anecdotal support. This book is a great read!

Dying for your politics

First an author should not to bring in politics because we are a nation that can’t handle putting politics aside! Why is that? Believe me I have lived long enough to know it will not change your life only you can! We have come to the point that we think politics solves everything if we all get on our particular side???? Why would you disregard information that will help us \with our health because of what side they are on. Health is a killer but so is now our US politics. Just vote people and shut your mouth when the other side speaks. Same goes for entertainers, sports, and business. Read past your bias (which he should have never mention) and take the information to heal you health. Politics is not the answer here.

Loved it !

Some of the science is a bit hard to understand but well worth the effort required. Truth hurts sometimes but it also sets you free.

A must read

One of the best books that I have listened to about Food industry and our health and the lack of medical care from our Government

Brilliantly Written. Nobel Prize Brilliance.

The Dr. deserves a Nobel Prize for his work. It's a masterpiece, plain and simple.

Eye Opener!

I'll never look at processed food the same! very informative and well put together.