Gary Taubes

Date: 2017-01-24 | Duration: 2h 25m

Episode Overview

Gary Taubes, investigative science journalist and author of 'The Case Against Sugar,' joins Joe for a compelling two-and-a-half hour indictment of the sugar industry and nutritional orthodoxy. Taubes argues that the sugar industry's manipulation of dietary science mirrors the tobacco playbook — funding researchers, attacking critics, and constructing a false 'energy balance' consensus that absolved sugar of blame for metabolic disease. He traces sugar's role in diabetes to 2,000-year-old Hindu medical texts that coincide with India's early sugar industry, examines how Coca-Cola's marketing normalized ever-larger portion sizes, and discusses the ketogenic diet's insulin-suppressing effects. They also explore resistance training's hormonal benefits and how weight vests and hill hiking ramp up hormone production. Taubes is a meticulous, forceful advocate for nutritional science reform.

About Gary Taubes

Gary Taubes is an acclaimed investigative journalist and author known for his groundbreaking work in the fields of nutrition and science. He has written several influential books, including "The Case Against Sugar," "Why We Get Fat," and "Good Calories, Bad Calories," which challenge conventional wisdom about diet and health, sparking widespread debate and interest. Taubes is celebrated for his rigorous analysis and ability to distill complex scientific concepts into accessible narratives, making him a prominent figure in the discussions around obesity, diet, and the sugar industry. His thought-provoking insights continue to resonate with audiences, making him a compelling guest on platforms like the Joe Rogan Experience.

Key Moments

– The Case Against Sugar — Industry Manipulation
– Energy Balance Dogma and Nutritional Science
– History of Sugar and Early Diabetes
– Ketogenic Diet and Insulin
– Resistance Training and Hormonal Effects
0:00:00 – Gary Taubes on 'The Case Against Sugar'
0:19:32 – Energy balance dogma — how bad science reproduces itself
0:35:40 – Coca-Cola and Pepsi normalizing six-packs and large portions
0:52:21 – Sugar in Hindu medical texts 2,000 years ago — tied to the sugar industry
1:04:21 – Ketogenic diet and exogenous ketone supplements
2:03:47 – Weight vest hiking and deadlifts ramp up hormone production

Transcript Excerpt

Starting point is 00:00:00 three two one boom and we're live hello gary hi joe thanks for coming man appreciate it my pleasure the case against sugar yeah this is uh for me this is a i don't know how to put this any other way i've i've kind of consumed sugar most of my life until the last couple of years. And I slowly sort of tapered off. And about a year ago, maybe last February or so, I just pretty much cut it all out. Except for the occasional dessert here or there. Infinitely better quality of life. I feel much better. Starting point is 00:00:40 I have more energy. And then I started really getting into it. And then I came across your work. And what I want to know is, first of all, how did you get involved in this? And how much resistance have you faced? Okay, this being the sugar case? Yes. This being the whole obesity, diet, nutrition? We can get into all of it. But the sugar one to me is absolutely fascinating when you go down. I mean, um, if you've seen that sugar movie. Yeah. Yeah. And I'm probably in it. I think, I think you are. I think I'm one of the talking cereal boxes. Oh, okay. Right. You know, um, I watched it with my kids. I made my kids watch it Starting point is 00:01:15 and it's amazing when, you know, a six year old watches something like that. And then they go, why is sugar in everything? You know, you're, it's funny cause my kids live with this all the time. Right. So I, we had just come back from spending the holidays with my, uh, our grandmother who, you know, pumps them up with sugar while we're there and there's nothing I can do with it. And then we get back and I'm having, I'm making my boys dinner. They're eight and 11 and, uh, my wife's out. And after the dinner, my eight year old says, are we getting dessert? And my 11 yearyear-old goes nick it's dad man are you crazy Starting point is 00:01:47 wake up son um anyway i got into this you know i okay i was a physics major in college i was like hard science and then i wasn't any good at ...

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Frequently asked about this episode

Who was the guest on Joe Rogan Experience #904?

Gary Taubes was the guest on JRE #904. This page includes the episode overview, topics discussed, and related resources.

What topics were discussed on JRE #904?

On Joe Rogan Experience #904 with Gary Taubes, topics include The Case Against Sugar — Industry Manipulation, Energy Balance Dogma and Nutritional Science, History of Sugar and Early Diabetes, and Ketogenic Diet and Insulin.

Where can I read the transcript for JRE #904?

The full searchable transcript for Joe Rogan Experience #904 with Gary Taubes is available on this page, along with key topics and timestamps.