From A Scientific Perspective, The Evidence Overwhelmingly Supports The Idea That A Diet Low In Carbohydrates And High In Fat Is “Evidence Based.”

Many of you probably know the story of Professor Noakes: a world-famous professor of Exercise Science and Sports Medicine at the University of Cape Town who happened to discover that the low-carbohydrate diet was highly effective for the treatment of obesity, Type 2 diabetes and other nutrition-related conditions. Prof. Noakes became well known in South Africa for promoting the diet—and this led to various forms of retaliation by his colleagues. Most stunningly, medical authorities subjected him over the last few years to a public hearing, with the revocation of his medical license in the balance. The charge? Sending a tweet to a breastfeeding mother that she could safely wean her child onto “LCHF” (low-carb, high-fat). Specifically, he was charged with giving “unconventional advice” that is “not evidence-based.”

Timothy David Noakes is a South African scientist and an emeritus professor in the Division of Exercise Science and Sports Medicine at the University of Cape Town.

Prof. Noakes was actually acquitted on all counts last April, but the medical board is appealing its own decision. This letter does not address the many ethical issues surrounding the HPCSA’s actions against Prof. Noakes. We focus here exclusively on the question of whether the *LCHF diet he favors is “evidence-based.”

Read more and click here to join us in signing a letter on the science in question at the hearing of Professor Tim Noakes of South Africa.

*What is the evidence base for low-carb approaches to nutrition? Click here for a comprehensive list.