530: Dr. Jayson And Mira Calton Shift The Focus From Macronutrients To Micronutrients

This was an interesting interview. It is true that we often get so fixated with macronutrients that we forget about micronutrients, which are a big part of the health puzzle. What does surprise me about this interview was a glaring omission. You guys talked about how essential fat is on a low carb diet (minute 8:25 – 13:40), and all the benefits of it. But you left out the fact that on top of fat being satiating and having flavor, it is absolutely essential in the absorption of nutrients by the body. Given that this is a low carb show, and that proper adherence to low carb  promotes the generous consumption of fat, I was surprised that no mention was made of how fat facilitates the absorption of nutrients. I figured that two people who specialize in micronutrient deficiencies would bring this up. I think it is a powerful argument in favor of the low carb/high fat lifestyle, and a good criticism of low fat vegetarian and vegan diets. When I argue for low carb, and how essential fat is, I always refer to LOW FAT diets as necessarily NUTRIENT DEFICIENT diets. Regardless of how many micronutrient rich foods low fat advocates like Dr. Bernard, Dr. Ornish, Dr. McDougall, Dr. Graham or Dr. Fuhrman recommends, without enough fat to accompany them, many of those nutrients never get absorbed by the body to benefit us. To talk about a nutrient rich diet without underscoring the seminal role fat plays, is like talking about gas in a combustion engine without talking about the crucial role oxygen plays in being a catalyst to get that gas burning.