Of course, a cynic might say that one way of selling a million is to debunk all the other million-sellers. But that's not the motive here. Spector is writing as a scientist concerned about all the bad science masquerading as nutritional guidance. In particular, he takes issue with the apparently logical proposition that calories in - calories burnt = weight change. He argues that different bodies react differently to food intake, and he situates the site of difference in the bowel -- or in the microbes living and working in the bowel. To him, a healthy and above all varied microbe population is more important to a healthy diet than cutting out fats or starches or whatever the latest fad diet has identified as the villain du jour. Not that he doesn't have villains: they are the familiar enough trinity of sugar, trans fat and corn starch, in particular as served up in processed meats and other junk food. Perhaps predictably, but convincingly, he makes a strong case for the Mediterranean panoply of fruit, vegetables, olive oil, cheese and red wine. Meat he sees as useful once a week or so, but not as a staple. Encouragingly for coffee lovers, he sees a fair amount of good coffee as more beneficial than harmful -- and yes, chocolate (dark, high cocoa content) is good for you (in moderation, of course, as with wine and coffee).
If you're sick of 'exclusionary' diets but don't just want to stuff your body with junk food, this book offers a sensible and pleasant alternative. And it's well written. .
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