Sputterpub's Blog

The scientists I’m reading now are through
with carbohydrates that have been refined.
Mercola wants to limit protein too,
while Naiman has more meat and eggs in mind.
They all agree that sugar’s toxic stuff,
and no one tries defending oil from seeds,
but some things we can’t eat, they say, enough,
prescribing supplements, or claiming needs
best met with smoothies, charts and tests.
If good, then more is better, they assert,
and earnestly repeat mistook behests.
It’s focusing minutely that’s the hurt:
They ape the fools obsessed with calories
who fail to fathom our complexities.

“Don’t eat desserts,” my grandma said to me,
when I first tried to diet at fourteen.
“Avoid potatoes, bread and corn. You’ll see
results if you don’t go for snacks between
good meals.” But I eschewed her strategy:
preferring science to an old wives’ tale,
I read a book, embraced the calorie,
and added girth with every diet fail.

I bought the party line and I gained weight.
The enemy was fat; the friend was grain.
Although I felt myself self-regulate
the fat and protein, still I sang the main-
stream lie – a high-carb menu for the birds,
till research rediscovered grandma’s words.