Prof Tim Spector on the myth of calorie counting, the truth about microbiomes & his guilty pleasures

[@fitprotunes]

If we're only talking about weight loss, calories in vs calories out is still the by far the most accurate description of how it works.

[@metrx330]

Physicists have a greater understanding of weight loss than any medical professional as they grasp the laws of thermodynamics. Fat is stored energy. Energy cannot be created from nothing. The body is an energy system. And metabolism does not vary nearly as much as the impression given. And so it stands to reason that to lose weight, you need to either reduce calories, increase energy expenditure, or a combination of both.

[@ant7936]

Law of thermodynamics, often quoted wrongly, refers to a _closed system_ - which doesn't apply to the human body.

[@colinmacdonald5732]

Calories are measured by literally burning food, and then adding an ermmm.. fudge factor depending on the protein fat carb content. But we're not heat engines and we don't burn good in tiny cylinders, so no it's not as simple as calories in calories out.

[@ShoppingEmail-dr1fs]

spot on. it's actually carbon in carbon out but everything is what you say.

[@DavidS-iy8bb]

how the foods are digested and utilised is important.

[@lknight5579]

I calorie count and it works perfectly. If you find your estimated calorie requirement isnt achieving the desired effect, adjust accordingly and you'll find your true figure quickly.

[@franfranfrancis]

Using Miso is the ultimate cooking hack!! ❤❤❤ There are different types and it increases the saltiness and umami of foods but doesn't harm you the way that straight sodium does. I use it constantly

[@Opel314]

Fascinating! Thanks for sharing.

[@hezkyden]

'Variety' in our diets, not, bl***y 'Diversity'. Grrrr.

[@paulpenfold2352]

Laura Prendergast is the only one at the Spectator who actually looks like her illustrated avatar.

[@andrewhotston983]

Yes - the one of Douglas Murray is particularly bad.

[@HeatherWilliams-rh2ep]

She also has a great voice for newspapers !

[@steve24550]

Is it my imagination, or is he struggling with indigestion as he's talking ? 🤔 ...

[@JW-bs7xp]

@@steve24550 you are suggesting he is stinking out his home office?

[@chrisingram9123]

As a subscriber I object to every interview being interrupted by a subscription offer that I am unable to take advantage of. It would be better to put this after the end of the interview.

[@Jules-Is-a-Guy]

Hah, I didn't know you Spectators had a foodie division. Shoutout to Shiloh from the DemystifySci podcast. One of the best things for everyone to do, is to eat apricots daily. Really just because they're the common food, highest in potassium. For our lifestyles, plus even moderate amount of salt intake, most people's relative amount of potassium is WAY off. No one's ever hydrated, no one's brain is ever functioning properly. (Try to cut out as much salt as possible). Also vitamin D is essential for everything. And typically lacking. Must always be balanced with K2. Organics make a pretty big difference, whenever available. Also, I heard that most people have enough collagen, usually. The problem is that, you need to do specific things for body to use collagen properly, and support organ health. This gets into biophysics, I only partly understand from podcasts. Basically because of things like infrared, and actual gravitational effects on muscles/organs, it's important to be surrounded/enclosed by trees/plants whenever possible, and to stand/walk directly on the ground, gravel or grass. (Apparently barefoot is even better, when possible). If people increase caffeine (like me) must also increase tyrosine. And potassium. (Coffee and tea do have antioxidants, and health benefits). Look, I still go to bakeries too much, am skinny while fat in spirit, and possibly gonna get the diabetes (if I'm not careful). I'm not perfect, ok? Stay healthy, people!

[@tomhedger7013]

I thought we had all decided this guy was no longer respected. Maybe I got it wrong or is this the beginning of his rehabilitation?

[@Jules-Is-a-Guy]

Plenty of healthy fats, plenty of proteins, avoid refined products. However, salts. Did Prof say salts aren't a serious problem? I 'consume' science podcasts fairly often. Salts are a serious problem. Maybe instead of "serious," I should say "insidious". Salt won't always lead to major health conditions quickly, or even 'directly'. (Although, the latter's debatable).

[@petekadenz2466]

Indeed, he’s not.

[@MZig-rw7su]

What a waste of time. I am none the wiser after listening to this rambling about NOTHING! TOTALLY INCOHERENT

[@kurtklingklang5918]

Sell out!

[@jayjaydubful]

Why do you say that?

[@jorge2757]

❤❤❤

[@jamesnunn7181]

The lasagna sounds God awful 😅

[@ShubhadaSinha-i5x]

@@jamesnunn7181 you should try the Ottolenghi version. Delicious lentil filling

[@jamesnunn7181]

@ I despise ottolenghis restaurants 😅Lived in Islington too long haha

[@brianbuchanan9838]

Protein doesn't really count as calories as it cannot be turned to fat.

[@chriskirk3670]

It can be converted into glucose in the liver and then into fat. It’s not that it can’t happen its just not a favourable mechanism. It’s really difficult to eat a diet that has excess calories but no carbohydrates or fat that the body can store instead.

[@ShoppingEmail-dr1fs]

but it's still carbon in. it's used in the body for its entire existence.

[@TheNewYorker360]

Who's this Lara Prendergast? She's not among the Greats in the photo lineup at the top of the SpectatoTV webpage, so does she matter? That posh accent. It's like Cindy Yu on steroids. And those glasses: say whaaaaat? She ain't gettin' them at Cohen Optical at 60th and Lex just north of Bloomingdale's, let me tell you. Table Talk, huh? Listen, I'll have another (Cafe) Americano, barista. And waiter, a much needed order of humble pie for the tart with the glasses. And hurry. end