Tim Noakes speaks at Unizulu on curbing carbs to fight diabetes

DIET revolutionist Tim Noakes has the entire South African health and diet industry breathing fire over his divergent low carb, high fat (LCHF) diet plan that has the masses backing it by the book.

But despite being challenged by the Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA) and Association for Dietetics in South Africa, Noakes is sticking to his guns to fight what he calls South Africa’s biggest killer: type 2 diabetes.

Speaking at the University of Zululand on Wednesday, he emphasised the metabolic disease is today killing more people than HIV.

‘It is destroying our nation,’ said Noakes.

‘HIV is no longer our biggest issue as it no longer impacts life expectancy (with antiretroviral treatments).

‘Diabetes does – but the industry is just letting it happen and teaching youth that humans get sick with age – rubbish.

‘Humans are healthy. Our great grandparents did not have the diseases we have today because they ate healthier.’

The catch with carbs

For decades, dieticians have promoted ‘balanced diets’ with moderate carb and sugar intake.

But Noakes said moderation can still be a matter of life and death to persons who are morbidly insulin resistant.

‘Insulin resistance is fuelled by insulin and type 2 diabetics should never eat more than 50 grams carb.’

This is because carbohydrates, such as bread, potatoes and rice, cause the pancreas to secrete insulin – the hormone that enables the body to digest starches and sugars – causing an insulin spike.

‘I believe the biggest issue with diabetes is that patients are treated with insulin when they already have too much!

‘Another problem is the very idea that sugar and carb can be moderated.

‘They are both addictive – it is like saying smoking should be moderated.

‘The liver already produces all the glucose your body needs and there is absolutely no evidence that carb is essential for the human body.’