Mike Woodley and Al Watson talk about Cereal Killer

Al Watson, author of Cereal Killer, and TV host Mike Woodley (Metro Cable 6 in Minneapolis/St. Paul, discuss the 2010 Dietary Guidelines.

Mike: Al, you've written a pretty controversial book here - you even blame the American Heart Association for causing obesity and diabetes - can you explain that?

Al: Yes, Mike, almost 50 years ago - in 1961 - without citing any new scientific evidence, the American Heart Association officially endorsed a low fat, anti-fat diet. Not a government agency, the American Heart Association nonetheless ordered us to replace our butter, bacon and eggs, and red meat with margarine, cereal grains, and pasta. Now, Mike, any farmer will tell you the best way to fatten up a cow is to feed it a lot of grain, right?

Mike: I guess you're right, Al, I never thought of it that way!

Al: In 1980, the federal government adopted the American Heart Association's low fat, anti-fat diet. Since 1980, Americans have eaten more cereal, more processed grains, and more sugar than anyone on the planet - and since 1980, the incidence of obesity and diabetes in all age groups has more than doubled - and is predicted to double again in the next 25 years!

Mike: Al, given the title of your book, are you saying we shouldn't be eating dry boxed cereal for breakfast?

Al: Yes - that's right Mike - all dry boxed cereals - regardless of how much sugar they contain - and most contain a lot of sugar - raise blood sugar - they are high glycemic. In truth, Mike, processed grains raise blood sugar faster than sugar itself!

To make the little O's and flakes, the grains are extruded at high temperature under high pressure - damaging the proteins. The important amino acid lysine is damaged the most - making it difficult to absorb and utilize. Because they contain more protein and protein is damaged the most by extrusion, whole grains magnify what has been referred to as "food chaos."

Mike: What should we eat for breakfast?

Al: What George and Martha Washington ate: Bacon and eggs fried in butter or lard. Also, you can boil or scramble your eggs or make a delicious omlette. Bacon and eggs provide complete protein - and healthy natural fat. (Nutrient density!)

Al: If we eat fat, Mike, our bodies burn fat! That's right, Mike, when we eat fat our bodies have permission (via the hormone glucagon) to burn fat, but when we load up on sugar and grainy carbohydrates, the resulting blood sugar and insulin spike causes our bodies to make, store, and lock up fat (via the hormone insulin).

Mike: Who should read Cereal Killer?

Al: If you are having trouble losing weight, if you suffer with hunger or food cravings, or if you've been told you are diabetic or pre-diabetic - or simply want to learn the truth about America's chronic disease overload - you will benefit from reading Cereal Killer.

You will learn: