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  • Metabolical

  • The Lure and the Lies of Processed Food, Nutrition, and Modern Medicine
  • Written by: Robert H. Lustig
  • Narrated by: Charles Constant
  • Length: 12 hrs and 3 mins
  • 4.8 out of 5 stars (111 ratings)

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Metabolical

Written by: Robert H. Lustig
Narrated by: Charles Constant
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Publisher's Summary

The New York Times best-selling author of Fat Chance explains the eight pathologies that underlie all chronic disease, documents how processed food has impacted them to ruin our health, economy, and environment over the past 50 years, and proposes an urgent manifesto and strategy to cure both us and the planet.

Dr. Robert Lustig, a pediatric neuroendocrinologist who has long been on the cutting edge of medicine and science, challenges our current healthcare paradigm which has gone off the rails under the influence of Big Food, Big Pharma, and Big Government.

You can’t solve a problem if you don’t know what the problem is. One of Lustig’s singular gifts as a communicator is his ability to “connect the dots” for the general listener, in order to unpack the scientific data and concepts behind his arguments, as he tells the “real story of food” and “the story of real food”.

Metabolical weaves the interconnected strands of nutrition, health/disease, medicine, environment, and society into a completely new fabric by proving on a scientific basis a series of iconoclastic revelations, among them:

  • Medicine for chronic disease treats symptoms, not the disease itself
  • You can diagnose your own biochemical profile
  • Chronic diseases are not "druggable," but they are "foodable"
  • Processed food isn’t just toxic, it’s addictive
  • The war between vegan and keto is a false war - the combatants are on the same side
  • Big Food, Big Pharma, and Big Government are on the other side

Making the case that food is the only lever we have to effect biochemical change to improve our health, Lustig explains what to eat based on two novel criteria: protect the liver, and feed the gut. He insists that if we do not fix our food and change the way we eat, we will continue to court chronic disease, bankrupt healthcare, and threaten the planet. But there is hope: this book explains what’s needed to fix all three.

Supplemental enhancement PDF accompanies the audiobook.

©2021 Robert H. Lustig (P)2021 HarperCollins Publishers
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What listeners say about Metabolical

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Very informative

Very good book & very informative.
And the narrator was easy to listen to.
Would highly recommend.

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Not biased

Very informative book on several food issues without being biased. It is so complete that I will buy a paper version.

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Adding this one to my top five book recommendations

So much information and actionable advise. Everyone should have this as required reading to support a long and healthy life and reduce burdens on our health care systems.

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Incredible Content

I’ve read a lot of books on the topics of health, nutrition, and science. This book is in my top 5 list. The story was compelling, narration was top notch, content was dense and well reviewed. That said, I wish he would do away with the superlatives. Hard to take him seriously sometimes.

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Amazing information and easy to understand

I loved that he was brave enough to share who care more for money or politics before than for the well being of society.

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A must read

I have been following Dr. Lustig for some time now. I am only one chapter in and all I can say is WOW! Dr. Lustig exposes corruption and possibly collusion within the food industry, the medical industry, government and Big Pharma! If you still eat processed food after reading this book, you are giving your future self a very grim future! I am sure this will be my favourite book EVER.

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It’s a masterpiece

Dr. Lustig does it again. The one man army taking on big food and letting you know the insides and out of the food industry from the general/doctor on the front lines in the war against disease and processed food.

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lots to learn

To political was hoping for more things I can do to improve my health. well narrator.

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The Truth is in the "pudding"!

the Narrator was real, believable and Honest. Scary truth about the food / pharma industries.

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A Groundbreaking Wake-Up Call for Our Health: A Re

Dr. Robert Lustig’s Metabolical is nothing short of a revelation. In this eye-opening book, Lustig goes beyond the typical narrative on nutrition, exposing the deep connections between processed food, corporate interests, and the modern medical system that, instead of fostering health, often feeds the diseases we’re all trying to avoid.

What sets Metabolical apart from other health and nutrition books is the clarity with which Lustig weaves together science, policy, and personal accountability. He doesn’t simply tell you to eat better—he explains the why in a way that is both accessible and empowering. With warmth and urgency, he tackles big questions like how processed foods harm our metabolism, why obesity and chronic disease are so prevalent, and how we can take back control of our health.

Lustig’s tone is conversational yet authoritative. He blends his decades of experience as a pediatric endocrinologist with engaging stories and practical advice. You feel like you’re learning from a trusted friend who genuinely cares about your well-being, not just a distant figure lecturing from a podium. His passion for the topic is contagious, and by the end of the book, it’s hard not to feel inspired to take action.

What I appreciated most was Lustig’s ability to make complex science understandable. He breaks down the biochemical impact of processed foods—how they wreak havoc on our bodies and contribute to chronic conditions like diabetes, heart disease, and even dementia. Yet, he never makes the reader feel overwhelmed. Instead, he gives you the tools to understand how our food environment is designed to trap us in cycles of poor health and offers a clear path out of it.

Metabolical is not just about food; it’s about the broader systems that govern public health and nutrition. Lustig calls out the food industry and government for perpetuating misinformation and prioritizing profits over people’s well-being. However, the book doesn’t leave you feeling hopeless. On the contrary, it’s a call to arms, encouraging readers to be more informed and proactive in their choices.

Metabolical stands as a beacon of truth in a world where misinformation about food and health is rampant. If you care about your health—or the health of your loved ones—this book is a must-read. It’s informative, thought-provoking, and a powerful reminder that what we eat truly matters.

Whether you’re new to nutrition science or a seasoned health advocate, Dr. Lustig’s Metabolical will leave a lasting impact. You’ll walk away with a better understanding of how to nourish your body, protect yourself from the harmful effects of processed food, and be part of the change toward a healthier future.

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