Tim Noakes - Lore of Nutrition: Challenging conventional dietary beliefs

Published by Penguin Books
an imprint of Penguin Random House South Africa (Pty) Ltd
Reg. No. 1953/000441/07
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www.penguinrandomhouse.co.za

First published 2017

Publication Penguin Books 2017
Text Tim Noakes and Marika Sboros 2017

Cover image of Tim Noakes Sofia Dadourian

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior written permission of the copyright owners.

PUBLISHER : Marlene Fryer
MANAGING EDITOR : Ronel Richter-Herbert
EDITOR : Bronwen Maynier
PROOFREADER : Ronel Richter-Herbert
INDEXER : Tessa Botha
COVER AND TEXT DESIGNER : Ryan Africa
TYPESETTER : Monique van den Berg

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ISBN 978 1 77609 261 1 (print)
ISBN 978 1 77609 262 8 (ePub)

I dedicate this book to the sacred few who unselfishly gave of themselves their wisdom, their humanity, their graciousness and their love to lead me safely through the trials described herein. They are:

My wife, Marilyn Anne.

Our children, Travis Miles Noakes and Candice Amelia Noakes-Dobson.

My sister, Mandy Ruysch van Dugteren, and the memory of our parents, Reginald Austin (Bindy) and Mary Wendy Noakes.

The three Archangels, Attorney Adam Pike, Advocate Dr Ravin Rocky (brother) Ramdass and Mike van der Nest SC.

The three Angels, Nina Teicholz, Dr Zo Harcombe PhD and Dr Caryn Zinn PhD.

Professor Tim Noakes

I dedicate this book to Bruce Cohen, my husband, my greatest fan and critic, and a much better writer than I could ever hope to be; my darling daughter, Demi Bender, uber-organised artist, muso and finance whizz; my beloved son, Joshua Cohen, ever-energetic food-wallah, seeker and wanderer; and my precious grandchildren, Jethro and Indiana Bender Tait, who generously shared their Yiayia with the computer for so many months. You all gave me time, space and confidence to revel in the vital, riotous scientific ride that is this book.

Marika Sboros

I survived, sanity intact, the unfathomable cruelty of the bigotry, bullying and betrayal described in this book only because a small group of gracious and tenacious heroes the righteous and the holy was guiding my train. I can never repay the debt that I owe them. My words cannot adequately convey the unreserved love, joyful thanks and eternal gratitude that I feel for each one of them.

Without the resolute courage, objective counsel and loving support of my thoughtful, strong-willed and super-intelligent wife, Marilyn Anne, I would not have made it through. The forces arrayed against us wholly underestimated the strength of the single person for whom they were no match. For the six years of our personal inquisition, she has stood resolute, refusing to succumb. She was the foundation on which we built our joint defence and on which we ultimately defeated the worst efforts of the gamblers, wheeler dealers and big shot ramblers.

Our children, Travis and Candice, were equally resolute and unflinching in their support. They, too, refused to be bullied. Now that it is over, I can begin to repay them for their love and loyalty while I inhabited that other, distracted world.

My sister, Amanda-Louise Mandy Ruysch van Dugteren, has been a pillar of strength. She understood exactly what the trial would have meant to our parents, and her unqualified support was a daily reminder that my father and mother would have been in the front row cheering all of us on.

The ultimate irony is that Amanda had adopted the LCHF diet with great success after she discovered The Low Carbohydrate Diet by E.L. Fiore, published in 1965, while living in London in the swinging 60s. But she would only share her secret with me after my Damascene moment, explaining that I was the qualified medical expert and that she was not about to tell me I had it all wrong! It would take me 36 years to begin to catch up with her advanced knowledge of practical nutrition.

Attorney Adam Pike directed what I now know as the best legal team in South Africa. Adams obsessive eye for detail was apparent in the 26 days of flawless presentation that he orchestrated with unbridled passion, focused intelligence, steadfast confidence and irreverent humour. Not for one instant did he falter or misstep.

In terms of their brilliance, benevolence, honesty and desire to see justice prevail whatever the personal cost, senior counsel Mike van der Nest and Advocate Dr Ravin Rocky Ramdass (who by mutual consent is now my brother) are in a league of their own. I cannot recall meeting two more remarkable men. Their compassion in recognising a fellow human (and family) in severe distress and their offer to defend me without thought of financial reward are evidence of their astonishing humanity and humility.

The author Jeffrey Archer wrote: Some people stand by you in your darkest hour while others walk away; only a select few march towards you and become even closer friends. I had to survive the dark moments to understand Archers meaning, for in my darkest hour, Mike and Rocky marched towards me, becoming my superheroes. And my eternal friends.

The three Angels Dr Zo Harcombe PhD, Nina Teicholz and Dr Caryn Zinn PhD who joined our glory train from Wales, the United States and New Zealand respectively, are quite simply three of the bravest and most important minds fighting the disinformation that fronts as modern global heart-healthy dietary advice. In , Marika Sboros accurately captures the massive impact their assured poise, personal integrity and honest testimony had on the conduct and outcome of my trial. Their presence attested to another defining characteristic of the luminaries of the LCHF revolution: their ambition is not personal; it is to advance a cause much greater than themselves.

I met Dr Andreas Obholzer in the first week of my medical training in February 1969; he has been a constant friend and source of inspiration ever since. He and his wife, Dr Karin von Wenzel Obholzer, flew in from Windhoek for each session of the hearing to support Marilyn and me during our hours of need. Again, your best friends are those who march to you to share your darkest moments.

At his own cost and in his own time, Glen Thomas filmed the trial and big-heartedly allowed The Noakes Foundation to post the material online at https://www.thenoakesfoundation.org/news/videos. Thanks Glen your kindness and generosity ensured that the trial was recorded for posterity, as it actually happened.

Emeritus Professor J.P. van Niekerk kindly consented to contribute the foreword. As dean of the UCT Faculty of Health Sciences, and despite concerted criticisms that it is not and never will be a science it is simply too Mickey Mouse J.P. had the vision (and courage) to champion the introduction of sports science into his faculty in 1981. He appointed me a sports science lecturer that same year. Neither of us would ever have believed that 36 years later we would still be on the same side, continuing the fight against witlessness masquerading as intelligence.

Marika Sboros has correctly acknowledged the brilliant editing skills of Bronwen Maynier, with which I concur absolutely. Marika herself has many kind words to say about me in her acknowledgements. The reality is that without her contribution, this book would have been a lame shadow of what it has become. Like J.P. van Niekerk, Marika represents the skills, the training, the integrity and the social conscience of a bygone era. When she turned those unique skills to reporting the hearing on Twitter (@MarikaSboros) and on Foodmed.net, she ensured that the world would know the truth about what was actually happening. Her work helped keep everyone honest.