Tim Noakes

[[File:Tim Noakes.png|thumb|right|165px|Tim Noakes]]
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'''Timothy David Noakes''' {{lived|1949}} is a [[South African]] exercise physiologist, [[antivaxxer]], [[conspiracy theorist]], anti-[[sugar]] campaigner, [[low-carb high-fat]] advocate and [[cholesterol denialist]], best known for his opposition to mainstream dieting advice. Noakes has been accused of promoting dangerous and false information about [[vaccine]]s and "outrageous, unproven claims about disease prevention."<ref>[https://www.iol.co.za/capetimes/news/uct-doctors-slam-noakes-1740144#.VADRgvldWb8 UCT doctors slam Noakes]. Independent Online.</ref><ref name="Geffen">[https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/opinionista/2014-08-28-tim-noakes-and-the-responsibility-of-experts/#.VADQBvldWb8 Tim Noakes and the responsibility of experts]. Nathan Geffen.</ref><ref name="Medical Brief">[https://www.medicalbrief.co.za/archives/mcalpine-noakes-spread-dangerous-untrue-information-vaccines/ McAlpine: Noakes spread dangerous and untrue information about vaccines]. Medical Brief.</ref> In 2023, Noakes came out in support of the [[carnivore diet]] and is giving  misleading health advice by claiming fruit, vegetable oils and wheat is killing people.<ref name="Carnivore diet">[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OxOrOlb0I5Q Professor Tim Noakes improves health on the carnivore diet]</ref> Noakes has controversially argued that vegetables are not needed in the human diet.<ref name="2018 interview">[https://healthhackers.org/episode-list/2018/ep10-tim-noakes-low-carb Episode 10: Professor Tim Noakes]</ref> 

Noakes endorses a low-carbohydrate, high-fat (LCHF) diet, often referred to as the "Banting" or "Noakes" diet. Medical experts have criticized the diet as being "not based on good [[science]]".<ref>[https://www.health24.com/Columnists/Too-much-too-soon-Tim-Noakes-20150109 "Too much, too soon, Tim Noakes!"]. "Our medical community, health authorities and academics (even Noakes' own colleagues at the University of Cape Town, who formally distanced themselves from his theories) are very concerned that the Banting Diet is simply not based on good science."</ref> The Noakes diet forbids all grains, most kinds of fruit and refined sugars.<ref>Fitzgerald, Matt. (2014). [https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=Bh1bBAAAQBAJ&pg=PT185&dq=tim+noakes+diet+cult&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwivvqWSkcbhAhUzQhUIHS4yDz4QuwUINjAC#v=onepage&q=tim%20noakes%20diet%20cult&f=false ''Diet Cults: The Surprising Fallacy at the Core of Nutrition Fads and Guide to Healthy Eating for the Rest of Us'']. Pegasus Books. ISBN 978-1-60598-560-2</ref>

His book ''Lore of Nutrition'' was described by paediatrician Alastair McAlpine as "an extraordinarily heady mix of conspiracy theory, bad science, bad writing, and [[persecution complex]]".<ref name=aa>[https://www.medicalbrief.co.za/archives/less-lore-science-please Less lore and more science, please, Prof Noakes]. Medical Brief.</ref>

==Cholesterol denialism==

Noakes is a cholesterol denialist. According to Noakes:

{{cquote|There is no definitive evidence that reducing especially the saturated fat in the diet prevents heart disease […] The theory that proposes that blood cholesterol causes heart disease is at best tenuous, and at worst wrong.<ref name="Health24">[https://www.health24.com/Medical/Heart/Foods-diet-and-your-heart/Tim-Noakes-called-a-cholesterol-denialist-20130210 Tim Noakes called a 'cholesterol denialist']. Health24.</ref>}}

These controversial opinions are unsupported by scientific evidence and have been criticized as "dangerous and potentially very harmful to good patient care."<ref name="Health24"/>

==Anti-vaccination== 

{{cquote|[Noakes] may say he isn't antivaxx, but his actions demonstrate the opposite, and could cause real harm to some of the most vulnerable in our society – [[children]].|||Paediatrician Alastair McAlpine.<ref name="Medical Brief"/>}}

Noakes has been criticized for making [[anti-vaccination]] comments.<ref name="Medical Brief"/><ref name="Synapses"> [https://www.synapses.co.za/noakes-and-vaccination-if-it-quacks-like-a-duck/ Noakes and vaccination: if it quacks like a duck]. Jacques Rousseau.</ref> In 2014, Noakes sent a tweet to his 46,000 [[Twitter]] followers: "Dishonest science. Proven link between [[autism]] and early immunisation covered up?". The tweet included a link to a video from the discredited anti-vaccine activist [[Andrew Wakefield]] which alleged the United States [[Centers for Disease Control]] (CDC) is covering up a link between autism and immunisation.<ref name="Geffen"/> Medical experts challenged Noakes and he responded by claiming that he has "no opinion" about the matter. Nathan Geffen has commented that "after recommending that his followers watch videos that cast suspicion on the [[MMR vaccine]], it is disingenuous for Noakes to say he has no opinion."<ref name="Geffen"/>

In a 2017 interview on the Gareth Cliff Show, Noakes stated that he supports vaccinations only if they are "proven to be safe and effective", he also stated incorrectly that there is [[evidence]] that [[Anti-vaccination_movement#Autism|vaccines cause autism]].<ref name="Synapses"/> Regarding the interview, Jacques Rousseau has noted:

{{quotebox|By the standard of the Duck test, Noakes is at least a vaccine sceptic, but in effect, he functions as a vaccine-denier or an "anti-vaxxer" in using much of the same misinformation they ([[Jenny McCarthy|McCarthy]], [[Robert Kennedy, Jr.|Kennedy]], Carrey, de Niro) do. Because in doing so – even as he asserts that he supports vaccinations – he introduces sufficient qualifications and obfuscations that his pronouncements on the matter could plausibly lead to at least some of his followers choosing to not vaccinate their children.<ref name="Synapses"/>}}

In 2018, Noakes denied being "anti-vax" and stated the term was being used against him to try and destroy his scientific credibility.<ref>[https://www.medicalbrief.co.za/archives/noakes-not-anti-vax-mcalpine-knows/ Noakes: I am not anti-vax and McAlpine knows it]</ref>{{lie}}

==Opposition to science-based medicine==

Public health scientist Sheila Kealey‏ has commented:

{{quotebox|Many hold sports physiologist Tim Noakes in high esteem after reading his popular books (e.g. ''Lore of Running''). But he is losing respect among scientists: recently he seems to be in the anti-establishment/conspiracy theorist camp, disregarding science (that doesn't support his opinions), promoting his high-fat low-carb diet as evidence-based, and stating that a proven link between vaccines and autism have been covered up. Noakes has also stated that we must eat more meat to save the environment, which is contrary to a robust body of scientific evidence.<ref>[http://www.sheilakealey.com/nutrition-experts-shouldnt-trust-2/#Noakes Nutrition & Health “Experts” You Shouldn’t Trust]. Sheila Kealey‏.</ref>}}

==Carnivore diet==

In 2018, Noakes said that his diet is "almost carnivorous" and argued without providing any evidence that vegetables are not needed in the human diet.<ref name="2018 interview"/><ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Eg0OpnHY3nI Prof Tim Noakes Says We Don’t Need Carbs Or Even Veggies, Ep 10]</ref> However, Noakes does consume a minority of vegetables. 

As of 2023, Noakes supports the [[carnivore diet]] and says his own diet is "predominately carnivore". His diet contains a high amount of red meat and eggs with some green leafy vegetables and nuts.<ref name="Carnivore diet"/> Noakes has appeared on [[Shawn Baker]]'s podcast.<ref name="Carnivore diet"/>

==Publications==

*''Lore of Running'' (1986)
*''Waterlogged: The Serious Problem of Overhydration in Endurance Sports'' (2012)
*''The Real Meal Revolution: Changing the World, One Meal at a Time'' (2014)
*''Lore of Nutrition: Challenging Conventional Dietary Beliefs'' (2018, with [[Marika Sboros]])

==References==
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[[Category:Anti-vaccination movement]]
[[Category:Authors]]
[[Category:Carnivore diet promoters]]
[[Category:Cholesterol and statin denialists]]
[[Category:Food woo promoters]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Low-carb fanatics]]
[[Category:Physicians]]

Categories: Anti-vaccination movement, Authors, Carnivore diet promoters, Cholesterol and statin denialists, Food woo promoters, Living people, Low-carb fanatics, Physicians