Controversial author and nutritionist Tim Noakes has endured a barrage of criticism and a charge of unprofessional conduct for pushing a high-fat diet - and now he plans to hit back in a new book. This week, as a Health Professions Council of South Africa hearing got under way, Noakes told the Sunday Times that he would address some of the criticisms against him in his next book, which is in the planning phase and will document his troubles over the past four years."I am going to ask the question 'Who is right?' because I have been criticised for being completely wrong," he said.Since publishing his bestselling book The Real Meal Revolution, in 2013, the personal attacks have kept coming. His "low point" was when his own department at the University of Cape Town put out a statement in the media distancing itself from his diet. "That did affect me and took me about four months to get over it," he said.But the blows are softened by his wife, Marilyn. "It is terrible when people attack me personally, but I have this fantastic wife who has been very supportive. If she at one minute had said she didn't want to go through with this, I would have stopped."Noakes was hauled before the council this week after being accused by the Association for Dietetics in South Africa of unprofessional conduct.mini_story_image_hleft1He provided "unconventional advice on breast-fed babies on social networks" when he advised a mother on Twitter last year to wean her child on a low-carb, high-fat diet.He has pleaded not guilty.Noakes's legal team has taken on his case pro bono - several of them are committed Banters - and he is relying on Skype testimony from several overseas experts to help him fight his case after most locals declined to testify on his behalf.He has a theory as to why this is the case. "They run a risk of being hauled before the HPCSA for giving unconventional advice. Why would you want to expose yourself? If your whole career is dependent on a particular dietary guideline, why would you want to step out of line?" he said.Noakes's defence team is expected to call international experts including Dr Caryn Zinn, a dietitian from New Zealand, and Dr Stephen Cunnane, a human metabolic physiologist, who will give evidence via Skype.This week his legal team pushed witnesses about how most dietary and nutrition studies are funded by big cereal and sugar companies."It's endemic throughout the world that Big Sugar controls dietetics," Noakes said. "Once there is buy-in it's difficult to pull out."He uses the example of why he has used Nike running shoes since 1978. "I was given a pair of running shoes and I thought I was God. It's completely ingrained. If you are given something you always pay back."mini_story_image_hright2But despite criticism against him, Noakes maintains he is the "luckiest doctor in the world"."Because every day people say 'Thank you, Dr Noakes' on Twitter. People tweet before and after pictures. This is what doctors are there for - to change people's lives."Noakes said it was "fabulous" to see the Banting phenomenon growing, especially with small businesses creating Banting- friendly products. Banting-friendly snacks - including waffles, bread and brownies - were served during the hearing this week, made by a company called French Confectionery, which supplies Spar and Checkers.Banting has also caught on in poorer communities, such as Ocean View and Delft in Cape Town. Euodia Samson, who is running the campaign in these communities, said the results had been miraculous, with one person losing 10kg in six weeks."Some of these women are taking 30 tablets a day. Two to three weeks into Banting they have taken themselves off medication," said Samson.sub_head_start Fat's in the fire at this food fight sub_head_endNoakes's legal team slammed "expert witnesses" at the Health Professions Council of South Africa hearing where he faced charges of professional misconduct this week.story_article_left1First under fire on Monday was former Association for Dietetics in South Africa president Claire Julsing-Strydom, who had accused Noakes of giving "unconventional advice on breast-fed babies on social networks".Her qualifications as an expert witness were questioned and Noakes's team grilled her about Adsa's sponsorship by cereal companies ProNutro and Kellogg .Next, Professor Esté Vorster said Twitter was not suitable for dishing out medical advice. But she admitted she was no expert on social networks and did not have a Twitter account.Vorster, an academic at North-West University, conceded she had not dealt with patients as a dietician or nutritionist.Noakes's advocate, Ravin Ramdass, put it to her that her B1 ranking as a sports science researcher was lower than Noakes's A1.On Friday, Professor Muhammad Ali Dhansay testified that it was "inappropriate" of Noakes to give advice via Twitter, and that he had not known the history of the child he was giving advice about. - Aarti J Narseenarseea@timesmedia.co.za..