Paleo vs. Clean eating?

hafdis

So I've been reading up on Paleo.. it looks pretty interesting? Do any of you do Paleo? or Eat Clean.. Im having a little bit trouble finding the true definition of Eating Clean.. Correct me if I'm wrong.. does it mean no processed food... as in nothing coming from a box? or is it something else?

I'm hesitant to jump on the band wagon since i have a lot of stuff in my pantry but I'm really fascinated by it. Can anyone of you give me some insight or share your experience how you started or transitioned in to Paleo or Eating Clean

Thank you
Happy

tquill

Cleaning eating threads always blow up with people arguing one way or the other.

What works for me is eating whatever I want, but monitoring the total macros (protein, fat, and carbs) and calories to fit within my daily allowances and goals.

hafdis

Cleaning eating threads always blow up with people arguing one way or the other.

What works for me is eating whatever I want, but monitoring the total macros (protein, fat, and carbs) and calories to fit within my daily allowances and goals.

wow do not want to start an argument lol...

I pretty much been doing what you have been doing so far and had great success.. I just wanted to make an attempt to eat healthier..

tquill

wow do not want to start an argument lol...

I pretty much been doing what you have been doing so far and had great success.. I just wanted to make an attempt to eat healthier..

If you've had success, I personally wouldn't change anything... but if you think no processed foods might help feel better or have more success, why not try it?

Some people swear by no processed foods, others don't really care. Both groups have had success, so I think it's just a personal preference.

I don't think you'll get a consistent definition about what paleo or clean eating actually is though. Maybe start by trying what you think it is?

mpizzle421

A small suggestion.

I'm not sure why you're on mfp but introducing too much can in some cases be a bit of a stumbling block.

Depending on how you define eating clean - I would expect that you'e eliminating the processed junk (fast food, boxed and canned food, etc.) and shopping the outsides of the grocery store. Paleo being even more limiting.

I would start with, and make sure you can maintain for a fair length of time, just the basics. Portion control, logging and keeping within your calorie goals. For some people (like myself) just doing that takes some real getting used to without introducing anything overly restrictive.

That being said - I'm sure there are some real overall health advantages to eating clean and possibly paleo. Just make sure you don't set yourself up for too much change all at once.

SezxyStef

so in...

to the op don't change what isn't broken...

Clean eating definition is as diverse as those who chose to follow it...for me it's the 5 sec rule in my house...10 sec rule in my mothers.

Paleo..eh I've heard good things but call me lazy I don't feel like searching that hard for food to eat...and I just have to drive 10mins away and I can get grain fed everything etc...we have an organic farm that sells all paleo food I just don't want to give up my treats etc...

ashleearoha

I like the idea of Paleo but I couldn't give up my greek yogurt, cottage cheese and oats .

ldula88

I eat Paleo/Primal, and I love it! I mostly eat this way because I enjoy how I feel without the processed foods and chemicals going into my system. I am not as strict as many Paleos, especially now that I've been eating this way for several months. For instance, most Paleos won't eat dairy or legumes. I eat both, which is why I'm really more in the Primal category. To me, Paleo is avoiding any chemicals and processed foods. (If it has a chemical or more than five ingredients, or if you can't pronounce any of them, it's probably a no-no). Likewise, any grains or gluten is pretty much off limits. This usually includes rice, etc, but it differs from person to person.

I also eat moderately low carb, which many Paleos don't, because I tend to have an easier time losing weight on a higher fat/protein diet. Carbs just don't help me any, they really tend to make me want to binge, especially the grains/sugars. This is the real reason Paleo works so well for me, it naturally avoids my trigger foods! It's not really a lifestyle that's centered on losing weight, it's really all about finding what's healthy for your body. I count calories to lose my weight, but I'll be eating Paleo forever, even when I reach my goal. It's always worth giving Paleo a try if you are a fan of whole foods and lean protein, you'll really enjoy it. The first week or two is the hardest, but after that most people feel great. Hope you find what works for you!

charleigh78

I love paleo. I have auto immune issues and eating "whatever" fits in my macros doesn't work for me. Food makes or breaks me ..... I am actually slightly stricter than paleo, and if I veer I am exhausted and plagued with joint pain and migraines

We are all different though.

LexiMelo

I think a smart thing to do is to try to eat healthy food 80% of the time. I eat mostly non-processed foods myself. But today was a tough one, I think I hurt my shoulder at the gym and I'm exhausted so I am eating chicken nuggets, potato puffs and frozen veggies for dinner courtesy of my oven. I was going to have Parmesan tilapia, broccoli and quinoa but some days you just do not have the effort!

So basically, moderation is the key to success. Why don't you start out just expanding your recipe repertoire? Experiment with new foods! My dad, an old farmer/good ole boy was telling me the other day how much he likes quinoa. If someone like my daddy can try something new, anyone can!

geebusuk

Both are based on rather shaky foundations.

I suspect in both cases they may work as a bit of an exclusion diet - if you actually have problems with a few things and cut out big swathes that include them, some feel better.

It can also help some people keep to a calorific deficit by excluding a good many foods, so less choice means less things to binge on.

Some time ago I tried 'clean' (which really has no useful definition and I find most that practice it often don't even follow their own definitions if you look into it) - I'm doing much better now eating whatever fits my macros - because I'm using more 'science' in that and other areas.

AwesomeGuy37

I think there is a middle ground. I try to change something one food at a time so as not to get overwhelmed. I started by getting rid of added sugars, eating more vegetables, then I put my salt shaker away. This week I started trying to ween away from lunch meats. I will be making little changes along the way till I'm eating that middle ground.

each_day_stronger

There is no 100% clear cut this is the paleo diet, this isn't, especially these days. There's a variety of people out there who look into how foods affect us, what foods might make some(or possibly most) of us sick, and looking at what people ate before the invention of modern day diseases for inspiration, if not replication exactly. I have been slowly making my way towards a more primally inspired lifestyle, by avoiding sugars and grains in particular gluten. It can seem radical to some, but it really is making a world of difference for me. I've done other dietary approaches before and have never felt as good as I do when I take primal/paleo eating approaches seriously.

I would definitely check out http://www.marksdailyapple.com/ since it tends to be a bucket of resources and has A LOT of success stories.

I would also encourage you to check out the paleo groups here which have great reads for more info.

geebusuk

"Modern day diseases" ? Would that be the ones that are a lot more seen now because our lifestyles mean we live a lot longer on average?

JoJo__Fit

I eat according to my macros, processed or not! That's healthy for me

My definition of eating clean is washing my hands before I eat!

Natmarie73

So I've been reading up on Paleo.. it looks pretty interesting? Do any of you do Paleo? or Eat Clean.. Im having a little bit trouble finding the true definition of Eating Clean.. Correct me if I'm wrong.. does it mean no processed food... as in nothing coming from a box? or is it something else?

I'm hesitant to jump on the band wagon since i have a lot of stuff in my pantry but I'm really fascinated by it. Can anyone of you give me some insight or share your experience how you started or transitioned in to Paleo or Eating Clean

Thank you
Happy

Clean eating means different things to different people. To some people it means wiping the dirt off their food after they've dropped it on the floor but to most people it means no processed foods or junk foods, just foods that are in their most natural state such as fresh fruit, vegetables, whole grains, unprocessed meat etc etc. Other people may take it to the extreme and only eat organic, biodynamic or non GMO food, never microwave their food or store it in plastic containers and even only cook their food in organic certified pans with non-toxic surfaces such as cast iron etc. So you can take it as far as you want to.

There is no real need to go to that extreme to lose weight but if you are more concerned about the affects of additives, preservatives and pesticides etc to your health it may bear looking into further. I myself eat as organic and pesticide free as I can to ensure I get as many micro-nutrients such as vitamins and minerals as I can. Not so concerned with macronutrients at all and Paleo is just way too hard for me.

Natmarie73

"Modern day diseases" ? Would that be the ones that are a lot more seen now because our lifestyles mean we live a lot longer on average?

No, they would be the ones that have only occurred since we've started eating too much processed food full of additives, preservatives and junk food such as diabetes, heart disease, non-alcoholic cirrosis of the liver, bowel cancer and the like some of which are occurring in children and teenages and people under 40 so not because we are living longer as children have never had these diseases 50 or more years ago.

Before the 1930's or so, these diseases were so rare they didn't even have names, and there were plenty of old people around then too.

ndj1979

in…for the anticipated dumpster fire…and to get a definition of clean eating, and to really find out if you want to eat like paleolithic man and did I mention dumpster fires…???

ndj1979

OP - is your current regimen working? Is there a specific reason you are interested in this?

as someone suggested earlier..you can accomplish weight loss, body fat reduction,etc with calorie deficit, hitting macros, and working out/moving more..

SezxyStef

I eat according to my macros, processed or not! That's healthy for me

My definition of eating clean is washing my hands before I eat!

I should add that to mine too...:bigsmile:

ndj1979

"Modern day diseases" ? Would that be the ones that are a lot more seen now because our lifestyles mean we live a lot longer on average?

No, they would be the ones that have only occurred since we've started eating too much processed food full of additives, preservatives and junk food such as diabetes, heart disease, non-alcoholic cirrosis of the liver, bowel cancer and the like some of which are occurring in children and teenages and people under 40 so not because we are living longer as children have never had these diseases 50 or more years ago.

Before the 1930's or so, these diseases were so rare they didn't even have names, and there were plenty of old people around then too.

no one had cancer before the 1930's really?

Achrya

Can't you eat 'clean' and be 'paleo'? It seems they have rather similar ideals, actually.

ldula88

Can't you eat 'clean' and be 'paleo'? It seems they have rather similar ideals, actually.

Paleos eat "clean," but not all "clean-eaters" eat Paleo, if that makes sense

kgeyser

Cleaning eating threads always blow up with people arguing one way or the other.

What works for me is eating whatever I want, but monitoring the total macros (protein, fat, and carbs) and calories to fit within my daily allowances and goals.

wow do not want to start an argument lol...

I pretty much been doing what you have been doing so far and had great success.. I just wanted to make an attempt to eat healthier..

Unless you have a medical reason to restrict your diet, I would do exactly what you said - eat healthier. Swap out some packaged foods you rely on and make the recipe yourself using whole ingredients. Experiment with different foods and flavors outside your comfort zone. You don't have to start following a "label" diet in order to be healthy, and you're already successful in what you're doing. You may find as you do this that you enjoy cooking from scratch and using whole foods, and that's fine. You also may discover that some foods aren't worth the amount of time it would take to make from scratch, and that's fine, too.

Achrya

Can't you eat 'clean' and be 'paleo'? It seems they have rather similar ideals, actually.

Paleos eat "clean," but not all "clean-eaters" eat Paleo, if that makes sense

That's about what I figured. Similar ideals, but of course clean eating is a wider category that can include just about everything.

That said, neither appeals to me.

Anuwe28

First of all, Hi! Second, I need a support team so anyone can add me! Finally, I'm doing the Paleo diet. I find it a bit challenging because my culture usually eats lots of carbs like tortillas for example. I'm not too fond of any type of meat but I'm ok with chicken breast or fish. I love veggies so that's the easy part for me. Just make sure you cook all your food the correct way. I cook my fish in water and season with turmeric, black pepper, ginger and Italian herbs. I personally love squeezing fresh lemon or lime juice iver my fish or chicken and I also cook my carrots in water or whatever vegetable but it's best to not cook them at all so I suggest baby kale. I"m also doing the Raw Fit Protein Shakes and oh boy does that help! Anyways I'm here for you for support!

lindsey1979

I can't speak to Eat Clean as I don't really know about that program, but I eat Primal and love it. It's a more permissive version of Paleo -- essentially you can eat dairy if it agrees with you and you aim for at least 80/20 compliance. So if you want that occasional cookie or ice cream, go for it -- just try to stick with Primal/Paleo stuff the vast majority of the time. For me personally, I probably end up eating 95% versus 80%, but it's nice to just have that emphasis on progress rather than perfection.

For me, this ends up being a combination of high quality protein (steak, chicken, pork, etc.), healthy fats (avocado, coconut oil, etc.), full-fat dairy (cheese, full-fat yogurt, etc.), veggies and fruits. To me, it's not restrictive at all. I don't eat grains, but I don't really miss them either or have good substitutes (like spaghetti squash for my vodka sauce rather than penne pasta or for curry rather than rice). It takes some adjustment in that regard, but once you get used to it, it's pretty darn easy. I still have a sweet tooth, but even that's been considerably reduced -- good dark chocolate tends to go a long way in that regard, or I'll whip up some panna cotta or creme brule from time to time.

I also restrict my carbs too (80 g or less most days), which isn't a Paleo/Primal thing, but just how I feel better. After changing my diet, I learned I have a thyroid issue and insulin resistance, which is probably why I feel so particularly awesome on a carb restricted version of Primal. I know a lot of people have such experiences and I suspect that they probably had an undiagnosed condition or food sensitivity.

I'm not sure why it gets so much grief on this website,but I couldn't recommend it more highly for overall health. Someone else recommended marksdailyapple.com for info and I think there is a lot of good info on there.

geebusuk

No, they would be the ones that have only occurred since we've started eating too much processed food full of additives, preservatives and junk food such as diabetes, heart disease, non-alcoholic cirrosis of the liver, bowel cancer and the like some of which are occurring in children and teenages and people under 40 so not because we are living longer as children have never had these diseases 50 or more years ago.

I took bowel cancer as the first one I saw and googled for some details.
http://www.netdoctor.co.uk/ate/cancer/203109.html
Are you suggesting eating these foods has changed our genetics?
Just to be clear; that table shows that if people with similar genetics to you get it, it means you're a lot more likely to get it.

Or, just a thought; might it be modern medicine has improved to the point we understand the way a lot of ailments work, rather than it being 'the vapours' or something?

Then, of course, people have been using various 'chemicals' to preservae food, 'additives' to enhance flavour and so on for thousands of years.

Finally, a good explanation of what it is REALLY like to eat 'paelo' - www.youtube.com/watch?v=BMOjVYgYaG8‎

Can't you eat 'clean' and be 'paleo'? It seems they have rather similar ideals, actually.

Seeing that the best I seem to get from most 'Clean eaters' is "the stuff that I eat most of the time", yep 'Paelo' people can use that definition too, if they want.

psuLemon

I tried paleo for about 6 months because my wife had a gluten intolerance from a heart condition. Personally, i found the diet way to restrictive and costly, if you follow the book. Additionally, there were many restrictions of foods I personally loved. Due to all that, I found myself binging more often and preventing me from reaching my goals. I find when I eat bread, Chipotle Burritos and other stuff in moderation, i have done much better. My overall goal is making sure I hit my protein and fat goals or come close and then let the rest be carbs. I eat 2500 ish calories a day, and aim for 30-50g of fiber. I eat a lot of lean meats, fruits, veggies, and throw in breads and rices almost daily.

Having said that, if something is working, it wouldn't be wise to switch. If you want to make some small substitutions of processed foods to whole foods (however it's defined) then it's great. Realistically, you should be looking to eat foods rich in nutrients; both from a macornutrient and micronutrient level.

BusyRaeNOTBusty

How about a moderate calorie deficit, with some attention paid to macro and micro nutrient content?

tennisdude2004

I tried paleo for about 6 months because my wife had a gluten intolerance from a heart condition. Personally, i found the diet way to restrictive and costly, if you follow the book. Additionally, there were many restrictions of foods I personally loved. Due to all that, I found myself binging more often and preventing me from reaching my goals. I find when I eat bread, Chipotle Burritos and other stuff in moderation, i have done much better. My overall goal is making sure I hit my protein and fat goals or come close and then let the rest be carbs. I eat 2500 ish calories a day, and aim for 30-50g of fiber. I eat a lot of lean meats, fruits, veggies, and throw in breads and rices almost daily.

Having said that, if something is working, it wouldn't be wise to switch. If you want to make some small substitutions of processed foods to whole foods (however it's defined) then it's great. Realistically, you should be looking to eat foods rich in nutrients; both from a macornutrient and micronutrient level.

It would certainly be sensible to cut or reduce foods containing processed carbs (grains, added sugar, certain starches) as these are the food that can increase inflammation and oxidation in the body.

Personally I would suggest low carb high fat (including saturated fat, but excluding trans fats). Also a medium level of protein.

You should be able to change your macros in to accommodate this healthier lifestyle diet!!!

This style of diet should reduce your overall appetite so you will probably find you will not have to deal with the restriction of having to stop eating once you hit you calorie target when you are still hungry.