paleo

Mbierschbach

I've said this before and I'll say it again: the Paleo diet is based on junk science and absolutely ridiculous suppositions about our relationship to supposed ancestors, who have as much in common with us as we have with your average giraffe.

That said, eating primarily garbage-free protein, healthy vegetables, and the right fats won't kill you. I just get ticked about the cult like following of the diet. The truth is the Paleo diet won't hurt you, you will lose weight, but it isn't necessary. Especially if you are exercising a lot, which you should be.

This guy. I like this guy. I have a more sensible (and easier to live by) concept at home. I call it the Laura Ingalls Wilder or Little House on the Prairie diet whenever I talk to my wife about what I eat or what WE should eat as family. Forgetting seasonal availiabilty for a moment I tell her "If Laura Ingalls didn't have it - neither should we." That gets you away from refined white breads, overly processed garbage snacks, fast food, etc. etc etc. The other way to look at it as many people do - stick to the outer 4 walls at a grocery store, venturing into the inner sanctum of junk only for staples like rice, bread, etc.

Eat whole grains, complex carbohydrates, vegetables, lean meats, etc etc etc. and you'll be fine. It's a helluva lot easier than Paleo or Atkins or some other unnatural way of eating. We're the top of the food chain people and we're evolved to eat meat, vegetables, and grains.

thavoice

I think I am going to do fasting, paleo, no carbs, a cleanse, caloric deficit AND the 5 bite diet all at the same time and see how great it works!

All while taking hydroxycut!


Just going to lunch or dinner with those who do things like Paleo drives me nuts as their discussions of what they can, and cannot have, blah blah blah!

When they see me still order whatever I want and drop weight they are in awe, and jealous.

ladymiseryali

Have had great results with keto. Be prepared to be ridiculed and attacked by those who think their way is the only way to eat. They do this to everyone who dares to eat low-carb.

levitateme

As for the science- modern humans have eaten in a paleo fashion for 10 times longer than they have been farming- and evolution is a very slow process. .. but we all know this.

This one point I just need to address. It's a common misconception that needs to be cleared up.

Nothing about the "Paleo diet" is similar to what our primitive ancestors ate. As we have changed so have the foods we eat. When I find one Paleo devotee logging in ferns, carrots that are purple in color, or seal meat, you can talk about the "science" behind this diet. In truth there is none. It's really just another low-carb diet, a repackaging of Atkins.

Again, just so we're clear, the "Paleo diet" has nothing at all in common with the foods our ancestors ate in the Paleolitic era. There is no science behind it.

100%

Eat whatever you can forage and as much meat as you can hunt and then we'll talk about it, paleo peeps. Until then, you're a hypocrite following a fad diet, brimming with smug. Smug so thick I need to put my highbeams on. Most people begin with "I kind of do my own version of paleo, but..." You know why you do your own version? Because the actual diet is unsustainable and unnecessary.

Fit_Chef_NE

It isn't "junk" science that most complex carbs are basically empty calories that leave you starving a few hours later. If you eat 200 calories of pasta you won't be as full as eating 200 calories of vegetables or even a potato. So if you want to be able to eat MORE food and stay within your calories, low carb can be a great option. The real secret to paleo, just like many modern diet fads is the cutting out of junky processed foods and replacing them with nutritious whole foods. Anytime you do that, you will be healthier. You still have to count calories though. If you eat 3000 calories of paleo foods, you can still gain weight. There is NO diet that is a free for all.

If you "can't live without" a certain food, that is really not a healthy relationship to have. You can be addicted to foods, particularly those which break down into sugars.

Anyone who gets that annoyed by someone else's diet plan is just trying to sabotage people to feel superior. Good for you I guess.

MityMax96

I am gonna post this here.....just because I can.

http://www.sixpackabs.com/paleo-is-the-scientology-of-diets/

Why Paleo Is Stupid

Unless you have a time machine, you can’t eat paleo. You can’t even get close to it, the food environment has changed that much.

“But, like, paleo is an idea of eating, man. It’s like a metaphor.”

A metaphor for eating like they did during a time when starvation was the #1 killer of humans, and you were lucky to live to 35? Sign me up for that. Living in the Paleolithic era sucked.

Nutrition expert Alan Aragon summed up paleo pretty nicely in an interview I did with him. He said the paleo diet, which is really just a form of low-carb dieting that its advocates presume our Stone Age, hunter-gatherer ancestors ate, is just another fad. “Paleo philosophy is wrong on a couple of different levels,” he told me. “They say our ancestors didn’t eat grains, and therefore we shouldn’t eat grains. First, our ancestors did eat grains. There is also the logical error that if our ancestors didn’t eat something we shouldn’t either. Well, our ancestors didn’t concern themselves with optimal nutrition, they just wanted to survive.”

“It’s just another fad,” sport nutrition expert and registered dietitian Nancy Clark told me, echoing Aragon’s opinions on paleo. “There’s no science to support it.”

I already said it’s impossible to replicate any aspects of the diet, because our food supply. Even the meat, eggs, fruits and vegetables have been so manipulated since humans first began farming that what we eat today can’t ever possible resemble that of mammoth-slaying Stone Age. Oh, and like I wrote in this piece, eating mammoth or any kind of meat was exceptionally rare.

Our Paleolithic ancestors were far more likely to get protein from bugs. So instead of paying double for your antibiotic free, grass-fed methane dispenser meat, you should just head to your nearest field and commence chopping down crickets.

But the modern concept of the paleo diet is way stupider than that. Why? Because you can buy these products, that’s why:

Paleo butter
Paleo coffee
Paleo dog food
Paleo chocolate
Paleo chocolate chip cookies
Paleo turkey jerky, which comes in plain, spicy and extra spicy
Paleo caviar
Paleo energy bars
Paleo waffles
Paleo syrup
Paleo yogurt
Paleo ice cream
Paleo protein powder
Paleo protein powder? Really? These guys also sell you paleo Vitamin D (which I expect our ancestors got by, you know, going outside), and even paleo “recovery powder.” Check out those prices.

Being paleo is like paying a stupidity tax. Again, it’s not you who is stupid, but the diet sure is, because it lets you drink paleo coffee while putting paleo butter and paleo syrup on your paleo waffles before you drive your paleo minivan to the paleo office to sit in your paleo cube and do spreadsheets on your paleo computer. You’re groking hard now.

See, the paleo diet made up a bunch of silly rules on how we allegedly ate, and then goes and twists them all to hell in the name of selling you a crappy, overpriced product. That is scientology-level stupid.

Let’s have some fun. I’m going to make up my own stupid diet with my own stupid rules. I’ll call it …



The Disney Diet

Everyone loves Disney movies. Just like the Paleolithic era, men were the heroes and women were the damsels in distress, although Disney damsels had way less body hair and much better teeth.

So, based on what I’ve learned from watching Disney films, here are the rules of the Disney Diet:

Never eat anything given to you by an old woman, because it’s poison – Snow White
Eat only fresh kills, but only the females are allowed to do the hunting – Lion King
Unless you think you killed your father and ran away from home, in which case you can eat lots of bugs – Lion King
Sugar can only be consumed while taking medicine – Mary Poppins
Don’t eat turkey, popcorn or sweet potato pie. And definitely not pancakes piled up until they reach the sky, because if you do, it will cause mental deficiencies of Goofy proportions, not to mention the fact that you will eat and eat and eat and eat and eat until you die – Jack and the Beanstalk
goofy
Carbz rotz dem brain cells – hyuk!
Chicken is okay, but not duck, because I love Donald
Spaghetti can only be eaten as a couple, and must lead to a kiss, followed by the male chivalrously passing the last meatball to the female using only his nose. Any fornication that results from this romantic gesture must be done doggie style – Lady and the Tramp
See how silly a diet can become when you start adopting arbitrary rules based on mythical thinking?



Why Paleo is Dangerous

Paleo can end up excluding nutritious foods for no other reason than its proponents think that we didn’t eat them a long time ago, and so we shouldn’t eat them now. Secondly, it’s dangerous for your financial future to be forking out big bucks for paleo-approved products, because such things usually don’t come cheap. Apparently that bulletproof coffee crap is paleo, and it costs a bloody fortune.

But the real problem? Following a paleo diet can lead you down a path to an eating disorder. That’s why I rag on this kind of crap.

My friend and registered dietitian Jennifer Sygo says, “The science of nutrition is complex. Eating shouldn’t be.” By the way, Jennifer has an excellent book entitled Unmasking Superfoods that I highly recommend.

Eating shouldn’t be complex, but paleo is far from flexible. It creates a system of arbitrary, difficult-to-follow rules for eating that can lead to disordered eating. Primarily, it can cause one to obsess over eating the “right” foods and avoiding the “wrong” ones. This phenomenon has been coined “orthorexia,” which is not yet recognized in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, but enough mental health professionals are talking about it that it has gained some scientific legitimacy. While other eating disorders tend to obsess over calories and body weight, so-called orthorexics obsess over food quality. Again, which foods are right, and which foods are wrong. Some people end up thinking the right foods are 1,600 calories worth of butter paired with five eggs.

A lot of paleo is about which foods are right and which ones are wrong. This is not a healthy mindset to go through life with, constantly obsessing over whether something is paleo approved or not, several times each day. It creates a toxic mindset about eating, and anxiety and fear around certain food types that are not good for your mental health. Such unhealthy obsession can eventually lead to a full-blown eating disorder.

When people break these food rules they can feel like a failure, which increases stress levels and can cause binge eating because Well, I already blew my highly restrictive diet, so I might as well really blow it and go down in a blaze of gluttonous glory.

So what’s the solution? Stop falling for all the marketing. Realize that paleo is just a cheesy gimmick designed to sell an expensive pile of crap and adopt a more flexible approach to eating that isn’t so rule-based or restrictive.

I understand that the skeptical mindset is not easy to adopt. People are naturally gullible, it seems, and will fall for just about anything if it sounds scientifically valid. I wrote a sarcasm-laden Facebook update a while ago about why people shouldn’t eat salmon, and a number of people fell for it. The followers of my page weren’t easily taken in because they know me for being a skeptic and a joker. But the post was shared by many people, resulting in comments by readers who don’t know me, and I was amazed that some thought the post was actually serious. Have a read.

Skepticism can make you strong, so don’t go thinking it’s a negative mindset to have. Quite the opposite. Things like paleo create a negative mindset about how living in the modern age is allegedly toxic. They make you pine for good old days that never were.

Quit living in the past, because it’s not coming back, and you shouldn’t want it to. The past sucked!

Even in the middle of the last century we had far more chemical exposure, lead was everywhere, non-smoking areas didn’t exist, anyone who wasn’t a white male was second-class, and kids were being taught to duck and cover because the nukes could start flying any minute.

You don’t live in the Paleolithic era. You don’t live I the 19th century, or even the 20th. You are alive, right now, in the 21st century, and it’s pretty damn awesome.

So act like it’s awesome. Quit freaking out about all the allegedly bad **** that’s going to cause your innards to explode if you inhale a whiff of it, and stop lamenting about how things were supposedly so much better long ago, and just get on with living the best version of modern life you can.

And for crap’s sake, stop putting butter in your coffee.

BlueBombers

Fit_Chef_NE

Some people need to adjust their diets so they aren't so cranky.

likitisplit

I've said this before and I'll say it again: the Paleo diet is based on junk science and absolutely ridiculous suppositions about our relationship to supposed ancestors, who have as much in common with us as we have with your average giraffe.

That said, eating primarily garbage-free protein, healthy vegetables, and the right fats won't kill you. I just get ticked about the cult like following of the diet. The truth is the Paleo diet won't hurt you, you will lose weight, but it isn't necessary. Especially if you are exercising a lot, which you should be.

This guy. I like this guy. I have a more sensible (and easier to live by) concept at home. I call it the Laura Ingalls Wilder or Little House on the Prairie diet whenever I talk to my wife about what I eat or what WE should eat as family. Forgetting seasonal availiabilty for a moment I tell her "If Laura Ingalls didn't have it - neither should we." That gets you away from refined white breads, overly processed garbage snacks, fast food, etc. etc etc. The other way to look at it as many people do - stick to the outer 4 walls at a grocery store, venturing into the inner sanctum of junk only for staples like rice, bread, etc.

Eat whole grains, complex carbohydrates, vegetables, lean meats, etc etc etc. and you'll be fine. It's a helluva lot easier than Paleo or Atkins or some other unnatural way of eating. We're the top of the food chain people and we're evolved to eat meat, vegetables, and grains.

Laura Ingalls starved periodically.

levitateme

Some people need to adjust their diets so they aren't so cranky.

Who's cranky?

These threads always end with someone on the paleo side having a meltdown, so does that mean a high fat/low carb diet makes people emotionally unstable?

smn76237

I am gonna post this here.....just because I can.

http://www.sixpackabs.com/paleo-is-the-scientology-of-diets/

And for crap’s sake, stop putting butter in your coffee.

:laugh: I never got why butter in coffee was paleo approved, but milk isn't.
Or why legumes are evil. Seriously, beans, lentils, peanuts=bad. ... but why?

I do think that striving to eat more whole foods certainly isn't a bad thing. However, arbitrarily restricting whole foods (like legumes, dairy, whole grains) is just silly.

ladymiseryali

And here we go with the nay-saying, ridiculing, etc......This is why we can't have nice things on these forums.

Meerataila

I have had very good results with low carb (never was committed enough to give up cheese and call myself a cave woman). I am willing to bet and am betting I'll do just as well by going vegan and eating non-paleo foods like beans, even though I'm doing it for ethical reasons (because I do love meat, and I am already missing my cheese, but morally it's been bugging me for years).

What is the unifying factor in these diets?

No sugary, processed premade garbage.

Although I am already having arguments with myself about whether or not it's okay to sample some vegan candy. I sense failure lurking down that road.

kgeyser

I do agree with the others that Paleo is not a cure-all for weight loss.

At first the pounds will fall off, but it will even out.

That's why I do calorie restriction and Paleo.

But Paleo did take care of my first 50 or so pounds, but I promise, you can over eat on Paleo approved foods.

It caused me to stall my weight loss, not gain, though.

I say go for it.

I feel great and I don't ever have to worry about the health risks that go with eating junk like Hamburger Helper or frozen pizzas.

I was following you right up until the last sentence. What health risks from eating Hamburger Helper or frozen pizza? Before anyone jumps in to twist things, I am not saying Hamburger Helper or frozen pizza are the picture of health, but I fail to see how the occasional frozen pizza or boxed dinner is going to put your health at risk. If you ate them everyday for every meal, sure, you would be missing nutrients and your sodium levels would probably be sky high, but if you ate any food every day for every meal you'd end up nutrient-deficient.

thavoice

The reason why people kind of mock paleo is because so many people say they are on a modified version of it, or do it for 5 days and off for 2 days, or do paleo but still eat certain foods that are def not paleo.

They want to reference this is how man ate thousands of years ago, etc etc etc.

I think people on paleo, those who dont have a legit medical reason like celiacs or whatever it is called, just like to be "different" and since they are doing the paleo it makes them so much better. Sort of like a diet snob, like beer snobs who poo poo the regular beers and will only drink microbrews, etc.

They get all butthurt when people start to ridicule them and it is quite funny and much of it comes from their own hipocracy.

becs3578

Ok there is my take on it... CALL IT WHAT EVER YOU WANT... I use the guidelines to eat a more healthy and clean diet of foods. People who dislike seem to HATE on the idea of the PALEO/CAVEMAN thing and use that to discredit it. I get it, I just don't really care.

What PALEO did for me was get a lot of processed food out of my diet. Kept me away from fast food and forced me to cook more for myself which in the end helped me go from a size 12/14 to a size 2/4. I eat it "paleo specific" about 80/20% of the time. I allow myself to enjoy life and have foods that aren't part of the program some of the time.

I make sure I get my carbs from certain veggies and sweet potatoes which I love. I don't drink soft drinks that often, I drink a ton more water. I fuel for my workouts and I am ... AND THIS IS THE MOST IMPORTANT PART FOR ME... I am HAPPY in my own skin for the FIRST TIME in my LIFE.

Again call it what ever you want... but I used a modified (paleo allowed) list of foods on a regular basis and I couldnt be happier.

da_bears1008

I tried a primal diet (paleo plus dairy) and i did lose weight because i didn't retain water but it was so frustrating going to the grocery store and being like...

ok, can't eat that, that or that... beans are legumes right? what is wrong with a bean? no clue, just know that i can't eat them.

I can't have chili corn salsa on my meat and veggie bowl? why? because it's corn, and corn is satan, and satan makes you fat and die.

What to eat.... ok well, i will make some kind of meat and saute vegetables AGAIN.

NO PEANUT BUTTER?!?!?!

that was my breaking point. nothing comes between me and my PB

You didn't lose weight soley because of your diet, you lost weight because you ate a a deficit.

Thank you Captain Obvious.

asdowe13

I tried a primal diet (paleo plus dairy) and i did lose weight because i didn't retain water but it was so frustrating going to the grocery store and being like...

ok, can't eat that, that or that... beans are legumes right? what is wrong with a bean? no clue, just know that i can't eat them.

I can't have chili corn salsa on my meat and veggie bowl? why? because it's corn, and corn is satan, and satan makes you fat and die.

What to eat.... ok well, i will make some kind of meat and saute vegetables AGAIN.

NO PEANUT BUTTER?!?!?!

that was my breaking point. nothing comes between me and my PB

You didn't lose weight soley because of your diet, you lost weight because you ate a a deficit.

Thank you Captain Obvious.

You are quite welcome!

Tobi1013

I stole this from a member of a group I belong to on Facebook and it cracked me up. This is the best description of Paleo dieting I have ever seen.

Just remember, plant oils are BAD because they're unsaturated fats, except for coconut oil and palm oil because they're saturated and that is GOOD. And butter and beef tallow and lard are animal fats and thus GOOD, don't think about the fact that they're all >51% unsaturated fatty acids. Oh and nuts and seeds are GOOD, except peanuts which are BAD, and the fact that they're all chock-full of unsaturated plant oils that we just told you to avoid is totally irrelevant. Also, grains and legumes are BAD, because they're the mature embryos of plants, which is BAD unless it's a nut or seed (which are also the mature embryos of plants) in which case it's GOOD. Lastly, dairy from cows and goats and sheep and camels and horses is a neolithic invention and thus BAD, unless you're talking about clarified butter in which case it's GOOD and you need to put that **** in your coffee instead of cream, but don't you dare put it on a slice of toast, unless you made that toast from almond flour or coconut flour. Totally clear.

If you think you can follow such arbitrary food rules and sustain that over the long haul, go for it. Me? I'm gonna eat what I want as long as it fits my calorie and macro goals.