Paleo and Carbs

Howbouto

I found this very interesting. I think what helped derail my paleo efforts last year was I was attempting VLC and was miserable with it. Everyone is different is what I took away from it.

http://chriskresser.com/7-things-everyone-should-know-about-low-carb-diets

GrokRockStar

I tried VLC in the past and could barely function. The article was pretty common sense, but I'm sure that it shed some clarity on those who needed it.

cindytw

I liked this article. I find that I do best on lower carb levels than some are at, like 30-50g. Some of it is digestive, some of it is my level of cravings, and some of it is just plain feeling better. I am actually going back to 20-30g for a week or so starting tomorrow to help wipe out these horrible starch and junk cravings I have been having! Works like a charm for me! I am not a zealot, though! If someone is living well and thriving on 500g a day, then great for them!

Dragonwolf

Livin' La Vida Low Carb countered it -- http://livinlavidalowcarb.com/blog/7-lingering-myths-everyone-should-know-about-low-carb-ketogenic-diets

I feel like Kresser has started having it out for keto/low-carb, and I'm not really sure why.

NikkiAnamCara

I've discovered that, for myself, it's not as much the volume of carbs (although I eat Primal 50% fat, 25% carbs 25% protein) it's the TYPE of carbs that make the difference. Starchy carbs slow/stop the weight loss for me. Green/orange/red veggie carbs? No problem.

Akimajuktuq

Except that there are some BIG fallacies in the article. I was a big fan of Chris Kresser originally and I certainly agree that very low carb is not for everyone but lately, since his book, he has detoured in favour of being more palatable to the masses imo.

One of the main fallacies in that article is when Chris decides to talk about the Inuit. He does not know what he is talking about and if he expects to speak about historical/aboriginal societies he should be much better informed about them.

Low carb (and sometimes very low carb) is a good first place to explore for anyone with metabolic issues, which is MOST OF THE POPULATION in Canada and the US. Dr. Perlmutter is a great resource, and many others of course.

Yup, Chris is posting a lot of anti-low carb articles lately and while I agree that it isn't for everyone he is doing a disservice to many Paleo newcomers. Many of us come to Paleo morbidly obese, diabetic, depressed, craving, bingeing, addicted, hopeless, etc and low carb is definitely the place to start out when metabolic disorder is so apparent.

deoxy4

Just an opinion. Back years ago, maybe 10-15 years ago, there was great agreement between the new Paleo diet and the more established low carb diet. They were sister and brother movements coexisting and the general message in its simplest form was -"Eat protein from animal sources and vegetables; avoid sugary processed foods". Similarities in the two diets were stressed. The few lights in the darkness-Devany, Atkins, Rosedale, Cordain. (pick your own)

Fast forward to today. The simple concept has been splintered and fragmented over the 10-15 years by those that have followed, each trying to carve out a distinct variation of the simple concept for themselves. (mostly for profit) Reminds me of the aftermath of Martin Luther: Baptist, Southern Baptist, Methodist, Congegational, Lutheran, etc. all believing the same central dogma but just a little bit different in execution.


The old concept isn't broken but to update it:

Eat protein from good quality animal sources, eat good quality vegetables, avoid processed foods.

and to fine tune:

If you are metabolically broken avoid starches.

If you need energy because you are very active eat some starchy tubers in moderation.

Akimajuktuq

Just an opinion. Back years ago, maybe 10-15 years ago, there was great agreement between the new Paleo diet and the more established low carb diet. They were sister and brother movements coexisting and the general message in its simplest form was -"Eat protein from animal sources and vegetables; avoid sugary processed foods". Similarities in the two diets were stressed. The few lights in the darkness-Devany, Atkins, Rosedale, Cordain. (pick your own)

Fast forward to today. The simple concept has been splintered and fragmented over the 10-15 years by those that have followed, each trying to carve out a distinct variation of the simple concept for themselves. (mostly for profit) Reminds me of the aftermath of Martin Luther: Baptist, Southern Baptist, Methodist, Congegational, Lutheran, etc. all believing the same central dogma but just a little bit different in execution.


The old concept isn't broken but to update it:

Eat protein from good quality animal sources, eat good quality vegetables, avoid processed foods.

and to fine tune:

If you are metabolically broken avoid starches.

If you need energy because you are very active eat some starchy tubers in moderation.

Somewhat agree that things could be WAY more cohesive and mutually supportive and it sucks that they aren't. For instance, I distanced myself recently from the Weston A Price Foundation because Sally Fallon slammed Paleo. Being a big fan of Dr. Price I was saddened to see her put the foundation at odds with Paleo. It was completely unnecessary to do so.

Dr Cordain and Dr Atkins (and Atkins was much earlier - another one of my heros and another example of how wrong the next generation can go from the original path in regards to the current Atkins corporation...) were VERY different. In Dr. Cordain's original "Paleo Diet" he's all about avoiding animal fats. I do understand why but I think it was a major disservice to Paleo newbies and it was totally unsustainable for me, a person so metabolically disordered that avoiding fat was the worst thing to do. It was the first source that I found and it drove me from Paleo for another three years until I found Mark Sisson, and now a bunch of other great sources since.

It is a simple concept on first glance... but just "eat protein and plants"?... not fat? What about organs? What about fermented foods? Everyone out there has a different take on Paleo (or whatever) but that's not such a bad thing in the end because different things work for different people. The key is for those of us trying to find our way to have patience, try different things, record observations, don't "give up" when one way doesn't work, focus on health not a number on the scale, and just keep keeping on with healthy food for the rest of our lives.

deoxy4

Sorry, if I gave you the impression that fats were excluded from the equation. My error.

A better core statement (for me):

Eat protein and FAT from quality animal sources, eat good quality vegetables, avoid processed foods.

If one wants to embellish the core by adding low GI fruit, organ meats, fermented foods, whole dairy, fermented cod liver oil and it works N=1, all the better. Personally I eat some low GI fruit, some organ meats, eggs, fatty fish and a variety of non seed oils freely. I have issues with whole dairy and fermented foods unfortunately.

I guess I find it somewhat objectionable with the proliferation of people who find a very specific niche which they defend fiercely. It is business and profit is the name of the game. They profit from books, camps, programs, coffee, MCT oil, supplements, jerky, protein powders, bars etc.

For ME it is not all that complicated. I don't run out and buy all the latest books or products being sold. I read extensively and tinker a little bit with my diet but don't stray far from my core statement.

I don't think we disagree that much.

Akimajuktuq

Sorry, if I gave you the impression that fats were excluded from the equation. My error.

A better core statement (for me):

Eat protein and FAT from quality animal sources, eat good quality vegetables, avoid processed foods.

If one wants to embellish the core by adding low GI fruit, organ meats, fermented foods, whole dairy, fermented cod liver oil and it works N=1, all the better. Personally I eat some low GI fruit, some organ meats, eggs, fatty fish and a variety of non seed oils freely. I have issues with whole dairy and fermented foods unfortunately.

I guess I find it somewhat objectionable with the proliferation of people who find a very specific niche which they defend fiercely. It is business and profit is the name of the game. They profit from books, camps, programs, coffee, MCT oil, supplements, jerky, protein powders, bars etc.

For ME it is not all that complicated. I don't run out and buy all the latest books or products being sold. I read extensively and tinker a little bit with my diet but don't stray far from my core statement.

I don't think we disagree that much.

You and I are very much on the same page. It's not a complicated lifestyle, it isn't "hard'. I tinker too, but not much straying. I have the best health in my life so I know I'm on the right track. I strive to make little improvements by learning new skills, such as fermentation and incorporating more organ meat. Or by addressing issues that need attention (alcohol consumption, carb addiction, whatever). It's going to be a lifelong experiment and it's fun and exciting. Everything I do also sets the example for my little girl. Remembering the insanity that I learned from my mom, I know I need to do better.

I consider new information, weigh it, sometimes give something new a try, but I stay close to basics. No need to drive oneself insane looking for the ONE TRUE WAY of Paleo from external sources. Our body, health, mental state etc are the things that will guide us on the right path, if we pay attention.