Paleo/Primal way of eating = finally the truth revealed?

JohnnyNull

"Research" and "Paleo Diet" should not be used in the same sentence. It follows silly, completely arbitrary guidelines. Paleo folk can't even agree on whether or not milk is bad for you. If it works for you, great. But don't try to convince people that there's a science behind it.

freerange

"The promoters of "one true faith" diets use the exact same emotional approach and the exact same arguments every time. From the hints of a "conspiracy" by the "establishment" to the idea that the "true faith" contains a "unique solution" heretofore unrealized by the dumb masses, the script is as predictable as it is tedious."


Almost like,,,,,,,,,, well almost like your blind faith in the USDA?

Feel free to criticize all you want, but you should respond to what I said, not make things up.

I I did you criticized people for following Primal on blind faith,,,,would you like me to quote you? I just turned it around,,,,,,, let me ask you this, have you ever actually done any of the studies the FDA or USDA says they have done to prove the “food pyramid?

SJSchwartz

Ok, now I didn't read through all 5 pages of this, just two. So I don't know if anyone pointed this out or not...

Some of you are saying that cavemen were so healthier than us because of what they ate..

Well cavemen also didn't have to deal with all the pollution we deal with. They didn't have mercury in their mouths (fillings), they didn't have all the bad evnrionmental issues that we deal with everyday.

So if they were healthier than us.. who's to say that a lot of it wasn't because of all that I mentioned above?

I don't think their diet had everything to do with it...

Just saying....

pyro13g

Let me fix this for you.

"Research" and "The USDA" should not be used in the same sentence.

Nature cuts us off from mommies milk, and she stops lactating, for a reason.

Pollution and fillings didn't cause Syndrome X problems. Eating, how what you eat makes the body respond, and the problems that response from what you eat causes or doesn't cause, is easily measured and through accepted scientific method, conclusions derived.

It's not just cavemen, it's also the study of non-westernized cultures and there lack of Syndrome X. Not all purely diet but a major factor.

kvultaggio

wow, this thread is truly entertaining! To the gal that never craves bread, I hate you. (just kidding!) I wish I didn't crave bread and potatoes, but I do, with a passion! I think we'll all do well to eat foods that can remember where they came from (but I personally will not deny myself the occasional cheeto... I can be very disciplined but I have my limits!!)

Azdak

"The promoters of "one true faith" diets use the exact same emotional approach and the exact same arguments every time. From the hints of a "conspiracy" by the "establishment" to the idea that the "true faith" contains a "unique solution" heretofore unrealized by the dumb masses, the script is as predictable as it is tedious."


Almost like,,,,,,,,,, well almost like your blind faith in the USDA?

Feel free to criticize all you want, but you should respond to what I said, not make things up.

I I did you criticized people for following Primal on blind faith,,,,would you like me to quote you? I just turned it around,,,,,,, let me ask you this, have you ever actually done any of the studies the FDA or USDA says they have done to prove the “food pyramid?

Not only have I never defended the USDA--in this or any other thread--I never used the term "blind faith".

You're still making things up.

freerange

"The promoters of "one true faith" diets use the exact same emotional approach and the exact same arguments every time. From the hints of a "conspiracy" by the "establishment" to the idea that the "true faith" contains a "unique solution" heretofore unrealized by the dumb masses, the script is as predictable as it is tedious."


Almost like,,,,,,,,,, well almost like your blind faith in the USDA?

Feel free to criticize all you want, but you should respond to what I said, not make things up.

I I did you criticized people for following Primal on blind faith,,,,would you like me to quote you? I just turned it around,,,,,,, let me ask you this, have you ever actually done any of the studies the FDA or USDA says they have done to prove the “food pyramid?

Not only have I never defended the USDA--in this or any other thread--I never used the term "blind faith".

You're still making things up.

You got me there, who do you take your diet advice from?

Grokette

One thing I want to point out to some of the newer Primal Blueprint/Paleo eaters is that the old ideas of eating less calories than you burn and eating low-fat foods to avoid accumulating fat on your body have been proven to be wrong, and that this style of eating corrects many deficiencies and errors in the Standard American Diet (S.A.D.)

One recurring theme of Paleo eating is that foods of the modern era, specifically sugar, gluten-containing grains and dairy, cause chronic low-level inflammation in the body. The mechanisms for this inflammation include intestinal micro perforation and the immune response to the resulting intestinal leakage, and the hormonal responses to high levels of sugar and dairy. The inflammation in turn causes fat accumulation and diseases like heart disease, cancer, and diabetes. The inflammation also causes a general sense of less-than-well being, which is also fixed by Paleo eating.

It doesn't take much gluten, sugar or dairy to cause these problems, so eating less will help but won't completely alleviate the problem. The effect is more like an allergic response than poisoning. Complete elimination is the best solution.

Most proponents of Paleo acknowledge that most people can't avoid these things completely and all of the time. The main idea is to know what the effects of eating them is, and to balance the upside with the downside. The usual advice is to do a 30-day complete elimination of these things from your diet, then add one at a time back to your daily meals, and see how you feel. That will help you determine whether they make a difference in your health, and whether or not those foods are important enough to you for you to live with the consequences of eating them.

Sunshine0107

"The Truth Revealed" Not really. I just put the Paleo/Primal diet on the same list as all the other diets that claim to be the "truth" in dieting in health. I mean really, I am glad you found something that works for you, but some people who are veg. or vegan, claim to know the "truth" also. The paleo/primal followers are no different. It is just a different way to get to a goal.

freerange

http://www.paleonu.com/panu-weblog/2011/2/5/no-such-thing-as-a-macronutrient-part-ii-carbohydrates-revis.html

below is a small recap of the above link.

Using some evolutionary reasoning, as well as some common sense, I would like to suggest a heirarchy of plant food desirability. I take it as axiomatic that whatever might be gained by eating plants, some key ideas should guide us.

1) A human can do with relatively little plant food, but cannot live at all without animals and the essential fatty acids and fat soluble vitamins they provide. With modern knowledge and care plants can provide essential amino acids when combined, but almost any animal can be eaten with monotony and provide all essential amino acids.

2) Most micronutrients necessary on an animal-based diet can be obtained by eating high quality animal sources, including offal. After all, the animal already ate the plants for you and either was replete in the diet or synthesized what was needed.

3) "Favor Food That is Defenseless when Dead". With rare exceptions, eating animals offers few trade-offs in terms of exposure to antinutrients or poisons in order to obtain fuel or nutrients.

4) Regardless of persistent claims regarding the uniqueness of particular plants and their abilities to provide x special compound that some observational or rodent study suggests protects against y, the idea that humans evolved to require any particular plant is implausible. The heterogeneity of the human diet in regard to plants, and the ability to live on very few animal species is an argument against the essentiality of particular plants. It is not a good argument for the necessity of consumption of a large variety of plants to obtain critical magical compounds from each one.

5) The frequently observed and logical behavior of modern hunter-gatherers, horticulturalists, primitive agriculturalists and wild animals suggests that if a plant is favored or sought, it ought to be the one that supplies the most energy density - fuel. The ONE thing that plants can do for us that animals can't is to relieve us of the burden of diverting amino acids from their critical structural uses to their inefficient conversion into mere fuel.

6) Plants consumed should therefore provide as much fuel as possible with exposure to as few antinutrients as possible. They should be close to the kinds of plants we evolved eating - as free of GMO modifications and artificial industrial processing as reasonably achievable.

So the top of the plant heirarchy will be:

Starchy Plant Organs - tubers and root vegetables. Sweet potatoes, cassava, root vegetables, white potatoes, etc.

Then, in descending order:

Green Vegetables - The "Atkins type" vegetables - leafy greens, etc.

Non-gluten Grains - white rice, corn - acceptable starch sources when not made a staple food

Legumes

Fruits

Gluten Grains

I think these kind of food categories, as well as the the more "nutritionist" categories preceding them, would be far more meaningful variables in a food frequency questionnaire or dietary trial than categories like "percentage of carbohydrate" where fructose and potato starch are lumped together, or "servings of fruits and vegetables" as if green beans and watermelon were remotely the same in dietary value.

freerange

The question for AZDAK still stands, where do you get your diet advice from,,,,,,, not that hard of a question.

freerange

"The Truth Revealed" Not really. I just put the Paleo/Primal diet on the same list as all the other diets that claim to be the "truth" in dieting in health. I mean really, I am glad you found something that works for you, but some people who are veg. or vegan, claim to know the "truth" also. The paleo/primal followers are no different. It is just a different way to get to a goal.

What diet plan do you follow? And if it's not the true diet why do you follow it?

jurgitafit

Well said! Thank you!!! :flowerforyou:

I can't possibly understand what anyone could argue over this way of eating.

It isn't a money making "scam" business unless YOU allow it to be. Honestly, with all of the Jenny Craig/South Beach Diet/Nutrisystem/P90X crap out there that costs a TON, eating Paleo costs NOTHING more than the cost of regular food you buy at the grocery store and tons of free info out there on the Internet (there are a billion free recipe sites out there that are awesome). How can anyone argue that eating all natural, non-processed foods is not the way to go?

(And yes, I know us Paleo people can be very self righteous, which I really try not to be and it isn't a good way to be, but we are very passionate about what we put in our bodies!)

And the reason we know what cavemen eat is simple and documented...we KNOW what foods were around in those days based on historic facts and data...we also know for a fact that grains were invented, refined and cultivated to feed people in relatively recent times. Its not to say I don't enjoy a plate of pasta, but our bodies do not NEED it for survival.

And I certainly can attest that eating this way has done my body a world of good. I have abs I never thought I did. I don't watch carbs at all, I choose the right ones and eat fruits, veggies, lean meats and do enjoy the occasional treat, but my body doesn't enjoy those treats as much as it used to. I can feel the effects of eating badly so quickly after that it makes me want to continue to eat better. I also don't follow it 100% - I eat some dairy every day and occasional oatmeal - but I'm at about 90% and it still continues to better me.

So for all of the skeptics out there, I challenge you to go Paleo for 30 days and see how you feel...

Sunshine0107

"The Truth Revealed" Not really. I just put the Paleo/Primal diet on the same list as all the other diets that claim to be the "truth" in dieting in health. I mean really, I am glad you found something that works for you, but some people who are veg. or vegan, claim to know the "truth" also. The paleo/primal followers are no different. It is just a different way to get to a goal.

What diet plan do you follow? And if it's not the true diet why do you follow it?

I don't follow a diet plan, I just use common sense, eat healthy and exercise. It seems to have worked well for me. Not really rocket science. I don't think any "diet" can claim to be the "truth", because different things work for different people. Sorry, but it is my opinion.

Grokette

"The Truth Revealed" Not really. I just put the Paleo/Primal diet on the same list as all the other diets that claim to be the "truth" in dieting in health. I mean really, I am glad you found something that works for you, but some people who are veg. or vegan, claim to know the "truth" also. The paleo/primal followers are no different. It is just a different way to get to a goal.

What diet plan do you follow? And if it's not the true diet why do you follow it?

I don't follow a diet plan, I just use common sense, eat healthy and exercise. It seems to have worked well for me. Not really rocket science. I don't think any "diet" can claim to be the "truth", because different things work for different people. Sorry, but it is my opinion.

Well Paleo / Primal Way of Eating is not a "diet" either. It is a Way Of Life, which equals a Lifestyle change.

Sunshine0107

"The Truth Revealed" Not really. I just put the Paleo/Primal diet on the same list as all the other diets that claim to be the "truth" in dieting in health. I mean really, I am glad you found something that works for you, but some people who are veg. or vegan, claim to know the "truth" also. The paleo/primal followers are no different. It is just a different way to get to a goal.

What diet plan do you follow? And if it's not the true diet why do you follow it?

I don't follow a diet plan, I just use common sense, eat healthy and exercise. It seems to have worked well for me. Not really rocket science. I don't think any "diet" can claim to be the "truth", because different things work for different people. Sorry, but it is my opinion.

Well Paleo / Primal Way of Eating is not a "diet" either. It is a Way Of Life, which equals a Lifestyle change.

You do what you want and I will continue to do what I want. Neither of us are going to be changed by each others veiws and I accept that. No point in beating a dead horse.

freerange

"The Truth Revealed" Not really. I just put the Paleo/Primal diet on the same list as all the other diets that claim to be the "truth" in dieting in health. I mean really, I am glad you found something that works for you, but some people who are veg. or vegan, claim to know the "truth" also. The paleo/primal followers are no different. It is just a different way to get to a goal.

What diet plan do you follow? And if it's not the true diet why do you follow it?

I don't follow a diet plan, I just use common sense, eat healthy and exercise. It seems to have worked well for me. Not really rocket science. I don't think any "diet" can claim to be the "truth", because different things work for different people. Sorry, but it is my opinion.

That makes sense, but something to think about. Common sense, where does that come from? Eating healthy, according to whom? And what if you discovered what you thought was healthy really wasn’t? Being at your “ideal” weight is only one marker of good health. Good luck to you and I hope your diet gives you exceptional health. If you get tired of being tired, if you get tired of the yoyo, if you ever show markers for Metabolic Syndrome, do some research of how carbs affect your insulin resistance and what effects that has on your overall health.

Sunshine0107

"The Truth Revealed" Not really. I just put the Paleo/Primal diet on the same list as all the other diets that claim to be the "truth" in dieting in health. I mean really, I am glad you found something that works for you, but some people who are veg. or vegan, claim to know the "truth" also. The paleo/primal followers are no different. It is just a different way to get to a goal.

What diet plan do you follow? And if it's not the true diet why do you follow it?

I don't follow a diet plan, I just use common sense, eat healthy and exercise. It seems to have worked well for me. Not really rocket science. I don't think any "diet" can claim to be the "truth", because different things work for different people. Sorry, but it is my opinion.

That makes sense, but something to think about. Common sense, where does that come from? Eating healthy, according to whom? And what if you discovered what you thought was healthy really wasn’t? Being at your “ideal” weight is only one marker of good health. Good luck to you and I hope your diet gives you exceptional health. If you get tired of being tired, if you get tired of the yoyo, if you ever show markers for Metabolic Syndrome, do some research of how carbs affect your insulin resistance and what effects that has on your overall health.

I am in awsome health, I have an abundance of energy and and I don't yoyo, but thanks anyway. Carbs are good and eating the right carbs in the right amounts has changed my health drastically for the better, so I ask that you please just understand that I have no interest in any research on the primal/paleo diet or carbs and insulin resistance. What I am doing works for me.

pyro13g

Researching carbs and insulin resistance has nothing to do with Paleo/Primal research.

Sunshine0107

Researching carbs and insulin resistance has nothing to do with Paleo/Primal research.

Oh well I think it will be ok. My point was I don't care what they have to say and I know what works for me and my health proves (for my life only) that I am doing what is right.

caprica

Does anyone here do the workouts recommended in the blueprint? I have been doing some slow cardio and lifting heavy things for a while now and recently I just added sprints to my workouts once a week

I must admit it feels great to just push yourself as fast as you can and feel the wind rush by. It gets a much harder once you get up to about your 8th interval sprint, but you feel awesome afterwards. Gotta love those endorphins .....

unluckynomad

Caprica, if you sign up for the newsletter at www.marksdailyapple.com (the author of the Primal Blueprint) than you can download the ebook for the primal blueprint fitness... it has a lot of really great information.

I personally have been living in a pseudo-paleo/primal way since August 2010. I say pseudo because we kinda fell off the wagon what with Thanksgiving (STUFFING!! nomnomnom). From August to November we were basically in the transition phase of getting into the lifestyle... not totally religious about it but definitely trying. Just doing that made the chronic arthritic pain which I've been feeling in my knees and hips since I was 12 go away--and I'm a waitress... on my feet 12 hours straight for three days straight. From November until basically a week ago we were following the S.A.D. due to lack of planning, money, etc. I have been sick three times in that time period and, while I have not gained any weight back, I can feel MAJOR differences in ability to sleep soundly, physical activity, etc. I am a HUGE proponent of the Paleo Diet and Crossfit now more so than ever. For the past week we have been trying to get back to our Primal lifestyle and I already feel loads better. I have so much more energy and so much less pain, to top it off, I lost another 3 pounds and I have absolutely no trouble with hunger pangs!
I hope that the FDA gets its head out of its butt and sees exactly how beneficial following true science can be!

Grokette

Caprica, if you sign up for the newsletter at www.marksdailyapple.com (the author of the Primal Blueprint) than you can download the ebook for the primal blueprint fitness... it has a lot of really great information.

I personally have been living in a pseudo-paleo/primal way since August 2010. I say pseudo because we kinda fell off the wagon what with Thanksgiving (STUFFING!! nomnomnom). From August to November we were basically in the transition phase of getting into the lifestyle... not totally religious about it but definitely trying. Just doing that made the chronic arthritic pain which I've been feeling in my knees and hips since I was 12 go away--and I'm a waitress... on my feet 12 hours straight for three days straight. From November until basically a week ago we were following the S.A.D. due to lack of planning, money, etc. I have been sick three times in that time period and, while I have not gained any weight back, I can feel MAJOR differences in ability to sleep soundly, physical activity, etc. I am a HUGE proponent of the Paleo Diet and Crossfit now more so than ever. For the past week we have been trying to get back to our Primal lifestyle and I already feel loads better. I have so much more energy and so much less pain, to top it off, I lost another 3 pounds and I have absolutely no trouble with hunger pangs!
I hope that the FDA gets its head out of its butt and sees exactly how beneficial following true science can be!

The thing is, they will never get on board with that because the corn, soy and wheat being subsidized is major, big, big business.

The majority of people would benefit from this way of eating, yet it keeps getting passed off as a "fad".............

There is a major revolution out here where I am seeing vegans, vegetarians (of all kinds) and Paleo people joining together in the name of using food to heal the body without prescription meds that has detrimental side effects. It is a wonderful thing to see those that are for learning about super foods and even regular foods are healing our bodies.

unluckynomad

The thing is, they will never get on board with that because the corn, soy and wheat being subsidized is major, big, big business.

The majority of people would benefit from this way of eating, yet it keeps getting passed off as a "fad".............

There is a major revolution out here where I am seeing vegans, vegetarians (of all kinds) and Paleo people joining together in the name of using food to heal the body without prescription meds that has detrimental side effects. It is a wonderful thing to see those that are for learning about super foods and even regular foods are healing our bodies.

Yeah you're sadly right about that... All we can do is attempt to make sure our own families learn to look at all things before just jumping on a bandwagon. When I first started learning about Paleo/Primal eating I thought it was just a fad... then I started reading and understanding what people like Mark Sisson and Rob Wolfe were writing. My mother is a chemist so I grew up with a lot of her explaining chemical reactions and doubting the FDA due to the approval of Aspartame. It really made me analytical in regards to what I choose to ingest.
I'm not saying that I'm 100% perfect when it comes to following the Primal lifestyle, but I definitely am trying, and just trying gives me amazing health benefits already (Yay for non achey joints)!

Grokette

The thing is, they will never get on board with that because the corn, soy and wheat being subsidized is major, big, big business.

The majority of people would benefit from this way of eating, yet it keeps getting passed off as a "fad".............

There is a major revolution out here where I am seeing vegans, vegetarians (of all kinds) and Paleo people joining together in the name of using food to heal the body without prescription meds that has detrimental side effects. It is a wonderful thing to see those that are for learning about super foods and even regular foods are healing our bodies.

Yeah you're sadly right about that... All we can do is attempt to make sure our own families learn to look at all things before just jumping on a bandwagon. When I first started learning about Paleo/Primal eating I thought it was just a fad... then I started reading and understanding what people like Mark Sisson and Rob Wolfe were writing. My mother is a chemist so I grew up with a lot of her explaining chemical reactions and doubting the FDA due to the approval of Aspartame. It really made me analytical in regards to what I choose to ingest.
I'm not saying that I'm 100% perfect when it comes to following the Primal lifestyle, but I definitely am trying, and just trying gives me amazing health benefits already (Yay for non achey joints)!

Yes, a huge YAY, for no achey joints, better sleep and requiring less sleep, no gas or other digestive issues. No more dry skin or blemishes either!!!

Also, I am really glad to see someone else that doubts the "all knowing" FDA and USDA.

emchamberlain

As someone who was vegan for a few years, then vegetarian for 12 years, watching people passionately arguing for an all-meat diet is baffling. I'm not saying anyone's wrong or right, but it's kind of funny to see the opposite side argued just as hardcore as the vegans I knew!

Grokette

As someone who was vegan for a few years, then vegetarian for 12 years, watching people passionately arguing for an all-meat diet is baffling. I'm not saying anyone's wrong or right, but it's kind of funny to see the opposite side argued just as hardcore as the vegans I knew!

I am all for supporting vegetarians, vegans or meat eating human beings as long as they are getting their food sources from whole foods nourishment from local and sustainable sources.

I am a huge advocate of eating local and sustainable foods (meat, dairy, fruits and veggies) as much as possible. It is challenging to adjust to eating what is available in the local area in the winter time. Things are so plentiful in the summer, but not the winter.

caprica

As someone who was vegan for a few years, then vegetarian for 12 years, watching people passionately arguing for an all-meat diet is baffling. I'm not saying anyone's wrong or right, but it's kind of funny to see the opposite side argued just as hardcore as the vegans I knew!

umm, but paleo is not an all meat life style. A large portion of it is about eating copious amounts of fresh veg and fruit.

Paleo followers act more like a low carb zealots who eat fruit but shun starch and gluten.

It is kind of like a vegetarian that eats eggs and dairy products, or that even funnier type of self proclaimed vegetarian that eats fish and chicken ....

freerange

All meat diet????? EDUCATE YOURSELF before making statements like that, gee, some peoples kids.

Grokette

All meat diet????? EDUCATE YOURSELF before making statements like that, gee, some peoples kids.

Ha ha, get used to educating people. Since I had started Atkins in 2003 and then transitioned over to a more Paleo lifestyle I have had to educate many, many people on their statements.

Too many people just go with what the media says as Gold.