Let's talk about...the Paleo Diet

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Replies

  • PaleoPath4Lyfe
    PaleoPath4Lyfe Posts: 3,161 Member

    What grains can you eat that don't need to be processed to hell, except for rice?

    And dairy is allowed on Paleo / Primal as long as your body is tolerant to dairy, so it is very individual.

    Many people I know that eat Paleo and Primal eat white rice and some limited dairy.

    Really, how long have people been eating grains? Isn't whole wheat flour okay? Aren't oats a grain? Aren't they okay? How about Quinoa? Rye? Millet? Buckwheat? I was under the impression these were fairly good for you.

    I don't know. I suppose I'm old school. I grew up with grains being on the pyramid of the food groups we're supposed to eat. :)

    Yes you adhere to the food pyramid, the government really has your best interest at heart (cough) and have you noticed the more grains servings they have added to the food pyramid the fatter people get.

    The grains that are eaten today are in no shape or form the same grains that were eaten a hundred years ago, let alone thousands of years ago.

    Whole wheat flour, Rye, buckwheat and all other grains contain gluten, which causes me to have joint pain for days or sometimes weeks on end.

    Technically all grains contain some level of gluten, some more so than others. I stay away from grains for many reasons and staying pain free is one of them. As I previously mentioned, I had a blueberry bagel as a courteous gesture from our instructor that brought them to class last week, I have been aching in my bones and joints ever since to the point of being in tears at times.

    Millet and quinoa are seeds that I do not partake in.

    The only seeds I do eat are sunflower and pumpkin seed.
  • treetop57
    treetop57 Posts: 1,578 Member
    My brain hurts. I actually read the entire first page.

    /flex

    Now. Can someone explain what is a paleo diet in plain english. Please?

    How's this?
    What Is a Paleolithic Diet?
    The Paleolithic diet is also referred to as the caveman diet, Stone Age diet, and hunter–gatherer diet. This diet consists of foods that are assumed to have been available to humans prior to the establishment of agriculture. The Paleolithic period began approximately 2.5 million years ago, when humans first started to use stone tools. The period ended with the emergence of agriculture approximately 10,000 years ago. The principal components of this diet are wild-animal source and uncultivated-plant source foods, such as lean meat, fish, vegetables, fruits, roots, eggs, and nuts. The diet excludes grains, legumes, dairy products, salt, refined sugar, and processed oils, all of which were unavailable before humans began cultivating plants and domesticating animals. Observational studies of modern-day Paleolithic types of populations support a conclusion that a Paleolithic diet prevents obesity and metabolic syndrome. The main ingredient lacking in a Paleolithic diet is calcium, which must be supplemented to prevent bone mineral loss.

    The appeal of this diet is that, since the advent of agriculture and animal domestication approximately 10,000 years ago, there has been little time for significant evolution of core metabolic and physiological processes in response to the major dietary changes introduced by these new food-producing practices. Proponents of the Paleolithic diet believe that modern humans are genetically adapted to a Paleolithic diet and not to the current so-called civilized diet. They believe that the modern so-called civilized diet may lead to chronic diseases such as T2DM [Type 2 Diabetes], obesity, and cardiovascular disease, which are associated with societal affluence.2

    [Emphasis added.]
    http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2787021/?tool=pubmed
  • PaleoPath4Lyfe
    PaleoPath4Lyfe Posts: 3,161 Member


    Proteins and fats are macros.

    Lost it!

    You do know that "macro" is short for "macronutrient", right?

    Yes, I am very well aware that macro is short for macronutrient.

    I am talking about micronutrient density in foods, not the macronutrients, which are 2 different things to compare.
  • penrbrown
    penrbrown Posts: 2,685 Member
    Yes you adhere to the food pyramid, the government really has your best interest at heart (cough) and have you noticed the more grains servings they have added to the food pyramid the fatter people get.

    The grains that are eaten today are in no shape or form the same grains that were eaten a hundred years ago, let alone thousands of years ago.

    Whole wheat flour, Rye, buckwheat and all other grains contain gluten, which causes me to have joint pain for days or sometimes weeks on end.

    Technically all grains contain some level of gluten, some more so than others. I stay away from grains for many reasons and staying pain free is one of them. As I previously mentioned, I had a blueberry bagel as a courteous gesture from our instructor that brought them to class last week, I have been aching in my bones and joints ever since to the point of being in tears at times.

    Millet and quinoa are seeds that I do not partake in.

    The only seeds I do eat are sunflower and pumpkin seed.

    And oats? They are gluten-free my friend. I know. I'm allergic to wheat, barley and intolerant to gluten. :) Last I checked oats are considered a grain.

    Because gluten makes you sick doesn't mean it makes everyone sick. People who can eat grains and gluten have no reason NOT to eat grains and gluten really.
  • RonSwanson66
    RonSwanson66 Posts: 1,150 Member
    Dinosaur-Meat-11.jpg
  • penrbrown
    penrbrown Posts: 2,685 Member
    Dinosaur-Meat-11.jpg

    Waha! I want one... but it looks kind of expensive.
  • Sidesteal
    Sidesteal Posts: 5,510 Member
    SideSteal is one that claims science is on his side.

    When did I make this claim?
  • momof8munchkins
    momof8munchkins Posts: 1,167 Member
    wow all of this crazy.. and to what benefit?.. can't we all agree that healthy eating = natural food in the right portions-meaning food that closely resembles as possible what it was orginally created to be- good protein source, fruits, veggies, nuts, fats and yes carbs (gasp).. and also means eating to be satisfied not stuffed. if you want to eat refined grains everyday in abundance and don't have physical problems do so..no one is going to stop you. but let's not call things like pizza crust and food like it -normal mac and cheese- - donuts and other things made from white flour healthy.. I mean come on, even kids know this stuff is junk food. it's not healthy or important or essential since most grains have been genetically altered from their original state on planet earth. BUT do we want to eat it ..sure.. even most paleo/primal/grain free /low carbers -even if they are dogmatic will at some point comsume breads, pastas, desserts..it's all a matter of how they are made and what they are made out of.. is it essential to health no.. to well being maybe???
    the rest is all gravy- the spice of life..
  • fteale
    fteale Posts: 5,310 Member

    The WHO seems to think obesity is a rising problem.

    http://www.who.int/hpr/NPH/docs/gs_obesity.pdf

    So if processed foods aren't a good diet, what diet beats the paleo diet of more natural whole foods?

    Doesn't the Paleo diet cut out grains? Grains are natural. Doesn't it also cut out dairy? Isn't dairy natural?

    :) When I say processed, I mean food that has an ingredient list so long that it takes twenty minutes just to read it.

    Edited to Add: I will read your article later. Thank you for the link.

    What grains can you eat that don't need to be processed to hell, except for rice?

    And dairy is allowed on Paleo / Primal as long as your body is tolerant to dairy, so it is very individual.

    Many people I know that eat Paleo and Primal eat white rice and some limited dairy.

    And so processing = bad? So you don't use butter or oils at all?

    Or cook anything. Don't forgetting cooking. That's unnatural.
  • fteale
    fteale Posts: 5,310 Member
    My brain hurts. I actually read the entire first page.

    /flex

    Now. Can someone explain what is a paleo diet in plain english. Please?

    http://www.amazon.com/Primal-Body-Mind-Beyond-Health/dp/1594774137/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1331661239&sr=8-1

    Watch the video. It explains EVERYTHING!
  • funkycamper
    funkycamper Posts: 998 Member
    SideSteal named those three nutrients specifically even though only one, selenium, is probably in the pizza crust naturally and manganese only if the flour was enriched. Phosphorus that we can actually use doesn't even come from grains atll.

    So, yes, he did make a specific claim that turns out not to be true. I'd love to hear his thoughts on that and, of course, that bit of misinformation is going to make me skeptical of his other statements.

    That's fair if you're correct. Here's one of many examples that claim those nutrients exist in pizza crust but I'll be the first to admit that I'm no chef.

    http://www.livestrong.com/article/268575-nutritional-information-of-pizza/

    The point that I was trying to make, that I should have been clear on, is to differentiate at what point someone defines something as nutritionally void. I was pointing out that pizza crust contains nutrients/minerals. If I was incorrect about the specific minerals that I mentioned, I'd welcome you to correct it. The above link contains information on pizza crust but of course, you can certainly question the source if you'd like.

    As of now though, you have yet to do anything to prove my statement false.

    I never claimed pizza crust was devoid of minerals. Just that you listed such specific ones that are questionable in pizza dough per the National Institute of Health (or whatever it was called that I used). If you had not been so specific, I wouldn't even have bothered to respond to your post.

    I eat pizza a few times a month so I'm sure not anti-pizza. However, there is nothing in the crust that you need and can only get from pizza crust or other wheat-based foods. In fact, I'm still waiting for someone to tell me what nutrients you must eat wheat-based foods to get that you can't easily get elsewhere. No one has ever responded to that challenge. Even the most carb-positive folks.
  • fteale
    fteale Posts: 5,310 Member
    Yes you adhere to the food pyramid, the government really has your best interest at heart (cough) and have you noticed the more grains servings they have added to the food pyramid the fatter people get.

    The grains that are eaten today are in no shape or form the same grains that were eaten a hundred years ago, let alone thousands of years ago.

    Whole wheat flour, Rye, buckwheat and all other grains contain gluten, which causes me to have joint pain for days or sometimes weeks on end.

    Technically all grains contain some level of gluten, some more so than others. I stay away from grains for many reasons and staying pain free is one of them. As I previously mentioned, I had a blueberry bagel as a courteous gesture from our instructor that brought them to class last week, I have been aching in my bones and joints ever since to the point of being in tears at times.

    Millet and quinoa are seeds that I do not partake in.

    The only seeds I do eat are sunflower and pumpkin seed.

    And oats? They are gluten-free my friend. I know. I'm allergic to wheat, barley and intolerant to gluten. :) Last I checked oats are considered a grain.

    Because gluten makes you sick doesn't mean it makes everyone sick. People who can eat grains and gluten have no reason NOT to eat grains and gluten really.

    Ha! Now this one I can answer! Although oats are natural gluten free, they are almost always cross pollinated and therefore contaminated with wheat. You can buy uncontaminated oats that are grown in certified wheat free conditions (a certain number of miles from any wheat farms, or in sealed polytunnels). However, some people with coeliac disease also have a sensitivity to oats as well, so it is advised to introduce guaranteed uncontaminated oats into the diet slowly to check for any reaction.
  • LorinaLynn
    LorinaLynn Posts: 13,247 Member
    I never claimed pizza crust was devoid of minerals. Just that you listed such specific ones that are questionable in pizza dough per the National Institute of Health (or whatever it was called that I used). If you had not been so specific, I wouldn't even have bothered to respond to your post.

    I eat pizza a few times a month so I'm sure not anti-pizza. However, there is nothing in the crust that you need and can only get from pizza crust or other wheat-based foods. In fact, I'm still waiting for someone to tell me what nutrients you must eat wheat-based foods to get that you can't easily get elsewhere. No one has ever responded to that challenge. Even the most carb-positive folks.

    You didn't say it was void of nutrients, but another did.

    I'm sure not going to say that wheat is necessary. I know it's not, and I know people who can't eat it. But if one doesn't have an intolerance to it, I see no need to avoid it. It's not necessary... but I enjoy a lot of things in life that aren't purely necessary, like my car, computer, cell phone, and memory foam mattress topper. :smile:
  • RonSwanson66
    RonSwanson66 Posts: 1,150 Member

    You didn't say it was void of nutrients, but another did.

    I'm pretty sure it was the artist formerly known as Grokette.
  • penrbrown
    penrbrown Posts: 2,685 Member
    Actually... and I wish I had links to the articles I read... but recent research has shown that indeed oats are usually NOT cross contaminated. They are still perfectly okay for those with celiac... but you know how research goes. One day it's okay, the next it's not!

    Either way, it's a grain. I'm not sure why people who AREN'T afflicted with celiac's should avoid oats and if I'm reading correctly the Paleo diet requires avoidance of grains... which would include things such as oats and buckwheat (a seed) and quinoa (another seed)...

    I don't know. You just can't convince me those things are bad to NON-celiac sufferers.
  • Sidesteal
    Sidesteal Posts: 5,510 Member
    I never claimed pizza crust was devoid of minerals.

    I know that. Someone else did.
    Just that you listed such specific ones that are questionable in pizza dough per the National Institute of Health (or whatever it was called that I used). If you had not been so specific, I wouldn't even have bothered to respond to your post.

    Did you see the link I provided and can you tell me what is wrong about it, rather than just attacking my credibility?

    However, there is nothing in the crust that you need and can only get from pizza crust or other wheat-based foods.

    I agree. I also don't think it's necessary to eat pizza crust. But, I think pizza is delicious and that's enough of a reason for me to consume it.
  • grinch031
    grinch031 Posts: 1,679
    Yes you adhere to the food pyramid, the government really has your best interest at heart (cough) and have you noticed the more grains servings they have added to the food pyramid the fatter people get.

    The grains that are eaten today are in no shape or form the same grains that were eaten a hundred years ago, let alone thousands of years ago.

    Whole wheat flour, Rye, buckwheat and all other grains contain gluten, which causes me to have joint pain for days or sometimes weeks on end.

    Technically all grains contain some level of gluten, some more so than others. I stay away from grains for many reasons and staying pain free is one of them. As I previously mentioned, I had a blueberry bagel as a courteous gesture from our instructor that brought them to class last week, I have been aching in my bones and joints ever since to the point of being in tears at times.

    Millet and quinoa are seeds that I do not partake in.

    The only seeds I do eat are sunflower and pumpkin seed.

    And oats? They are gluten-free my friend. I know. I'm allergic to wheat, barley and intolerant to gluten. :) Last I checked oats are considered a grain.

    Because gluten makes you sick doesn't mean it makes everyone sick. People who can eat grains and gluten have no reason NOT to eat grains and gluten really.

    The reality is most people are told they are overweight/obese because they are gluttonous and eat too much, so they never find out that they might have intolerance to gluten or to carbs in general. I suspect that as things progress, we will find more and more people are negatively affected by eating grains. Much more than some tiny insignificant percentage of the population.
  • RonSwanson66
    RonSwanson66 Posts: 1,150 Member

    The reality is most people are told they are overweight/obese because they are gluttonous and eat too much, so they never find out that they might have intolerance to gluten or to carbs in general. I suspect that as things progress, we will find more and more people are negatively affected by eating grains. Much more than some tiny insignificant percentage of the population.

    I love how you make things up.
  • funkycamper
    funkycamper Posts: 998 Member
    I think the original intent of this thread was to discuss the merits of the diet from a scientific standpoint. Has any of this actually occurred yet?

    You-must-be-new-here.jpg

    :drinker: Perfect. I need to steal that one.
  • ArroganceInStep
    ArroganceInStep Posts: 6,239 Member
    bump for later...wow...just wow
  • fteale
    fteale Posts: 5,310 Member
    Actually... and I wish I had links to the articles I read... but recent research has shown that indeed oats are usually NOT cross contaminated. They are still perfectly okay for those with celiac... but you know how research goes. One day it's okay, the next it's not!

    Either way, it's a grain. I'm not sure why people who AREN'T afflicted with celiac's should avoid oats and if I'm reading correctly the Paleo diet requires avoidance of grains... which would include things such as oats and buckwheat (a seed) and quinoa (another seed)...

    I don't know. You just can't convince me those things are bad to NON-celiac sufferers.

    I am right with you on the non-coeliac thing. I see no reason not to eat grains in moderation. My housemate/lodger/friend has coeliac disease, though, so I am very very aware of what she can and can't eat and not to cross contaminate anything in my house, and she is not allowed regular oats at all. We are in the UK, it may be that it is different here, but people with coeliac disease can get specifically uncontaminated oats on prescription if they want them.
  • Drunkadelic
    Drunkadelic Posts: 948 Member
    You just can't convince me those things are bad to .....

    Exactly. No one on this thread it getting convinced of anything. So, what's the point again?
  • Isolt
    Isolt Posts: 70
    I never said pizza crust is nutritionally void. While I don't think it's full of good nutrition and believe there are far better choices, it does have something.

    My pizza crusts are certainly not nutritionally void....they're made out of ground chicken breast, ground cauliflower and mozzarella to bind them. They're rather lovely.

    Even when I ate wheat I hated pizza crusts and would just pull the toppings off them so I was prettty happy to find a recipe for a wheat-free alternative.
  • Resalyn
    Resalyn Posts: 528 Member
    bump
  • Anomalia
    Anomalia Posts: 506 Member
    Oh god... this **** is STILL going?!
  • funkycamper
    funkycamper Posts: 998 Member
    I never claimed pizza crust was devoid of minerals. Just that you listed such specific ones that are questionable in pizza dough per the National Institute of Health (or whatever it was called that I used). If you had not been so specific, I wouldn't even have bothered to respond to your post.

    I eat pizza a few times a month so I'm sure not anti-pizza. However, there is nothing in the crust that you need and can only get from pizza crust or other wheat-based foods. In fact, I'm still waiting for someone to tell me what nutrients you must eat wheat-based foods to get that you can't easily get elsewhere. No one has ever responded to that challenge. Even the most carb-positive folks.

    You didn't say it was void of nutrients, but another did.

    I'm sure not going to say that wheat is necessary. I know it's not, and I know people who can't eat it. But if one doesn't have an intolerance to it, I see no need to avoid it. It's not necessary... but I enjoy a lot of things in life that aren't purely necessary, like my car, computer, cell phone, and memory foam mattress topper. :smile:

    I totally agree. If someone doesn't have any kind of intolerance or other issues with it, eat away. I love the taste of high-carb foods. I'd choose to eat fresh baked bread over just anything else on the planet. And I do still do it sometimes. I just can't do it regularly or in large portions or I pay a big price for it as it makes me feel like crap in many ways if I overdo it.

    What I don't understand is why people feel a need to tell people that function and feel better without a diet heavy in carbs, that they're wrong or that they're doing something bad or themselves. Not saying you've done that but it seems to be the MO of a lot of people here at MFP.

    The only time I chime in and tell people I think they're doing something wrong is when they are on VLC diets because, well, been there, done it, and still trying to heal myself from the metabolic effects of it. And you are one of my inspirations for that, thank you! But I don't believe in telling people what they should specifically eat. Unless they ask for help and then I'll tell them that I've read or heard that they might want to try or that something worked for me but I really try avoid saying that my way is dogma except for the VLC diet discussions.
  • funkycamper
    funkycamper Posts: 998 Member
    I never claimed pizza crust was devoid of minerals.

    I know that. Someone else did.

    Just that you listed such specific ones that are questionable in pizza dough per the National Institute of Health (or whatever it was called that I used). If you had not been so specific, I wouldn't even have bothered to respond to your post.

    Did you see the link I provided and can you tell me what is wrong about it, rather than just attacking my credibility?

    However, there is nothing in the crust that you need and can only get from pizza crust or other wheat-based foods.

    I agree. I also don't think it's necessary to eat pizza crust. But, I think pizza is delicious and that's enough of a reason for me to consume it.

    Sigh...the links I provided told you what was wrong with your link. Is my link right and yours wrong? Heck, I really don't know for sure. While I think LiveStrong is a great website, I'm inclined to believe my link. YMMV.

    I love pizza, too, and that's what I eat it a few times a month. And while it does have some nutrition, I would never describe it as a nutrient-dense food.

    My question still stands: What nutrients does one get from wheat-based foods of any kind that can't be easily obtained from vegetables or proteins or healthy fats?
  • funkycamper
    funkycamper Posts: 998 Member

    The reality is most people are told they are overweight/obese because they are gluttonous and eat too much, so they never find out that they might have intolerance to gluten or to carbs in general. I suspect that as things progress, we will find more and more people are negatively affected by eating grains. Much more than some tiny insignificant percentage of the population.

    I love how you make things up.

    Well, I was told this.

    I went on Weight Watchers, weighed/measured/tracked everything that went into my mouth and either met or was a bit under WW's recommendation. That was years ago and I have no idea how it compares to more recent WW programs but, at the time, the diet was heavy in carbs. I was starving all the time due to blood sugar swings (although I didn't realize that was what it was at the time). Still I was determined and adhered to the program. I actually gained a bit of weight on it. IIRC, it was about 5# over 2 months. I was told by the WW folks and various friends/family that I must be lying and eating a lot more than I said I was.

    These types of accusations went on for years. It was very discouraging and really did negatively impact my self-esteem and confidence. I felt like a failure. I gained and gained and yet rarely consumed as much as others around me who weren't overweight. It was confusing and discouraging. In fact, my metabolism is a bit screwed up from years of VLC eating on a regular basis, with just occasional binges that weren't even much in the way of a binge but would leave my stomach hurting from eating what was a lot of food for me. I can't tell you how many times I would go off on day-long excursions with friends, many of who have always been slim (and none who exercise regularly) and they would eat 2-3x what I could eat during the day. They would say things to me like "why don't you just eat what you normally eat?" thinking I was purposely eating less in front of them. Not so. They might be hungry for dinner on the way home when I was still stuffed, sometimes very uncomfortably so, from lunch. And, quite often, my lunch was smaller than what they ate, both in quantity of food and in caloric content. Yeah, it was very discouraging.

    It wasn't until I embraced lower-carb eating that the weight started coming off. Without hunger, either. And I'm now working on raising my net calorie goals to repair my metabolism. It's working and I'm thrilled. However, I still have a hard time eating more and find that many times the only way I can eat enough to get in my calories is to eat calorie-dense treats. Since I zig-zag, this means that I must eat things like pizza, pasta, etc., at least once or twice a week just to get those calories up if I've eaten lower for a few days in a row. I just can't eat a lot of food at one time or enough calories in one day without adding in those types of foods. I'm not complaining. It's wonderful to enjoy splurge-food and still lose weight.

    But I still can't eat those types of calorie-dense, higher-carb foods on a regular basis or I feel like crap. Just crap. And I have time time it around exercise to alleviate those crappy-feeling symptoms.

    Anyway, yes, some of us have had friends, family, doctors, dietitians, etc., tell us for years that we must be closet gluttons when that was far from the truth.
  • RunLiftEat
    RunLiftEat Posts: 213 Member
    This thread has made my magic nose goblins commit suicide.
  • Here's the problem with throwing out anecdotal evidence in favor of science: While good science, done well is valid, what works well for one person doesn't always work well for another. Right now I am eating carbs, grains, etc. because the area I live in, combined with my financial situation makes it cheaper than following the paleo lifestyle. But for about a year I followed the Primal Blueprint way of eating (paleo based) and I felt better than I ever have, I lost a bunch of weight and gained muscle. Even my hair and skin looked and felt healthier. Should my economic situation improve, am I supposed to reject what works well for me because science says another way is better?

    It seems to me that the best way for everyone is to be willing to put in the time researching and trying different things, and settle for what works best for them regardless of which way the evidence skews towards either side. Additionally, it doesn't seem beneficial to constantly chuck rocks at people on the other side of the mountain.
This discussion has been closed.