Let's talk about...the Paleo Diet

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Replies

  • Resalyn
    Resalyn Posts: 528 Member
    ACG67 - Love the chart, that is awesome. Made me LOL a couple times.....

    I've been following this thread off and on for a few days, trying to catch up when I have nothing better to do, which isn't as often as I would like. There is a lot of great information from both sides here. I guess my question is why do there even need to be "sides?" The Paleo think their way is best, the non-Paleos think differently - why doesn't everyone just realize that everyone is entitled to their opinion, beliefs.....whatever? "Why can't we all just get along?" (whined plaintively)

    I just don't understand the "show me the proof" mentality. I have gone the Paleo route off and on for years. I could care less what anyone else does, or what anyone else thinks of my way of eating. I know subjectively what works for me, and I know subjectively that I feel better when avoiding grains. Does that mean it will work for you? Maybe, maybe not. If someone asks about it, I usually direct them to various books or websites so they can do their OWN research and make their OWN choices.

    I do resent the many negative references to the "rabid Paleo people" (ok, paraphrased a little bit) - that is a generalization, and it just isn't true in many cases - mine included. Live and let live.....
  • LorinaLynn
    LorinaLynn Posts: 13,247 Member
    I eat Paleo style. I have no problems with it.

    I just eat a lot of extra stuff that isn't Paleo, too.
  • Resalyn
    Resalyn Posts: 528 Member
    I eat Paleo style. I have no problems with it.

    I just eat a lot of extra stuff that isn't Paleo, too.

    Ditto! I just had a banana with 1 tbsp peanut butter. Some think PB is the debbil. I say the debbil tastes good, LOL.....
  • momof8munchkins
    momof8munchkins Posts: 1,167 Member
    ACG67 - Love the chart, that is awesome. Made me LOL a couple times.....

    I've been following this thread off and on for a few days, trying to catch up when I have nothing better to do, which isn't as often as I would like. There is a lot of great information from both sides here. I guess my question is why do there even need to be "sides?" The Paleo think their way is best, the non-Paleos think differently - why doesn't everyone just realize that everyone is entitled to their opinion, beliefs.....whatever? "Why can't we all just get along?" (whined plaintively)

    I just don't understand the "show me the proof" mentality. I have gone the Paleo route off and on for years. I could care less what anyone else does, or what anyone else thinks of my way of eating. I know subjectively what works for me, and I know subjectively that I feel better when avoiding grains. Does that mean it will work for you? Maybe, maybe not. If someone asks about it, I usually direct them to various books or websites so they can do their OWN research and make their OWN choices.

    I do resent the many negative references to the "rabid Paleo people" (ok, paraphrased a little bit) - that is a generalization, and it just isn't true in many cases - mine included. Live and let live.....
    Agreed!
  • RonSwanson66
    RonSwanson66 Posts: 1,150 Member
    In my Paleo Facebook group

    Paleoman had facebook?
  • momof8munchkins
    momof8munchkins Posts: 1,167 Member
    I find it humorous that the narrow minded Paleo people (not all of them, just the narrow minded ones) love to talk about how the Paleo diet is superior, and go on and on about this ONE diet, like there was only one type of diet eaten by humans during the Paleolithic Era. There were probably hundreds of thousands of different "paleo diets," based on geographic location, time of year, specific period of the Era, etc. How do you decide which one was the best? It's not like the Paleolithic spans over 2.5 million years or anything...

    The dirty secret is that the Paleo diet is just a diet made up by some guy, and it's all marketing.

    It's not a bad diet, but it's Got nothing to do with Paleo anything.

    The Paleo lifestyle is a fancy way of saying Eat clean, natural foods - that is all. There are probably not 2 people that eat exactly alike.........

    In my Paleo Facebook group there is a woman that only eats raw ruminant meats, eggs and starches such as sweet potatoes. She is pretty anal about her eating. This is what works for her. Even though pictures of her meals with raw hamburger and a baked sweet potato do not look apetitizing to me.

    There are others that do a lot of baking and re-creating traditional muffins, cookies, cakes, etc in a so-called Paleo manner.

    There are some in my group that eat NO grains whatsoever. There are others that eat white rice as it has been deemed a "safe" starch..

    Some people include a lot of dairy, some just a bit and then there are others that eat no dairy at all.

    I eat pretty boring and simple, but it works for me. I stick to eating fats (mostly coconut oil and grass fed butter), eggs, grass fed beef, pastured pork, very little chicken and I do eat a lot of green vegetables. I eat minimal fruit and nuts. I also have some raw, local honey - which many say is not Paleo, but I find it hard to believe that they didn't find honey from time to time.


    Paleo isn't a set plan...............it is more of a template for people to experiment and find what works for their bodies. The meal plans vary greatly from person to person.
    Thank you!.. This is a lot of what I was going to say but figured those that are against this way of eating already have their minds made up , so why bother.. they have a pre-conceived notion that Paleo is all meat, extremely low carbs , deprivation-never again getting to eat food you like and living on boring meals- only if you let it be!
  • ArroganceInStep
    ArroganceInStep Posts: 6,239 Member
    ACG67 - Love the chart, that is awesome. Made me LOL a couple times.....

    I've been following this thread off and on for a few days, trying to catch up when I have nothing better to do, which isn't as often as I would like. There is a lot of great information from both sides here. I guess my question is why do there even need to be "sides?" The Paleo think their way is best, the non-Paleos think differently - why doesn't everyone just realize that everyone is entitled to their opinion, beliefs.....whatever? "Why can't we all just get along?" (whined plaintively)

    I just don't understand the "show me the proof" mentality. I have gone the Paleo route off and on for years. I could care less what anyone else does, or what anyone else thinks of my way of eating. I know subjectively what works for me, and I know subjectively that I feel better when avoiding grains. Does that mean it will work for you? Maybe, maybe not. If someone asks about it, I usually direct them to various books or websites so they can do their OWN research and make their OWN choices.

    I do resent the many negative references to the "rabid Paleo people" (ok, paraphrased a little bit) - that is a generalization, and it just isn't true in many cases - mine included. Live and let live.....

    My doctor wrote the book 'the Perfect 10 diet'. It's pretty hardcore, only whole natural foods, careful of free radicals, etc etc etc. I read it, and found he did have some decent points. I try to follow some aspects of the diet, but am not as strict as he is (it's just not practical in my lifestyle). As of right now I'm not convinced that Paleo is better for me than a 'non-Paleo' diet that gets comparable nutrients. If I were to see studies that proved me wrong in this regard, I would take more steps to align my diet with the Paleo paradigm (to Nature's comment of eating clean, natural foods...I already try to do that to some extent, I just think I would try to do that even more so), as I did with the Perfect 10 diet.

    I think seeing those studies BEFORE changing a diet you've had success in can be important. Ultimately you do need to try things yourself, but it's nice to see some evidence supporting it initially. I'm open-minded and have changed small details of how I lift weights to try to improve my form, but you had better show me some DAMN good studies before I add shake weights to my routine (note: I'm not saying Paleo is anything like shake weights, I just find the concept hilarious and wanted to reference it...deal with it).
  • tigersword
    tigersword Posts: 8,059 Member
    I find it humorous that the narrow minded Paleo people (not all of them, just the narrow minded ones) love to talk about how the Paleo diet is superior, and go on and on about this ONE diet, like there was only one type of diet eaten by humans during the Paleolithic Era. There were probably hundreds of thousands of different "paleo diets," based on geographic location, time of year, specific period of the Era, etc. How do you decide which one was the best? It's not like the Paleolithic spans over 2.5 million years or anything...

    The dirty secret is that the Paleo diet is just a diet made up by some guy, and it's all marketing.

    It's not a bad diet, but it's Got nothing to do with Paleo anything.

    The Paleo lifestyle is a fancy way of saying Eat clean, natural foods - that is all. There are probably not 2 people that eat exactly alike.........

    In my Paleo Facebook group there is a woman that only eats raw ruminant meats, eggs and starches such as sweet potatoes. She is pretty anal about her eating. This is what works for her. Even though pictures of her meals with raw hamburger and a baked sweet potato do not look apetitizing to me.

    There are others that do a lot of baking and re-creating traditional muffins, cookies, cakes, etc in a so-called Paleo manner.

    There are some in my group that eat NO grains whatsoever. There are others that eat white rice as it has been deemed a "safe" starch..

    Some people include a lot of dairy, some just a bit and then there are others that eat no dairy at all.

    I eat pretty boring and simple, but it works for me. I stick to eating fats (mostly coconut oil and grass fed butter), eggs, grass fed beef, pastured pork, very little chicken and I do eat a lot of green vegetables. I eat minimal fruit and nuts. I also have some raw, local honey - which many say is not Paleo, but I find it hard to believe that they didn't find honey from time to time.


    Paleo isn't a set plan...............it is more of a template for people to experiment and find what works for their bodies. The meal plans vary greatly from person to person.
    That's exactly my point.
  • AbiNichole
    AbiNichole Posts: 300 Member
    TLDR... but I skimmed it. Interesting stuff. OP- I commend you for taking the time and energy to research this fully.

    Everyone knows that diets are always perpetuated by personal anecdotes, popular opinion, and money/ advertising.

    That being said I offer this advice to everyone-
    1.) Take everything with a grain of salt when it comes to new fade diets.
    2.) Research them for yourself and use your own judgement. Don't blindly follow ANYTHING
    3.) Lighten up! Don't let diets and research become your life. Trail and error man. Live a little. :flowerforyou:
  • freerange
    freerange Posts: 1,722 Member


    And that was what this post was about, what backing does the claim that the Paleo diet is the diet for optimal health actually have? Obviously when you say mind and body, the Paleo diet does nothing for reading comprehension.

    Who is the one that had their mind already made up? You want to believe that fat loss is greater on low carb diets so you just ignored my rebuttal to your assertion that there are "some" studies that do in fact show that.

    DId not ignore, just discounted it. I know what has worked for me, I know what has worked for others. I know which studies I trust. I know there is a study where a guy ate nothing but twinkies and lost weight, to me and many others it's not about losing weight, it's about health.
  • freerange
    freerange Posts: 1,722 Member
    paleo_NicoleVoelzke.png

    This from someone that is just "looking for answers" LOL now do I really need to go back and read the original post? I think not, I had you pegged from the start, that is why my first post was, yawn.
  • tigersword
    tigersword Posts: 8,059 Member


    And that was what this post was about, what backing does the claim that the Paleo diet is the diet for optimal health actually have? Obviously when you say mind and body, the Paleo diet does nothing for reading comprehension.

    Who is the one that had their mind already made up? You want to believe that fat loss is greater on low carb diets so you just ignored my rebuttal to your assertion that there are "some" studies that do in fact show that.

    DId not ignore, just discounted it. I know what has worked for me, I know what has worked for others. I know which studies I trust. I know there is a study where a guy ate nothing but twinkies and lost weight, to me and many others it's not about losing weight, it's about health.
    So you just choose to ignore that the Twinkie Diet guy's health improved? All of his health numbers improved just like every diet that has been studied.
  • freerange
    freerange Posts: 1,722 Member
    Thousands of people that live paleo, compared to the BILLIONS that don't and are healthy. Yeah, you might want to rethink that argument.

    Really billions? So since there is only 300 mil (rounded) in america, where are all these Billions of healthy people. China? Hardly, India? Nope, just where are these healthy people. America is in a health crisis, thanks to the FDA "approved" diet, most of the third world is dying, because of the grain based "relief" food they eat.

    And just how many humans lived and died up until some 10k years ago, I think history is on my side. But thanks for playing
  • freerange
    freerange Posts: 1,722 Member


    And that was what this post was about, what backing does the claim that the Paleo diet is the diet for optimal health actually have? Obviously when you say mind and body, the Paleo diet does nothing for reading comprehension.

    Who is the one that had their mind already made up? You want to believe that fat loss is greater on low carb diets so you just ignored my rebuttal to your assertion that there are "some" studies that do in fact show that.

    DId not ignore, just discounted it. I know what has worked for me, I know what has worked for others. I know which studies I trust. I know there is a study where a guy ate nothing but twinkies and lost weight, to me and many others it's not about losing weight, it's about health.
    So you just choose to ignore that the Twinkie Diet guy's health improved? All of his health numbers improved just like every diet that has been studied.

    GO ahead and believe it's a healthy diet, in fact just go ahead and make that your diet for the next 10 years, and get back to me on how that works for you. LOL
  • Acg67
    Acg67 Posts: 12,142 Member


    And that was what this post was about, what backing does the claim that the Paleo diet is the diet for optimal health actually have? Obviously when you say mind and body, the Paleo diet does nothing for reading comprehension.

    Who is the one that had their mind already made up? You want to believe that fat loss is greater on low carb diets so you just ignored my rebuttal to your assertion that there are "some" studies that do in fact show that.

    DId not ignore, just discounted it. I know what has worked for me, I know what has worked for others. I know which studies I trust. I know there is a study where a guy ate nothing but twinkies and lost weight, to me and many others it's not about losing weight, it's about health.

    So discount things that disagree with your personal experiences? Funny you should call others narrow minded.
  • freerange
    freerange Posts: 1,722 Member

    You're the one who is very narrow minded.

    If you don't want to listen to the THOUSANDS of people who have changed their diet to more closely relate to the "paleo" diet, that is on you, if you are so marrow minded that you have to have a study done for years, by FDA approved method, have fun. We will enjoy optimal health, of both mind and body, while you search out the latest "study"
    Once again, how is eating Paleo any better than a traditional diet?

    And I don't care about how others "changed" their diets. I changed my diet too, but I am not touting that a high carb and a high protein intake will save the world.
    [/quote]

    SO finding something that works and sticking to it is narrow minded these days? So you must assume I came out of the womb and decided Paleo is best and I will not try anything else. Great deduction there Watson. You must assume I have never read anything and have only took advice from one person. I really appreciate your evaluation of me, next time I have trouble deciding how to act, I will give you a call so you can tell me how to behave LOL.
  • freerange
    freerange Posts: 1,722 Member


    And I don't care about how others "changed" their diets. I changed my diet too, but I am not touting that a high carb and a high protein intake will save the world.

    Thats good, because it's that exact diet that is killing the world.
  • tigersword
    tigersword Posts: 8,059 Member
    You really love building straw man arguments, don't you? Don't you even see how you saying that it works for you so it must be the best, studies and actual science be damned, is hypocritical? Considering you're going out of your way to tell everyone who is successful and healthy on a different diet that they are wrong? I never said anything about the Twinkie Diet being long term, I said his health markers improved, just like anyone losing 30 pounds on ANY style of diet.

    And again, which Paleo diet are you referring to when you refer to the people who lived and died to put history on your side? There were hundreds of thousands of diet variations over the paleolithic time period, based on the exact period, geographic location, and technological level of the people in question. So, exactly which one supports your theory, so we can reject the other thousands that probably don't support your viewpoint?
  • freerange
    freerange Posts: 1,722 Member
    So what did you have for breakfast, lunch, and what did you eat with your meat for dinner? I'm telling you right her and now, without even knowing your diet at the time, IT WAS NOT THE MEAT YOU ATE THAT MADE YOU GAIN 30 pounds, period.

    If I actually cared what you thought, I would prove my point by eating enough meat that I gained weight, which I can definitely do. Meat isn't the only thing that contributed to my weight gain, yes, but it was one component. Overeating is what made me gain weight, and I can do that on a Paleo diet too, regardless of what you might think.

    But you would not answer a simple question, what did you eat other than meat?
  • callmeBAM
    callmeBAM Posts: 445 Member
    I'm still perplexed why people want to follow a "diet" whose practitioners barely ever survived into their 30's. . . . . .

    Jesus died in his 30's.
  • freerange
    freerange Posts: 1,722 Member
    You really love building straw man arguments, don't you? Don't you even see how you saying that it works for you so it must be the best, studies and actual science be damned, is hypocritical? Considering you're going out of your way to tell everyone who is successful and healthy on a different diet that they are wrong? I never said anything about the Twinkie Diet being long term, I said his health markers improved, just like anyone losing 30 pounds on ANY style of diet.

    And again, which Paleo diet are you referring to when you refer to the people who lived and died to put history on your side? There were hundreds of thousands of diet variations over the paleolithic time period, based on the exact period, geographic location, and technological level of the people in question. So, exactly which one supports your theory, so we can reject the other thousands that probably don't support your viewpoint?

    no strawman. I never said science be dammed, never, never, never. I FACT paleo is all about science. Never said paleo is better, but to put your mind at ease I will say it now, it is better. and which paleo am I talking about, all of them. there are many aspects in common with paleolithic man, one being they did not eat grain on a large scale basis, another being they did not consume dairy on a large scale basis.

    Back to science, I can see where you might confuse me saying I don't jump when someone says "study" as meaning I'm against science. One with little reading ability could make that mistake. There have been many "studies" over the years touting this diet, or this pill, or whatever, and over time they all turn out to be wrong. Fat is not the boggy man "they" said/say it is, red meat is not the cause of heart disease as "they" said it was.
  • tigersword
    tigersword Posts: 8,059 Member
    DId not ignore, just discounted it. I know what has worked for me, I know what has worked for others. I know which studies I trust.

    You said it. How do you decide which studies to trust? Is it because they agree with your point of view? I've read dozens of studies, and have yet to find one that shows any specific diet having any long term superiority in terms of health and nutrition.
  • SarahSwimmer
    SarahSwimmer Posts: 125 Member
    So, after several days of this, I'm getting that there are not many empirical controled studies for a Paleo vs. Any Other diet. Am I correct?
  • almc170
    almc170 Posts: 1,093 Member
    So, after several days of this, I'm getting that there are not many empirical controled studies for a Paleo vs. Any Other diet. Am I correct?
    That's my take on it, too
  • freerange
    freerange Posts: 1,722 Member
    DId not ignore, just discounted it. I know what has worked for me, I know what has worked for others. I know which studies I trust.

    You said it. How do you decide which studies to trust? Is it because they agree with your point of view? I've read dozens of studies, and have yet to find one that shows any specific diet having any long term superiority in terms of health and nutrition.

    Glad we finally agree.
  • ArroganceInStep
    ArroganceInStep Posts: 6,239 Member
    So what did you have for breakfast, lunch, and what did you eat with your meat for dinner? I'm telling you right her and now, without even knowing your diet at the time, IT WAS NOT THE MEAT YOU ATE THAT MADE YOU GAIN 30 pounds, period.

    If I actually cared what you thought, I would prove my point by eating enough meat that I gained weight, which I can definitely do. Meat isn't the only thing that contributed to my weight gain, yes, but it was one component. Overeating is what made me gain weight, and I can do that on a Paleo diet too, regardless of what you might think.

    But you would not answer a simple question, what did you eat other than meat?

    You're right, I did eat other things other than meat. But it's not exclusively the piece of bread's fault, it's the combined calorie count of ALL the food that I ate, including the stuff that is condoned on a Paleo diet. The point I'm trying to make is that it's still possible to eat in such a way that you gain weight on a Paleo diet. Didn't realize I spoke that cryptically.
  • _Bob_
    _Bob_ Posts: 1,487 Member
    You know, wasn't the lifespan of a caveman something ridiculously low like 30 years old?

    I'm not sure I want to follow that diet...

    I've made it to 35. and yes I am living proof that they cave men didn't die off we were bred into the general population :p

    that being said there are many different body types and there is not any one diet that will work for everyone. I'm thinking of trying it
  • freerange
    freerange Posts: 1,722 Member
    So what did you have for breakfast, lunch, and what did you eat with your meat for dinner? I'm telling you right her and now, without even knowing your diet at the time, IT WAS NOT THE MEAT YOU ATE THAT MADE YOU GAIN 30 pounds, period.

    If I actually cared what you thought, I would prove my point by eating enough meat that I gained weight, which I can definitely do. Meat isn't the only thing that contributed to my weight gain, yes, but it was one component. Overeating is what made me gain weight, and I can do that on a Paleo diet too, regardless of what you might think.

    But you would not answer a simple question, what did you eat other than meat?

    You're right, I did eat other things other than meat. But it's not exclusively the piece of bread's fault, it's the combined calorie count of ALL the food that I ate, including the stuff that is condoned on a Paleo diet. The point I'm trying to make is that it's still possible to eat in such a way that you gain weight on a Paleo diet. Didn't realize I spoke that cryptically.

    And your point is? Everyone knows if you eat 10k calories a day you're going to gain weight, that has nothing to do with paleo, you only brought it up in a feeble attempt to make it look like paleo is the same as anything else, and it's not. people that follow paleo tend to not over eat, you may be an exception, people that follow paleo tend to be satiated with less, you may be an exception.
  • ElPumaMex
    ElPumaMex Posts: 367 Member
    So, after several days of this, I'm getting that there are not many empirical controled studies for a Paleo vs. Any Other diet. Am I correct?
    That's my take on it, too

    Have you read this article from the UC San Francisco school of Medicine?

    http://www.yaboga.com/paleo-metabolic.pdf

    Pretty good one !

    MyFitnessPal STAFF - This post has been hijacked because of numerous guideline violations. The OP's original statement has been argued out and has now derailed into an insult and attack thread. We encourage spirited arguments but personal attacks and or insults including stereotypes will not be tolerated. Thank you.

    Scott
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  • tigersword
    tigersword Posts: 8,059 Member
    DId not ignore, just discounted it. I know what has worked for me, I know what has worked for others. I know which studies I trust.

    You said it. How do you decide which studies to trust? Is it because they agree with your point of view? I've read dozens of studies, and have yet to find one that shows any specific diet having any long term superiority in terms of health and nutrition.

    Glad we finally agree.
    Agree on what? You're insisting that Paleo is superior, I'm explaining that there is no one superior diet.

    Or are you agreeing with my assessment that you only cherry pick data that fits your preconceived ideas and then claim those are the only trustworthy sources?
This discussion has been closed.