Paleo v.s. Primal

AuntieKT

Good afternoon! I know that there are a lot of people out there that think both the paleo diet and the primal (Mark's Daily Apple) diet are bad and they don't agree with it. But then again there are a lot of people that think it is great. I have been somewhat following this kind of diet for a while now without even knowing it was a specific diet. I just felt good eating these kinds of foods. I was looking to make the transition into doing one of these two diets fully to try and "clean up" my eating a little bit. I plan on following this plan for the rest of my life as long as I continue to feel as good as I have been. My question is for the people that have been following either of these diets: which one is better? Or maybe, why did you pick the one you did? After reading up on them, these diets seem fairly similar and I just wanted some opinions from people who have actually been following these programs on what you thought.

Thank a lot!

-Katie

AuntieKT

Bump pretty please...

alaskaang

Basically the same principles with the exceptions of dairy is included in Primal and has the 80/20 suggestion where Paleo tends to be more strict. Which is better depends on how well you do with dairy and the 20%. Personally, I do better when I'm strict about it, but have been following just a gluten free plan lately. Planning to get back on track after New Years starting the Whole30 on the 2nd.

AuntieKT

Thank you! I already eat really minimal dairy, so I'm thinking this won't be a problem for me. Not that what others think of me should make a difference in how I choose to live my life, but I am a little worried about how obnoxious strictly following this diet is going to be in a social setting. Though I will do it if it ultimately makes me more healthy, deep inside I worry about becoming one of "those people" that everyone hates to go out to eat with.

Akimajuktuq

I eat primal because I haven't totally given up full fat dairy such as cream and cheese. However, I have definitely reduced my dairy and plan to move further and further towards paleo. I have cream and cheese because I love them, not because I think they are healthy. Unless one's dairy products are raw and unpasteurized, and even then I don't think cows milk was meant for humans or adults, I consider them unhealthy.

Even with the dairy that I still consume, I feel great, but I do get to wondering how much better it would be without it. Even though I quit grains and legumes immediately, gradually reducing is how I'm handling the dairy. Even primal suggests limiting dairy with the understanding that it is not an optimum food.

Edit: If you are affected by what people think of your eating plan, then both paleo and primal are difficult. There are many people who have made it their personal mission in life to fight against this lifestyle and ridicule people who choose it. I don't know why. I suspect it's a reaction to knowing that something is wrong in their own life.

I only eat at restaurants when I am on vacation and even one week of restaurant food makes me sick and gain weight. I suspect that many meats and veggies are "dredged" in flour and don't appear to be breaded. I found that out the hard way on my last vacation. Go to high quality restaurants and don't be afraid to ask how things are prepared and insist that your food is made the way you want it.

PitBullMom_Liz

I prefer primal because I enjoy cheese on some things, and heavy whipping cream in my coffee. And eating at restaurants on this eating plan is easy - every place has a menu option with some kind of meat and accompanying veggies.

AuntieKT

Thank you very much for the responses. You are making me feel a lot better about following this plan. I am the kind of person that likes to do everything perfectly and to not vary at all from 100% compliance. It is nice to know that maybe I should relax a little and just follow this plan however is right for me. I think I am going to cut out all grains, sugar, and as many processed foods as possible. With the dairy and beans, I think I might try cutting them out for a while and seeing how that makes me feel. If it is a huge improvement, then I will have my answer!

Taem2

When the authors of their diets don't follow them. When they sell their own brand of supplements, maybe it's time to ask if their diet is something they or others can actually follow. Here is a youtube video on them by a fruitarian.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8L10cNeABbA

In their own words...

Firefox7275

IME (work in lifestyle healthcare) how restrictive it is wise to be depends on your personal tastes - it's all very well giving up grains or dairy or indeed both but you must then be willing and able to eat plenty of foods that supply the same nutrients. Many people cannot or will not eat anything like enough canned oily fish with bones/ nuts/ seeds/ dark green leafy vegetables/ beans/ lentils (as applicable) to get a balanced diet.

meghanner

Primal also has more of an emphasis on fats, whereas Paleo is a bit more restrictive on fats. I eat a mostly primal diet that is dairy free. I don't think we were made to consume things made to fatten up baby animals and it doesn't agree with me.

Also be sure to source your meat and veggies to be local and organic when possible. The nutrient profile of grass fed beef in particular is vastly different from grain fed cattle

busywaterbending

hi,

we have a paleo group if you want to join.

doing the whole 30 carb cleanse in January

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/830358-january-2013