Paleo diet, crazy or worth it?

ETA - All diets exclude certain foods

How about a challenge? Try it for 30 days and then report any criticisms you may have.

Nobody is arguing that Paelo isn't better than eating crap all day like most people do. The point the critics are making is that my diet isn't any less healthy because I ate some corn and had a glass of milk.

^^ This. Exactly.

Really? You knocked Paleo without anything to back it up. I dont recall anyone knocking anyone elses diet. I read people pointing out the attributes of of Paleo.

Paleo excludes certain foods, which little other justification other than our ancestors didn't eat these foods.

The burden of proof lies with the individual making the claim. I don't have to justify eating a nutrient dense, non-processed, satiating, starchy vegetable like white potatoes as a carb source. But if you're going to assert that eating potatoes is harming me in some fashion, you're going to need to point to evidence stronger than a cartoon named "Grok."

ETA - All diets exclude certain foods

False. Every "diet" does not exclude certain foods. I don't exclude any foods. I eat everything in moderation. I happen to know and am friends with many people here on MFP who do this as well.

Personally, I would stay away from any sort of diet/lifestyle that cuts out a food completely (unless, of course there is some sort of intolerance). The likelihood of never eating dairy or grains again is pretty slim. Why not just clean up your diet (not OP you, just general) and eat in moderation or eat whole grains?

You ask "why not?"

I guess my question for you is, "why?"

Why do people insist that just because we *can* eat certain types of food that it is inevitable that we *should* eat them?

I was just genuinely curious. I'm not paleo, and never will be. It's fine if others are, I wouldn't knock it, but the OP asked about it so that was my answer.

Just because we can use cars, should we? They're dangerous and life threatening, yet not using them isn't really an option for most people. Same sort of situation. Not all change is bad. I'm not disagreeing that processed foods aren't healthy, but why cut out unprocessed foods (beans etc.) by that logic? That's all I'm saying. If paleo works for you, then that's awesome, but cutting out foods completely isn't for everyone.

How about a challenge? Try it for 30 days and then report any criticisms you may have.

Nobody is arguing that Paelo isn't better than eating crap all day like most people do. The point the critics are making is that my diet isn't any less healthy because I ate some corn and had a glass of milk.

^^ This. Exactly.

Really? You knocked Paleo without anything to back it up. I dont recall anyone knocking anyone elses diet. I read people pointing out the attributes of of Paleo.

Saying that it doesn't make sense to me is "knocking it?" If I offended you, then I apologize. Like I said in the beginning, I have some friends of mine (I mean real life friends, not MFP friends) who choose paleo. That's fine with me. All I ask is that people don't make false claims.

You didn't say "it doesn't make sense", you called it a fad. I'm not offended in the least, I'm not a fan of blanket criticism without fact.

Personally, I would stay away from any sort of diet/lifestyle that cuts out a food completely (unless, of course there is some sort of intolerance). The likelihood of never eating dairy or grains again is pretty slim. Why not just clean up your diet (not OP you, just general) and eat in moderation or eat whole grains?

You ask "why not?"

I guess my question for you is, "why?"

Why do people insist that just because we *can* eat certain types of food that it is inevitable that we *should* eat them?

I was just genuinely curious. I'm not paleo, and never will be. It's fine if others are, I wouldn't knock it, but the OP asked about it so that was my answer.

Just because we can use cars, should we? They're dangerous and life threatening, yet not using them isn't really an option for most people. Same sort of situation. Not all change is bad. I'm not disagreeing that processed foods aren't healthy, but why cut out unprocessed foods (beans etc.) by that logic? That's all I'm saying. If paleo works for you, then that's awesome, but cutting out foods completely isn't for everyone.

My CBA for using a car is decidedly B>C. For eating beans *for me personally*, B=C at best and perhaps B<C. (For eating wheat *for me personally*, definitely B<C.)

That makes sense! If it works for you, then keep at it!

Hard to give up toxic food (imo)?

This is the kind of comment that really makes me roll my eyes. The idea that grains, legumes, and dairy are "toxic" to humans is simply absurd. Eat what you want, but don't make false claims. It is only "toxic" if you have some sort of medical condition.

Did you miss the IMO in the brackets? Those foods ARE toxic for me and that's exactly what I said by saying "imo" (IN MY OPINION).

People like you make me roll my eyes. I wouldn't make a claim like that if my diet hadn't resolved a huge, long list of "medical conditions". Some of the minor health problems are things that most people live with every day and think of as "normal" because we've never been without it (gas and bloating for instance-no, not normal!). Some of the major health problems that were resolved were life-threatening. So, am I passionate about this topic? Damn right I am.

(Instead of being so dead-set against the "idea" that we have been misinformed about what is healthy and not, why don't you just TRY it for two weeks, then at least you can speak from experience.)

That may be true, but it still makes no sense to me, all that "grains causes cancer" business that they tout.

you have made up your mind ( or actually you keep it closed)

I have never heard the paleo crowd "tout" grains cause cancer.

I have read that some paleo followers believe that grains are not required and can cause more problems than they are worth regarding nuitritional benefit..

I dont think I am intolerant to grains but I cut them out as an experiment for my own curiosity and have found that I feel better, sleep better and maintain my fitness goals better without them. It also gives me more calories for foods I enjoy better than grains.

Its obvious you have never tried it but you sure enjoy bashing it. Thats fine but dont make stuff up to justify your closed mind.

That's interesting that you have missed what I have seen several times a week. I see them less as I have several paleo folks on ignore.

...Watch "Forks Over Knives" and you will see the link between food and disease....

It only works if you wear animal skins and use a flint tipped spear to hunt your meat.....

you also must discuss your hunting techniques over a broadband internet connection

It only works if you wear animal skins and use a flint tipped spear to hunt your meat.....

But seriously, the appeal of being a lean, sleek caveman aside, there are some good ideas to this approach - cutting out processed foods, eating leafy vegetables, etc. I just don't see that much difference between it and Atkins or Protein power.

The bottom line is, if something makes you eat better, it might be worthwhile, but I have found that cutting calories and exercise works just as well - if not better. I feel fruit and grains are part of a healthy diet for me.

My guess is that paleo man would have eaten anything he or she could get their hands on, LOL.

That may be true, but it still makes no sense to me, all that "grains causes cancer" business that they tout.

you have made up your mind ( or actually you keep it closed)

I have never heard the paleo crowd "tout" grains cause cancer.

I have read that some paleo followers believe that grains are not required and can cause more problems than they are worth regarding nuitritional benefit..

I dont think I am intolerant to grains but I cut them out as an experiment for my own curiosity and have found that I feel better, sleep better and maintain my fitness goals better without them. It also gives me more calories for foods I enjoy better than grains.

Its obvious you have never tried it but you sure enjoy bashing it. Thats fine but dont make stuff up to justify your closed mind.

That's interesting that you have missed what I have seen several times a week. I see them less as I have several paleo folks on ignore.

I'm having a hard time understanding why you would be commenting on this topic at all ? If you don't agree with Paleo then okay..but the OP I think is asking for legitimate pros and cons not continuous insults or arguing for the sake of arguing. Just a question.

Peanuts can not be consumed in their natural state. You can not dig up a peanut and pop it in your mouth and eat it like you can say almonds. You can eat RAW almonds.

Also, many Paleo people eat RAW dairy. This means they consume raw cheese, raw milk, butter made from raw cream, etc. Like milk a cow raw dairy.

That is what Paleo is. Eating for health and nutrition and eating foods that can be eaten in their natural state as well as cooked.