Someone explain why we shouldn't eat legumes

24

Replies

  • Akimajuktuq
    Akimajuktuq Posts: 3,037 Member
    Ok, so I can see the reasoning behind eliminating grains and dairy, but I don't understand why eating lentils and beans would lead to negative health consequences. Someone who has gone paleo, please explain. I am curious.

    It doesn't matter whether one eats Paleo or not, they will not be able to explain with anything other than "a book or blog told me so".

    Statistically, the two healthiest diets (more people following them long term have good health) are vegetarian and Mediterranean. Both of those typically feature a lot of legumes. That one statistic alone argues they are not “unhealthy”.

    And there simply is no scientific evidence to prove otherwise.

    Wrong, wrong, and wrong.

    A vegetarian is the healthiest diet? Why am I even responding to this....
  • EatingWellToo
    EatingWellToo Posts: 21 Member
    Our "ancestors" also had not achieved our level of brain evolution .... I believe there is a correlation between brain size/function and the commencement of human agriculture? Perhaps they also lived a hard-scrabble life of running after food instead of sitting in front of the tube over-consuming empty calories, or sitting in traffic breathing car exhaust. I would eat away on the legumes - a cup a day if you can do it! I'm a healthy small-boned 56, 5' 6", 130 pounds and I love my legume. They have helped me reduce blood sugar (A1C) and LDL cholesterol. While most diet regimes contain some good info, they are all fads; it's best not to be religious about any of them.
  • bcattoes
    bcattoes Posts: 17,299 Member
    Ok, so I can see the reasoning behind eliminating grains and dairy, but I don't understand why eating lentils and beans would lead to negative health consequences. Someone who has gone paleo, please explain. I am curious.

    It doesn't matter whether one eats Paleo or not, they will not be able to explain with anything other than "a book or blog told me so".

    Statistically, the two healthiest diets (more people following them long term have good health) are vegetarian and Mediterranean. Both of those typically feature a lot of legumes. That one statistic alone argues they are not “unhealthy”.

    And there simply is no scientific evidence to prove otherwise.

    Wrong, wrong, and wrong.

    A vegetarian is the healthiest diet? Why am I even responding to this....

    I don't know why you do things, but statistically, yes it is. That is not wrong and is easily verified.

    Now, statistics are just that, and do not mean this is the healthiest diet for everyone. But it does mean that it's not an "unhealthy diet" in general.
  • Athijade
    Athijade Posts: 3,300 Member
    If you wanted Paleo only answers then you should join one of their hundreds of groups. Then you wouldn't have to hear answers that do not agree with your lifestyle. Because there is no real reason to stay away from legumes besides the fact that some random person decided they wanted to market a diet.
  • jrcrmr
    jrcrmr Posts: 31 Member
    Ok, so I can see the reasoning behind eliminating grains and dairy, but I don't understand why eating lentils and beans would lead to negative health consequences. Someone who has gone paleo, please explain. I am curious.

    It doesn't matter whether one eats Paleo or not, they will not be able to explain with anything other than "a book or blog told me so".

    Statistically, the two healthiest diets (more people following them long term have good health) are vegetarian and Mediterranean. Both of those typically feature a lot of legumes. That one statistic alone argues they are not “unhealthy”.

    And there simply is no scientific evidence to prove otherwise.

    Wrong, wrong, and wrong.

    A vegetarian is the healthiest diet? Why am I even responding to this....

    I don't know why you do things, but statistically, yes it is. That is not wrong and is easily verified.

    Now, statistics are just that, and do not mean this is the healthiest diet for everyone. But it does mean that it's not an "unhealthy diet" in general.

    "statistics can prove anything, forty percent of people know that"
  • mmipanda
    mmipanda Posts: 351 Member
    Paleo diet isn't for everyone, they tell you what you should and shouldn't eat, but they forget to mention their very own "re-feed" day, where they'll usually "cheat" or pig-out high amounts of complex carbs to sustain them till the next week where they can have a cheat day again.
    um..................... what?
  • monbot
    monbot Posts: 97 Member
    Ok, so I can see the reasoning behind eliminating grains and dairy, but I don't understand why eating lentils and beans would lead to negative health consequences. Someone who has gone paleo, please explain. I am curious.

    It doesn't matter whether one eats Paleo or not, they will not be able to explain with anything other than "a book or blog told me so".

    Statistically, the two healthiest diets (more people following them long term have good health) are vegetarian and Mediterranean. Both of those typically feature a lot of legumes. That one statistic alone argues they are not “unhealthy”.

    And there simply is no scientific evidence to prove otherwise.

    Wrong, wrong, and wrong.

    A vegetarian is the healthiest diet? Why am I even responding to this....

    I don't know why you do things, but statistically, yes it is. That is not wrong and is easily verified.

    Now, statistics are just that, and do not mean this is the healthiest diet for everyone. But it does mean that it's not an "unhealthy diet" in general.

    "statistics can prove anything, forty percent of people know that"

    I'm not vegetarian at all, but I read something about this a while ago; http://www.peta.org/living/companion-animals/vegetarian-cats-dogs/

    ETA: I'm only really mentioning the worlds oldest dog. Didn't realise the article went on so much. Oh PETA, you did it again.
  • FredDoyle
    FredDoyle Posts: 2,273 Member
    Ok, so I can see the reasoning behind eliminating grains and dairy, but I don't understand why eating lentils and beans would lead to negative health consequences. Someone who has gone paleo, please explain. I am curious.

    It doesn't matter whether one eats Paleo or not, they will not be able to explain with anything other than "a book or blog told me so".

    Statistically, the two healthiest diets (more people following them long term have good health) are vegetarian and Mediterranean. Both of those typically feature a lot of legumes. That one statistic alone argues they are not “unhealthy”.

    And there simply is no scientific evidence to prove otherwise.

    Wrong, wrong, and wrong.

    A vegetarian is the healthiest diet? Why am I even responding to this....

    I don't know why you do things, but statistically, yes it is. That is not wrong and is easily verified.

    Now, statistics are just that, and do not mean this is the healthiest diet for everyone. But it does mean that it's not an "unhealthy diet" in general.

    "statistics can prove anything, forty percent of people know that"

    I'm not vegetarian at all, but I read something about this a while ago;

    ETA: I'm only really mentioning the worlds oldest dog. Didn't realise the article went on so much. Oh PETA, you did it again.
    Yes, PETA can be safely ignored until they show any repeatable science that we can use that is not emotionally or politically charged.
  • Carnivor0us
    Carnivor0us Posts: 1,752 Member
    Legumes and grains are high in phytates which make them not only hard to digest but they also bind to other nutrients like magnesium, iron, and calcium rendering them useless to your body.

    "Phytic acid is the principal storage form of phosphorus in many plant tissues, especially the bran portion of grains and other seeds. It contains the mineral phosphorus tightly bound in a snowflake-like molecule. In humans and animals with one stomach, the phosphorus is not readily bioavailable. In addition to blocking phosphorus availability, the “arms” of the phytic acid molecule readily bind with other minerals, such as calcium, magnesium, iron and zinc, making them unavailable as well. In this form, the compound is referred to as phytate.

    Phytic acid not only grabs on to or chelates important minerals, but also inhibits enzymes that we need to digest our food, including pepsin,1 needed for the breakdown of proteins in the stomach, and amylase,2 needed for the breakdown of starch into sugar. Trypsin, needed for protein digestion in the small intestine, is also inhibited by phytates.3" -Weston A. Price Foundation

    If you find you are not sensitive to grains and legumes then by all means eat them however, you should ensure that you soak, sour or sprout them prior to consumption to help neutralize the phytic acid content and make them more digestible. Many people have turned to the paleo/primal or traditional foods lifestyles because they are trying to heal gut and body inflammation which is triggered by grains, legumes, soy, and pasteurized dairy. Its not a lifestyle for everyone, I have become mostly pain free from following a traditional food lifestyle and using food as medicine rather than popping pills. Healing starts from within. It may not be the choice others in this thread have chosen but we all have our own path to walk and no one should be mocked or put down for the choices they make to better their bodies :)

    Does turning peanuts into delicious, creamy butter count as neutralizing phytates?
  • Mr_Knight
    Mr_Knight Posts: 9,532 Member
    Ok, so I can see the reasoning behind eliminating grains and dairy, but I don't understand why eating lentils and beans would lead to negative health consequences.

    Short answer: it doesn't.

    Ditto for dairy and grains. Especially grains, as we evolved eating those directly.
  • smc864
    smc864 Posts: 570 Member
    I don't eat Paleo but I did watch a lecture about it on YouTube... it was by the author of The Paleo Manifesto.

    He said that we should not eat legumes because they are the seeds of the plant. Why not eat the seeds you ask? Because according to him and other paleo peeps, seeds of plants contain toxins to ward off animals from eating them. By eating these seeds with trace amounts of toxins overtime you build them up in your system.

    He gave some examples of seeds that humans have modified through agriculture and plant breeding or something, to make them not toxic to humans anymore. I think one example he gave was cucumber, if I remember correctly.
  • wilsoje74
    wilsoje74 Posts: 1,720 Member
    That is interesting, because I cannot understand the reasoning behind cutting out grains or dairy.

    This!!!
  • Carnivor0us
    Carnivor0us Posts: 1,752 Member
    That is interesting, because I cannot understand the reasoning behind cutting out grains or dairy.

    This!!!

    I could say the same about meat.
  • ldrosophila
    ldrosophila Posts: 7,512 Member
    I don't eat Paleo but I did watch a lecture about it on YouTube... it was by the author of The Paleo Manifesto.

    He said that we should not eat legumes because they are the seeds of the plant. Why not eat the seeds you ask? Because according to him and other paleo peeps, seeds of plants contain toxins to ward off animals from eating them. By eating these seeds with trace amounts of toxins overtime you build them up in your system.

    He gave some examples of seeds that humans have modified through agriculture and plant breeding or something, to make them not toxic to humans anymore. I think one example he gave was cucumber, if I remember correctly.

    pounds head on desk, just rhetorical question not directed at you, then why did plants evolve seeds to be passed through the gut? Hasnt he ever wondered what those little black and brown seed looking things were 3 days after eating watermelon and corn?

    If this was true then how come little civets do quite well eating coffee beans? Chimpanzees plant whole forests after a fruit and vegetable buffet. Just wow just wow and there is no talking common sense. Guess that thing we call a liver is useless.

    I'd even go as far as to say that after tubers or first real source of starches was from legumes.
  • trisH_7183
    trisH_7183 Posts: 1,486 Member
    I love beans added to soups,salads or as a side dish.

    Can't believe any food plan would ban them.
  • ktsimons
    ktsimons Posts: 294 Member
    I don't eat Paleo but I did watch a lecture about it on YouTube... it was by the author of The Paleo Manifesto.

    He said that we should not eat legumes because they are the seeds of the plant. Why not eat the seeds you ask? Because according to him and other paleo peeps, seeds of plants contain toxins to ward off animals from eating them. By eating these seeds with trace amounts of toxins overtime you build them up in your system.

    He gave some examples of seeds that humans have modified through agriculture and plant breeding or something, to make them not toxic to humans anymore. I think one example he gave was cucumber, if I remember correctly.

    Hence the farting issue - beans contain lectins - an acid that for some folks is nearly impossible to digest properly. You shouldn't bloat up or fart or become constipated or suffer the runs because of the food you eat. If you do, then it is quite likely you have a sensitivity to that food. Personally, I can eat lentils, but most beans and peanuts (which are NOT nuts) KILL ME! Why eat something that makes me hurt when there are other things just as good tasting.

    If you can eat beans and legumes with no physical side effects, then IIFYM eat it - if you bloat and ache afterward, maybe try something else!
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  • ktsimons
    ktsimons Posts: 294 Member

    The very first line of that makes me rage:

    "Recently my boyfriend has been straying from his normal Paleo ways because he feels that grain-laden cookies are more important than his overall health and longevity"

    WHAT. I only read part of that stupid article before I started blacking out from stupid and had to stop. If it came to a choice between living forever but never enjoying a "grain-laden cookie" again and dying a little sooner but full of cookies, guess what I'd choose.

    I grew up fairly poor. My Mom fed us lots of beans, whole grains, and peanut butter. Why? Because they are cheap, filling, and nutritious. There is no reason why one shouldn't eat legumes, or whole grains, or cookies, or dairy, or eggs, or....., whatever, food allergies notwithstanding.*

    * I mean actual food allergies/sensitivities, not " I read on the internet that this is bad, I must be intolerant to it because I've been eating it all my life and that's clearly what's made me fat!"


    CORRECT!! there is a difference between a particular food making you FART and making you FAT!

    One is what food does to you the other is what you do to yourself. :laugh:
  • prettyface55
    prettyface55 Posts: 508 Member
    I'm in for further reading!
  • smc864
    smc864 Posts: 570 Member
    I don't eat Paleo but I did watch a lecture about it on YouTube... it was by the author of The Paleo Manifesto.

    He said that we should not eat legumes because they are the seeds of the plant. Why not eat the seeds you ask? Because according to him and other paleo peeps, seeds of plants contain toxins to ward off animals from eating them. By eating these seeds with trace amounts of toxins overtime you build them up in your system.

    He gave some examples of seeds that humans have modified through agriculture and plant breeding or something, to make them not toxic to humans anymore. I think one example he gave was cucumber, if I remember correctly.

    pounds head on desk, just rhetorical question not directed at you, then why did plants evolve seeds to be passed through the gut? Hasnt he ever wondered what those little black and brown seed looking things were 3 days after eating watermelon and corn?

    If this was true then how come little civets do quite well eating coffee beans? Chimpanzees plant whole forests after a fruit and vegetable buffet. Just wow just wow and there is no talking common sense. Guess that thing we call a liver is useless.

    I'd even go as far as to say that after tubers or first real source of starches was from legumes.


    I'm just repeating what he said...

    I think people can eat however they want. Some people thrive on restrictive diets while other do not. I personally enjoy a good legume here and there and will not be cutting them out of my diet any time soon.
  • mmipanda
    mmipanda Posts: 351 Member
    I know you guys love demonising paleo but there's a lot of good in it. Its pretty much just about stripping your diet back to basics, and then once your body has gotten rid of all the crap, reintroducing different food groups to see how/if they affect your body.

    So with legumes? if you don't have bad reactions to them, then eat them. If you feel a lot better without them, don't eat them. I eat paleo but I have hummus sometimes, snowpeas with dinner etc. Nobody says you can't, because you're meant to eat about 70-80% pure paleo.
  • Paleo diet isn't for everyone, they tell you what you should and shouldn't eat, but they forget to mention their very own "re-feed" day, where they'll usually "cheat" or pig-out high amounts of complex carbs to sustain them till the next week where they can have a cheat day again.
    um..................... what?

    Sorry, made it very confusing. Re-reading it, my take was toward people wanting the build muscle. Most lean bodybuilders in-take less foods with high fibers (vegetables or legumes) and take multi-vitamins in replace for those mineral needs. Most legumes contains in-digestible carbohydrate, most people who depend on legumes for a low carb diet, or even to the extreme of paleo will most likely lose their muscle gains unless they re-feed or "cheat" by loading carbohydrate. I'm tying this all together because most people who do not eat legumes, also do not eat carbs because they follow this Paleo diet.

    I'm going really off topic, but yes, hope I clarified it, good luck.
  • Mr_Knight
    Mr_Knight Posts: 9,532 Member
    I know you guys love demonizing paleo...

    It's not being demonized, it's being mocked. And rightfully so - it is the most illogical, inconsistent dietic nonsense I've heard in donkey's years.

    There is a difference. :laugh:
  • Paleo. Schmaleo. Our bodies have evolved. So why should we eat what our ancestors ate!?
  • kordell70
    kordell70 Posts: 49 Member
    I know you guys love demonizing paleo...

    It's not being demonized, it's being mocked. And rightfully so - it is the most illogical, inconsistent dietic nonsense I've heard in donkey's years.

    There is a difference. :laugh:

    Jesus. The original poster has a legitimate question for which she is seeking answers and instead of answering the question in a logical manner you continue with the mocking and or denigration of this diet without specifically answering her question. Seems like while your opinion of the diet is that it is "illogical" you answer is also "illogical" in that it is not answering the woman's question.

    To those who reached out to this lady and gave your opinions, whether for or against it, in a way that at least attempted to answer her question then I also thank you on behalf of this woman. For those of you who get your kicks out of being rather immature with your internet tough guy routine then I suggest you try being a bit more mature. Not everyone has all of the answers on what to do to help them lose weight which is the reason why many join this site.
  • jonnythan
    jonnythan Posts: 10,161 Member
    I know you guys love demonising paleo but there's a lot of good in it. Its pretty much just about stripping your diet back to basics, and then once your body has gotten rid of all the crap, reintroducing different food groups to see how/if they affect your body.

    So with legumes? if you don't have bad reactions to them, then eat them. If you feel a lot better without them, don't eat them. I eat paleo but I have hummus sometimes, snowpeas with dinner etc. Nobody says you can't, because you're meant to eat about 70-80% pure paleo.

    "I eat paleo except for when I don't."

    Paleo isn't "just about" eliminating foods from your diet and then slowly adding them back to see what happens. That's not paleo. That's not paleo at all. Paleo means "don't eat grains and legumes because they are inherently bad for you, period."
  • FredDoyle
    FredDoyle Posts: 2,273 Member
    Paleo is rightly mocked. It's arbitrary, unscientific, and ridiculous.
    Hence , the ridicule.
  • LolBroScience
    LolBroScience Posts: 4,537 Member
    Paleo is rightly mocked. It's arbitrary, unscientific, and ridiculous.
    Hence , the ridicule.

    x2
  • LolBroScience
    LolBroScience Posts: 4,537 Member
    I know you guys love demonising paleo but there's a lot of good in it. Its pretty much just about stripping your diet back to basics, and then once your body has gotten rid of all the crap, reintroducing different food groups to see how/if they affect your body.

    So with legumes? if you don't have bad reactions to them, then eat them. If you feel a lot better without them, don't eat them. I eat paleo but I have hummus sometimes, snowpeas with dinner etc. Nobody says you can't, because you're meant to eat about 70-80% pure paleo.

    Sounds like a "Balanced Diet" not a "Paleo Diet" to me.
  • calliekitten9
    calliekitten9 Posts: 148 Member
    I know you guys love demonising paleo but there's a lot of good in it. Its pretty much just about stripping your diet back to basics, and then once your body has gotten rid of all the crap, reintroducing different food groups to see how/if they affect your body.

    So with legumes? if you don't have bad reactions to them, then eat them. If you feel a lot better without them, don't eat them. I eat paleo but I have hummus sometimes, snowpeas with dinner etc. Nobody says you can't, because you're meant to eat about 70-80% pure paleo.

    "I eat paleo except for when I don't."

    Paleo isn't "just about" eliminating foods from your diet and then slowly adding them back to see what happens. That's not paleo. That's not paleo at all. Paleo means "don't eat grains and legumes because they are inherently bad for you, period."

    That sounds more like Whole 30....which is what a friend of mine is doing. He described it as a "detox" diet. I looked into it...but in all honesty, I am not into cooking and eliminating things that I enjoy is not high on my "to do" list.