Paleo = dying young?

And for the folks out there, Paleo/Primal is not vegetarian. It generally tends to be high fat (but focused on the good omega3-6 balance -- like in almonds, grassfed/pastured beef, etc.), moderate protein (20-35%) and low-ish carbs. The carbs really can go either direction depending on what you're looking for. Some choose lower carbs to lose weight/reduce body fat. But, others aren't looking for that so their carbs are higher. Generally speaking, carbs come organic vegetables and fruits -- focusing on those with most nutrient value (tend to be colorful). They also tend to be low glycemic index, but this goes back to the carb issue on how much carbs you're looking fulfill. When you cut out grains and get carbs primarily through vegetables and occasional fruit, it takes quite a few them to add up, unless they're the starchy carbs (sweet potatoes, potatoes, etc.). Dairy goes both ways. Some strict Paleo people say no dairy. Some more permissive/Primal people say dairy is fine if you can tolerate the lactose/casein in it -- and opt for the organic, full fat versions (i.e. cream, cheese, butter, full fat yogurt rather than low fat or non fat milk)

Also, a general tenet of Primal philosophy (which is a little modified from Paleo) is that there is an 80/20 rule -- following it at least 80% of the time. You're not looking for perfection or zealotry, but realism. So, if you want to indulge on non-Paleo/Primal things on occasion, just try to limit it to 20% or less. This will also depend on how well you tolerate the non-Paelo/Primal stuff. Many, once they go full 80% tend to go nearly 100% simply because they feel so much better eating that way.

Almonds are literally toxic unless they are processed - there is no meaningful definition of either "paleo" or "primal" that almonds fit.

I wouldn't mind Paleo so much if you didn't have to spend twice as much on food or have to go slaughter the animals yourself because you can't find it in the grocery store... Or that they like to base their belief on the idea that agriculture is what is making us fat... depsite the fact that society has used and depended on agriculture for 10,000 years and only the last 30 is how long we have been battling obesity.

K8 -- how we've been growing our agriculture in the last 50-100 years is drastically different than it was done 10,000 years ago. Even the bread your grandmother ate is significantly different than what we eat today due to a lot more modern manipulation of wheat. So "agriculture" from 10,000 years ago is significantly different than it is now.

Even the bread your grandmother ate is significantly different than what we eat today due to a lot more modern manipulation of wheat.

My grandmother hated the bread my grandmother made. It was coarse, rough, and about as digestible as a brick. She considered herself the most blessed person on earth when she emigrated and discovered "modern" bread.

K8 --

I'm not sure I'd saying killing us. But there are a lot of people that have issues with components in grains -- whether that's gluten or otherwise. And we are eating them (along with sugar and processed foods) in far higher proportion than we ever have before the last 100 years or so.

Is it correlation or causation? Hard to say at this point, but many people are having success when eliminating or reducing them from their diet.

Mr. Knight --

Well, if your goal is to run 5 miles, is it better to settle for 4 miles on some days? Or better to just not run at all?

I think the 80/20 rule makes a lot of sense, and far much more so than a 100/0 rule.

Don't let perfection get in the way of progress.