Paleo Diet

_Bro
_Bro Posts: 437 Member
edited September 24 in Food and Nutrition
I decided to doing some reading up on the Paleo Diet to find out a bit more as I was curious about the programs approach.
After doing some reading I have some mixed thoughts on it.

* The idea that modern western diets is the problem and that it provides people with an overdose of carbohydrates, processed foods and sugars is valid.

* I have no doubt that our 'ancestors' had a much leaner / raw / natural diet that was heavily influenced by the scarcity of food/energy sources.
* There are some other valid points in the program as well and if you're looking for a low carb diet perhaps this is not a bad choice..

The diet, however, is not one that I will go on or recommend for the following reasons:

1) This stuff is way too expensive and hard to find for the occasional cheat meal that our ancestors enjoyed:

dinosaur-meat-01.jpg

dinosaur-meat-02.jpg

.. Yes, that was a joke, sort of.. Who really knows what our ancestors ate and do you know how expensive it is to buy?

Some guy on ebay said he could sell me some for a good price :)



2) I have a bone to pick with the recommendation to remove grains, starches (even milk) and banish them to the third circle of nutritional Hades.

* There are starchy carbs that are minimally or unprocessed.
* Ability to handle starches and grains just fine can vary with ones metabolic make up
* Brown rice, Oatmeal? I am healthy and can tolerate good carbohydrates just fine. Why would I banish them?

3) Check out natural bodybuilders blogs and fitness experts. Super fit and eating oatmeal every day? Let me put this another way..

* Some people may need to avoid gluten and lactose - but not everyone
* Dietary intake is not the same for everyone - genetics, state of health, age, body composition and goals should be considered.
* I could go on and point out other examples of exceptions to all of the rules.. but why bother. The point is that the plan just seems to restrict and there seems to be a sufficient body of evidence (bodybuilders, runners, MMA Athletes, etc) that grains are not the problem


4) Nutritional dogma sucks and I really don't buy into the idea of inherent evil in the modern agricultural system.



So, I will be passing on this program...
What are your thoughts?

I like the idea of improved nutrition but can't go with this program for the reasons above. Still an interesting read.


-Grunt

Replies

  • sexygenius
    sexygenius Posts: 1,078 Member
    I dont know way, but I love that dinosuar leg picture...its amazing..
  • Carissa83
    Carissa83 Posts: 33 Member
    Hey, thanks for the post. I've heard about this diet but haven't checked it out too thoroughly. I'm in agreement that extreme diets aren't ALWAYS necessary and I would NEVER give up my oatmeal or sweet potatoes, I mean come on really?!?! I wonder when people are going to accept the fact that for most people healthy foods and exercise is the answer, period!
  • hellen72
    hellen72 Posts: 144 Member
    I am part way through reading paleo for athletes but am veggie so it would be tricky

    Am also reading 80/10/10 diet which is also extreme but more do able, is certainly making me think about more fruit
  • pyro13g
    pyro13g Posts: 1,127 Member
    I am part way through reading paleo for athletes but am veggie so it would be tricky

    Am also reading 80/10/10 diet which is also extreme but more do able, is certainly making me think about more fruit
    80/10/10 of what? If you are training for endurance 10% of calories from fat will hurt your performance. Considering you're reading Paleo for Athletes raises an eyebrow.
  • _Bro
    _Bro Posts: 437 Member
    I liked the picture from your blog better.. lol

    Updated :)
  • hellen72
    hellen72 Posts: 144 Member
    Carbs protein fat
    Carbs come mainly from fruit and veg

    Martina navratalova followed this diet as does Scott jurek - an ultra marathon runner

    I couldn't do it fully but interested to read the book and the health benefits

    I think you would spend all day eating though looking at the menu plans as you have to eat about 2500 cal more or less from fruit!
  • pyro13g
    pyro13g Posts: 1,127 Member
    They are elite, are you? If you're reading that book and are training for endurance, can specific fueling fit within your eating style? I thought they had something for Vegans/Vegetarians in the book.
  • hellen72
    hellen72 Posts: 144 Member
    No I am not!
  • pyro13g
    pyro13g Posts: 1,127 Member
    I meant that genetically speaking. Top athletes often are. They are at the top of the bell curve from genetics which often puts them at the top of the bell curve in performance in their sport.
  • hellen72
    hellen72 Posts: 144 Member
    I run ultra marathons so yes training for endurance

    Lots of diff people, not just elites but also body builders have followed it with success

    Yes it is vegan and in it's purest sense is raw food,

    It talks about why raw is so good and why everything else is bad

    I am not going to follow it, too extreme for me, but am goi g to eat a lot more raw than I currently do
  • pyro13g
    pyro13g Posts: 1,127 Member
    I run ultra marathons so yes training for endurance

    Lots of diff people, not just elites but also body builders have followed it with success

    Yes it is vegan and in it's purest sense is raw food,

    It talks about why raw is so good and why everything else is bad

    I am not going to follow it, too extreme for me, but am goi g to eat a lot more raw than I currently do

    Did you get to the part of Paleo For Athletes that talks about how you can train your body to use more fat for energy?
  • hellen72
    hellen72 Posts: 144 Member
    Not got there yet, I started the book ages ago and life got in the way!

    I have read a lot on sports nutrition so do have a good idea although interested to c what the book says

    This week it is half term and I am off so I plan to finish several books which I have started....
    80/10/10 - got that last week half way through
    Racing weight
    The china study - talks about how a vegan diet can cure/ prevent cancer
    Palao diet for athletes
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