Paleo/Primal way of eating = finally the truth revealed?

So, (many) people don't understand the difference between someone having a level of gluten sensitivity, and buying into a goofy, totally arbitrary diet?

I see the local jester has showed back up.

"You're welcome, when people attack the person and do not answer the question, it shows their lack of either information or intelligence, I will let you decide which works for you."

Sound familiar?

I don't think there is a single "truth" to how people should eat. The human body is amazingly complex and adaptable, so unless you're a high performance athlete, there is a wide range of macros that work for most people (the split between fat/carbs/protein). Regardless of the specifics, if someone tries to eat a fairly well balanced diet with 15-30% protein (some people go a little higher), 20-30% fat and 45-60% carbs (some people go a little lower), and try to get most of those calories from foods that are in or very close to their original forms (minimize the processed foods you eat), then they can be healthy.

I don't buy into any of these restrictive food plans because while I may agree with elements in each of them, I find the combination of restrictions unnecessary and overly-extreme. For example, I agree with the Paleo ideas that eating fat (even animal fat) is not bad for you, getting enough protein, eating foods in unprocessed form and that we should avoid processed sugars but I don't agree with the idea that you should have to cut out all starches and legumes. Perhaps some people's bodies are "picky" or have food allergies and need something a little different (ex - very few/no grains, no gluten, no dairy, etc.) but most people don't need to do anything extreme to be healthy and feel good.

Where are her sources for these remarkable claims?? "learn to be a master of your own genetic destiny" !!!!! This is outrageous! I did a Masters degree in gene expression, by the way.

Well you should be able to tell us then. Where in our genes is it "expressed" that humans should be eating big macs, mac and cheese, refined sugar, hormone injected milk, and the list is very, very, very long?

Also FYI things aren't "expressed in our genes", GENES THEMSELVES are expressed. There's a big fundamental difference there. Don't attempt to comment on things you don't have even a basic understanding of.

Eat healthy- I'm done participating commenting on this topic.

If over the course of the week Person X gets his carbs from grains, starchy vegetables (no restriction on type), non-starchy vegetables, dairy, and legumes. Person Y gets an identical amount of carbs from just Paleo-approved veggies (no white potatoes, no beans, legumes, etc) and fruits only. Neither have allergies or intolerances to the foods they choose, and both meet their recommend micronutrition values. According to Paleo logic, Person Y's diet is superior because....[insert speculations about prehistoric eating habits combined with a heavy dose of hypocrisy].

Person Y's nutrition will blow person X's away by many times over.

Actually it's more that beans/potatoes/legumes etc have a negative impact on insulin/inflammation/digestion/gut health... things some people are interested in avoiding.

If you want to get your carbs from vegetables or bread or potatoes or doughnuts, who cares. I'm happy with my improved health and energy levels from ditching grains and I would advise anyone to give it a try. If after a dedicated try, it's too hard or not working or not a maintainable lifestyle for you, then ditch it.

If over the course of the week Person X gets his carbs from grains, starchy vegetables (no restriction on type), non-starchy vegetables, dairy, and legumes. Person Y gets an identical amount of carbs from just Paleo-approved veggies (no white potatoes, no beans, legumes, etc) and fruits only. Neither have allergies or intolerances to the foods they choose, and both meet their recommend micronutrition values. According to Paleo logic, Person Y's diet is superior because....[insert speculations about prehistoric eating habits combined with a heavy dose of hypocrisy].

Person Y's nutrition will blow person X's away by many times over.

Because? Do you realize that the law of diminishing returns applies to micronutrition?

Actually it's more that beans/potatoes/legumes etc have a negative impact on insulin/inflammation/digestion/gut health... things some people are interested in avoiding.

If you want to get your carbs from vegetables or bread or potatoes or doughnuts, who cares. I'm happy with my improved health and energy levels from ditching grains and I would advise anyone to give it a try. If after a dedicated try, it's too hard or not working or not a maintainable lifestyle for you, then ditch it.

Prove that beans/potatoes/legumes etc have a negative impact on insulin/inflammation/digestion/gut health or are you just speaking from personal experience? What exactly is "gut health" anyway?

What does the laws of thermodynamics tell you about how much fat will be stored if a person eats 5000 cals of sugar or 5000 cals of lean beef?

In case anyone wondered where the heck I've been 'round these forums...

I've been on the experiment of what I'd call the standard American diet (150g plus daily) for half marathon training for the past 3 months. I'm probably eating about 2200 calories per day to keep up with running 4x weekly. The day before longer runs, I eat well above 200g carbohdyrate to maintain my energy. I've tried eating less carbs but I bonk out. I also feel like a sugar junkie. Constantly want to eat. Bleh.

Prior to that I'd been eating low carb / paleo (I'm not a zealot about avoiding all grains or sugars - but I liked to keep my carb intake within balance to maintain my weight). I was keeping in shape by lifting, doing light runs and walks (no running exceeding 3 miles), and basic play - climbing around, being a doofus outside, y'know... I hit 129 back in the fall and I was lookin goooood! Jeans were fittin nice, heck yes, go hot Barney.

I feel like utter s**t eating this many carbs. I've went up to 135 pounds, lost muscle tone, and feel sluggish. My blood iron sucks (even with supplementation), I'm getting joint pain (again), and yes, did I mention I feel like s**t? I'VE BECOME SKINNY FAT. Who cares that I can continuously run for 10 miles. I AM FLABBY. BOOO FRIGGITY HISS.

I'm going to run this half marathon this weekend and call it quits for long distance running. There's seriously no point to beating myself up over this. I have no idea how or why the general public idolizes distance running as being the pinnacle of health.

I doubted some of the paleo and primal zealotry and recommendations, but wow, people, I'll be honest, I think there's a lot of sense in what they're saying - especially about lifestyle. Lifting and "slow, low" cardio...they win. Hands down. Bicker all you want about how many carbs to eat to maintain lifestyle or whatever caveman ate. I'm going back to eating less than 100g daily and eating some delicious fatty fat animal fat because wow, do I feel so much better eating that way.