The Paleo Diet (No Gluten) Vs. Clean Eating (whole grains)

I have celiac. Meaning, I'm allergic to gluten. The affect gluten has on my body is not a pretty one. It can include bloating, diarrhea, and horrible stomach pain. The stomach pain can be so severe it has put me in the hospital. I avoid all types of gluten. I make sure to watch closely that none of my food is cross contaminated when it's prepared. I feel a lot better since going gluten free. No bloating, no stomach pain (unless some how unwillingly I've been cross contaminated.) My over all digestive health has improved. If you want to know more about celiac and how it affects a person, check out the University of Chicago who has an entire dept dedicated to the study and finding a cure. Since my mother, brother and me have all been diagnosed, they have been a wonderful help.

I have read The Paleo diet and The Athlete's guide to Paleo eating. I've read several food/diet related books over the past year and honestly there is not one way for all, as each person has different metabolic makeups. So far the best one I have read is the Happiness diet which really talks plainly and responsibly about the Modern American Diet or MAD diet for short. (I'll let you make your own inferences)

They really put down processed foods and rightfully so, because we can't strip nutrients form our food and effectively put them back in as well as mother nature can.

My wife and I have gone Gluten free because she has MS and I am gluten intolerant. Without doing anything else I lost 11 lbs in the beginning. It's been a long proccess of slowly cutting out foods and finding, Fresh, Whole, alternatives. We picked one thing at a time, because you really are addicted to a lot of the foods that are manufactured. We now are making our own peabut butter and have made our own almond milk etc. There are a bunch of whole grain non-gluten products out there to continue to get your whole grains, even gluten free oats. It sounds daunting at first but it gets easier with time and now its almost automatic, because as you learn it gets easy to plan and stay focused. We recently started toying with giving up the heavier cheeses like jack, cheddar, mozzerlla etc. Were are sticking to Feta and Goat cheese for now and don't plan to nix those. We have pretty much stopped using processed (foods with non-food ingrediants) with the exception of feta and goat cheese, salad dressings and Gluten free pasta/bread (which we use sparingly)

I just would ask those of you who do want to explore and experiment are not put off by folks who are put everything out the ordinary down. Get to know your body, inform yourself and try new things. It's how we learn and understand. Good luck!

I just would ask those of you who do want to explore and experiment are not put off by folks who are put everything out the ordinary down. Get to know your body, inform yourself and try new things. It's how we learn and understand. Good luck!

I agree. Don't let the "my way is the only way" people prevent you from finding out about what is best for YOU. As much as any of us know, we don't know your body....... that sounded more stalker talk than I intended so listen to what I mean, not what I type.

One question from those that follow Paleo. This thread makes it sound as if Paleo promotes no gluten, but others I've read say it promotes no grains at all. Of course, no grains = no gluten. But, no gluten =/= no grains.

Does the Paleo diet allow grains without gluten? (I'm not knocking either, just trying to learn).

One question from those that follow Paleo. This thread makes it sound as if Paleo promotes no gluten, but others I've read say it promotes no grains at all. Of course, no grains = no gluten. But, no gluten =/= no grains.

Does the Paleo diet all. ow grains without gluten? (I'm not knocking either, just trying to learn).

I know one of the stricter proponents of Paleo says you should not eat anything you can't get in the middle of the Sahara desert naked with just a sharp stick. I think in it's strictest form grains that require any mechanized processing are a no-no. That being said like anything I think we have to look at where we are today vs when our paleolithic cousins were scrounging for food. I think balance is the key and if you don't have ill effects from grains go for it. I missed pasta for a long time, but find I don't anymore. But now I make a mean polenta lasagna so again it's balance. That uses corm meal, but that would not be ok in a strict paleo diet as far as I can tell. Some of the other paleo authors are more forgiving. I think it's Rob Wolff who is a strict one who says no grains, no coffee, he lost me at the no coffee.

Bum

I gained weight eating a "clean" diet (whole grains and un processed foods). I still eat "clean" due to food allergies (my children and myself), but, I do watch my macros and calories.
My parents lost a great deal of weight on Atkins. My step dad has since gained it all and more back (my mom lost weight to the point that she looks like an aged skeletor.. but, that's her thing).
One of my friends is a morbidly obese paleo eater. It turns out you can eat too much fat and meat.

In the end too many calories are too many calories. Spike your blood sugar daily like a frat party punch, and see what happens to your body. Starve out vitamins and minerals, reap the benifits of weight loss when your hair and teeth fall out. Eat a good variety of foods in reasonable amounts and live healthy.

Paleo does say no grain.. I find it to be silly, for me.. I need whole grain ( non gluten) Or I can't poop. ( sorry, gross) which can't possibly be what my Paleolithic cousins were going for. Can you imagine.. Stuck behind a rock for an hour , straining.. along comes a T-Rex.. I'd be a goner.

Those with certain medical problems such as pcos, insulin resistance or gluten allergies seem to benefit well from paleo. I have family members who have completely turned their lives and health around by eating this way. My cousin has recently (well 6 months now) started eating paleo when she was diagnosed with ms. She is slowly feeling better and she getting to where she can be more active. Of course there is no cure for ms but in some cases the progression may be slowed through certain changes in diet usually paleo is recomended as a starting point. It is too early to tell since she was so sick in the begining but I hope it works for her.


That being said if you are uneffected by grains then clean eating seems to be a very healthy way to eat. We all know that processed food is really not the best for us. The only thing I find when I eat a strictly clean diet I end up feeling deprived and binge on junk. I eat clean as much as possible but a little junk here and there keeps me sane.

I understand everyone on MFP has different ideas as to what is a successful and healthy diet (Lifestyle change) to follow. I've been eating clean for some time now and I just started reading Robb Wolf "The Paleo Diet" and I'm finding out that everything I was thought was healthy is actually incredibly bad for us. This includes our morning oatmeal, multi-grains, whole wheat, Rye, bread, rice, ect. You get the idea.

According to the Paleo Diet, all grains can cause auto immune disease, that can attack and destroy the body. I originally thought some people were allergic to gluten, but as I read on, it's said that most people can be affected by gluten which can lead to poor digestion at best but the the list goes on as to how destructive gluten can be to the body.

I would like to know which diet you prefer and why? Are you an advocate of the Paleo Diet? Tell me what you like and don't like to the diet. Are you a clean eater and incorporated whole grains? How has this worked for you?

Thanks for you feed back!

I try to eat paleo-ish, but mostly because I've noticed grains tend to make me feel a bit bloated and slow. I feel a lot better eating like this. Cutting out grains also made me increase my intake of fruits and veggies, since my carbs have to come from somewhere.

I don't know whether grains or gluten actually irritate things in most people or cause auto-immune diseases. It's easy to find studies to back up a lot of different diets; I imagine the human body is actually quite adaptable to most foods, as long as you don't have an allergy or sensitivity.

Basically, if it seems sound, try it and see if it works for you. That's what I did and I'm happy with it, but not everyone wants or probably even needs to eat Paleo or "clean". Just, if you try paleo or primal (paleo + dairy) beware of the "carb flu" you might get in the first week or two. Also, remember a Paleo diet isn't a free pass to scarf all the meat and bacon you want -- you should have lots of fruits and veggies (I'm still working on that part :embarassed: )

Oh, and eating out on a primal/ paleo diet IS annoying. That is the only part I really have a problem with.