OK, someone explain the Paleo diet to me

adwred · OK, someone explain the Paleo diet to me

The paleo diet is an oft-talked about regimen on all the low-carb boards (even though it isn't all that low-carb, but that's a whole nother topic). I admit I don't really 'get' the paleo diet. I'm interested. I see that the idea of it is smart and way better than a SAD. That much is obvious. But, I don't 'get' what's allowed and what's not.

I haven't read any books on it, but it just seems so strange that beans aren't allowed but, say, almonds are. Almonds and pecans are just as full of anti-nutrients and toxins as peanuts and cashews are. A read through Nourishing Traditions will show you that all nuts should be soaked and dried and cooked at low temp to make them properly edible without ending up in a nutritional deficit.

Also, why the hell is plant oil allowed? The idea is that you're not supposed to be eating things that need processing or adulteration, right? But oil doesn't just fall off of plants. Oil is the ultimate example of food processing. Also, you can't eat potatoes or legumes because they require cooking... but vegetables that don't require cooking are OK, even if you cook them?? Like cooked rutabagas are fine, but cooked peas aren't? WTF? And what paleolithic man would be eating mustard, etc.? I just don't get it. Where is the logic? Can anyone shed light on this for me? Am I missing the big picture because I haven't read any of the books, or am I right in thinking this diet makes little to no sense?

johndela1

Yea...

Almonds that we eat arn't something you'd find in natural setting from what I know. Natural almonds are very bitter, like the thing in the center of a peach seed. Not to mention even more toxic, that the ones we eat today.

Viking Dan

Depends entirely who you ask, Red. There are heated debates in paleo forums about what is paleo. Almost all of them agree dairy and grains are bad, but the rest of it is all over the place.

Avalon

Bartender! Toast

Don't take anything I write seriously tonight... but I agree with Dan, so don't take him seriously either heh heh Grin

Grains BAD, Dairy BAD

http://www.paleofood.com/

Avalon

POTATOES!!! Bonkers

woof_woof

My definition:
It's another fad diet most followers don't understand and they can spend hours talking if peanuts are paleo or not.
Big joke keeping people busy with worrying about paleo approved/paleo forbidden foods.
Plus you've got a few gurus with contradictory advice. Low fat, high fat, low vegetation, high vegetation, raw, cooked, grains, no grains, you can find everything.

Carne Vorare

i cud give u the really, really really long Ver. or cud simply say it didnt quite work for me.

then again, theres lots i learned while trying hard to adhere to its principles.

i honestly believe its sound in theory. however.

[this is the controversial part]

we all differ in ability to utilize various foods depending on race *gasp* and or environment in which our ancestors dwelled. including food they consumed and what not.

there are many ppls whose ancestors spent considerably less time in the ice ages and as such have advanced ways to metabolize certain carbohydrates and stuff.

this may or may not be fleshed out in books yet but its sorta a pet theory since i had the good fortune to have someone who had access to such data as a roomate Happy

one example is fruit. according to Paleo rules, i can eat from several fruit groups as long as the amount isnt too much. in practice, i found *to my horror* that they severely interfere with heart rate, muscle composition and sports performance.

BUT there are those i know personally who really dont seem so affected. more research needs to be done in this area since i cannot individually constitute a viable case study.

go ahead, ask more Paleo qs. and if they arent TOO personal i will answer!

woof_woof

BTW most people feel better following any version of "paleo" diet because first time in their lives they reduce the volume of junk they eat. As simple as that.

Avalon

True Woof, anyone switching from a SAD diet whether it is to Vegan, Vegetarian, Zero Carb will see a positive difference for a time.

Carne- it's very interesting that which you wrote Yup

We can forget that everyone has a different blood type. Sadly I don't remember mine Bonkers

and that given the wrong blood, well, you know. Not pretty. That, in itself should remind us that though blood looks the same, stains the same... IT'S NOT THE SAME!!! AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!

Has anyone read that eat for your blood type book? I actually own it, but haven't given it the time of day. I hear it calling to me... Avalon! Avalon! But I pay it no mind for I am usually sleeping by then. Or passed out Cool

Carne Vorare

actually, im not sure if blood type is that reliable. cud be, but theres ppl with similar type to mine that seem to do fine on modern foods.

maybe if u did research into where ur ancestors came from, the weather patterns there..

paleogirl

My take on it is one simple rule: only eat what you could consume in its raw state. Therefore nuts are in (not cashews though since they're not really a nut and need soaking I think... ick anyway Laugh

)... but beans are out. People eat too much fruit on it, on the whole. Paleo fruit consumption would have been pretty low and the fruit itself wouldn't have been as sweet as the farmed and hybrid stuff we get today.

Kristi31

Nuts would also be eaten very occasionally and have to be broken before (no protein denaturation, no heating of shells to be broken). No added salt, no nothing. They also contain anti-nutrients (i.e. phytates) and too much of them would pose problems long-term (mineral absorption).