The Paleo Diet. Learning from our evolution

[Determinator]

The Paleo Diet. Learning from our evolution

Fletch, thanks for the update. I'm not really sure how much coconut oil would be 'too much' but i've noticed that as I've incorporated it into my diet as about an 80% replacement for what previously was my olive oil usage, that I'm achieving good results.

Techie, are you just having fun or are you seriously exploring paleo/primal?

[techie]

The Paleo Diet. Learning from our evolution

Determinator;1038890 wrote: Fletch, thanks for the update. I'm not really sure how much coconut oil would be 'too much' but i've noticed that as I've incorporated it into my diet as about an 80% replacement for what previously was my olive oil usage, that I'm achieving good results.

Techie, are you just having fun or are you seriously exploring paleo/primal?

Yes sorry for the banter. I'm a member of Eating Paleo in NYC. I've been to a few meetups, but have been following this type of diet w/ tweeks for a few years. I will try and productively contribute to the discourse here going forward!

[peacenik]

The Paleo Diet. Learning from our evolution

i heard a guy today talking about a vegan paleo diet...maybe i'll try it. i already use coconut oil, and eat nuts, berries, beans and lots of veggies.

[Determinator]

The Paleo Diet. Learning from our evolution

awesome Techie, love to hear what tweaks you like. I enjoy the dry humor, just was curious what your motivation is.

Peace, that sounds good. love to hear more about that veggie version of Paleo. I learn something new every day

[fickle]

The Paleo Diet. Learning from our evolution

Fletch;1038849 wrote: He definitely chucks it under the bus on his website, this lauric acid...

I am unfamiliar with this idiom... perhaps the entrails had something to do with getting chucked under the bus? :H:H:H

Thanks for all the links guys, I'm still exploring the whole paleo diet thing. I have past experience of vast success with the Atkins diet so that's why it was my starting point again this time. It's not working so well for me this time and I suspect there are some very good reasons. I need to move on.

I know loads of new things have been discovered in the last few years since I last did the atkins thing. I'm very interested in this Paleo Diet so thanks heaps for this thread Det!

Peace, please give more info on the veggie version of paleo! As I think I mentioned, my kids are not crazy about meat and even I get sick of it but I know they need protein so the best thing I can do is learn how to get more vegetarian protein into them! After my last post where I said I thought it wasn't possible, I thought about a Hindu family I know and decided to retract that. It is possible to get enough protein in a vegetarian diet, It's just not very well supported in Western culture. I think the Hindus know what they're about though.

I'm off to look into the coconut oil conundrum

[Determinator]

The Paleo Diet. Learning from our evolution

Fickle, I think vegetariantism is very well supported at least in the US where it's been quite popular for ages. unfortunately many people (myself included) don't tolerate beans very well. Robb Wolf discusses in great detail the molecular biological reasons why beans and bean products like tofu are surprisingly unhealthy for humans in spite of popular belief. it would also be impossible to get sufficient L Carnitine and phosphitidyl choline in a vegetarian diet so you'll have to invest in some high quality supplements.

[Determinator]

The Paleo Diet. Learning from our evolution

incidentally my boss is a Hindu and in the 3 1/2 years I've worked for him 4 members of his family in the 40-50 age group have died from arterial and heart disease. they are strict vegetarians and all had incredibly bad blood cholesterol figures.

[BlondeAFAmbition]

The Paleo Diet. Learning from our evolution

This is a great thread! I actually follow the Atkins Nutrional Approach and am finding that it is helping curb AL cravings quite a bit. I have been full throttle on Atkins for 1 week (the first 2 weeks your carb count is restricted to 20 grams per day, most of those carbs coming from leafy green vegetables or non-starchy veggies). It is recommended that you have protein with every meal as small amounts of good fats. It makes your body turn to burning fat instead of carbohydrates as it's first source of energy to burn. I have been feeling great so far and although I'm not on it to loose lots of pounds (just 10), it doesn't allow AL, at least at the beginning of the diet, so it has helped me kick my daily wine habit!

I work in a health food store and have been a vegetarian in the past. There always seemed to be something missing. And my vegan and vegetarian customers seem to have the most "health" problems of those who come in seeking advice. I think that all of this "looks and almost tastes like bacon but is made out of tofu" is just overproccessed food with little nutritional value and if you're going to give up meat, why are you looking for meat flavored "vegetarian" food in the first place?

[breaking_the_cycle]

The Paleo Diet. Learning from our evolution

I swear by the Paleo Diet. I've been doing it for at least 5 years and stayed slim and strong - even while I was boozing heavily. It makes you look and feel amazing (the Paleo that is, not the booze)

[Determinator]

The Paleo Diet. Learning from our evolution

BlondeAF and Breaking the cycle, you two are inspiring, thank you.

some folks have asked why paleo/primal disallows beans and grains and their sub-products such as tofu, cereals, breads etc. The simple answer is a family of toxic 'anti nutrients' called lectins that are found in very high quantities in these foods (as well as the more obvious high glycemic index).

for the scientific details: THE LECTIN STORY

[Bruunhilde]

The Paleo Diet. Learning from our evolution

Great info Dete. Thanks for the bean info, although it's disheartening because beans are a staple of my diet, I do know they have no place in Paleo. Paleo means eating protein, some fruit, a decent amount of fat and tons of veggies. Right? I have read up online, but never read a whole book on it. Yet.

My newest read is "The Four Hour Body" by Tim Ferris, I think it is. I think he goes by Paleo but I'm only just starting the book, so not sure yet. I know he binges occasionally. I will let you know what I learn.

I think my vegetarian years helped bring me to the AL consumption I'm at now, which is unhealthy. I always avoided animal protein because of ethical reasons (I now buy and use animal meat but only free range, natural stuff). I wish there was a way to buy meat produced in a KIND way..... it doesn't have to be horrible like factory farming.

Anyways, I used to avoid protein because it made me feel full, and being hungry was how I managed my weight. That and a intense workout schedule including tons of free weights.

Anyhow, thanks all, the posts here are very helpful. Post on!!

[Determinator]

The Paleo Diet. Learning from our evolution

Bruunhilde, thank you for the support and it's nice to meet you yes you are right on the money about this eating lifestyle.

I DEFINITELY think we should all vote with our precious dollars and buy both meat and veggies that are produced in ways that are sustainable and kind to our Earth.

Local Harvest / Farmers Markets / Family Farms / CSA / Organic Food

Eat Wild

Eat Well Guide :: Local, Sustainable, Organic Food

I also get organic grass-fed beef from my local Whole Foods. yes it's expensive but I don't drink anymore and don't buy any junk food, so this is where my dollars go.

incidentally for those struggling with the morality of eating meat vs vegetarianism this article may be an eye opener:

Myths and Information About Vegetarianism




In comments reportedly made during a press briefing for her new movie SALT, Angelina Jolie discussed her bad experiences with a vegan diet.

“I joke that a big juicy steak is my beauty secret,” said Jolie. “But seriously, I love red meat. I was a vegan for a long time, and it nearly killed me. I found I was not getting enough nutrition.”

[Doggygirl]

The Paleo Diet. Learning from our evolution

Bruunhilde, a couple of books I have read recently and have found interesting are Potatoes Not Prozak by Kathleen Des Maisons, and The Diet Cure (or The Mood Cure) by Julia Ross. They really expand upon the information in the My Way Out book about the role of Amino Acid Deficiencies in things like alcohol, drug and sugar addiction. Amino acids come from protein.

I buy all of my beef and pork from a local farmer that I found through the Local Harvest link that Deter provided. It is a wonderful family farm using organic and sustainable farming practices. I feel good about the quality of the meat we eat and am able to observe the animals on the farm and see first hand what is going in. I am able to buy eggs and chicken from a farmer in the late spring through early fall months, but am stuck with Trader Joe's the rest of the year for those things.

So... it IS very possible to improve the quality sources of meat that we are getting. As Det said, it's more expensive but I can buy a WHOLE lot of quality meat with the money I'm saving on booze. I'm worth it.

DG

[MissDoodleBug]

The Paleo Diet. Learning from our evolution

Hi guys! Thanks for all the great information! Just a note, since I don't have a local source I buy Amish raised organic pastured chicken and beef from Organic Meats from Blackwing . Tastes so much better than factory farmed and I feel much better knowing the critters are treated humanely. Oh, they also have nitrate free bacon that is to die for : ) Bacon, bacon bacon.. mmmmm lol. The prices are very reasonable the only bad thing is the shipping, but you can do 3 day shipping no problem at this time of year.

Hugs,

Doodlebug

[Bruunhilde]

The Paleo Diet. Learning from our evolution

Great info Dete, Miss and Doggygirl, thanks yet again.

Doggy, I am a HUGE Julia Ross fan, I've given those books (The Diet Cure, The Mood Cure) as gifts countless times to friends struggling with illness or cravings for sugar, etc. She is my health guru.

Thanks for the encouragement and info regarding the meat sourcing. I totally agree on the need-to-be-humane thing. I do feel better on a meat diet, I agree it's more natural for us.

I'm really bumbed out about losing two major sources of protein -quinoa and beans from my diet. I love eating meat but still, it bugs me to eat so MUCH meat. On the Tim Ferriss diet, he advocates eating legumes. I'm still getting into this book, but read a bit today (holiday MLK for me) and it's pretty much Paleo except for that. I may try that and then to refine further later on, eliminate legumes as a final step. I need to do research on the beans theory you cite and experiment on myself. At this point, eliminating them is not as important as eliminating or reducing the AL.

Thanks for the Amish link, hadn't thought of that, but love the Amish products.

Have you heard of Slowfood?