Paleo diet

Has anyone heard of the Paleo diet?
It is designed to bring us back to how cavemen and women ate: no dairy, no processed grains, little starch, no sugar, lean meat, certain fish, nuts, berries, fruits, and vegetables. I used to be a vegetarian beginning in middle school, but when I went away to college I didn't last long, and I am sad to say I never was able to fully commit to being a vegetarian again. I went through my phases but lack of funds and dining options eventually wore me down.
I stay away from dairy because the idea of drinking another species' milk intended for her own offspring doesn't make any sense to me.. but I was wondering your thoughts on eating Paleo regarding meat and no carbs/grains. I did initially give up meat for moral values and watching endless Peta videos, but my question is, is it natural to give up meat? I don't agree with raising animals for slaughter or the conventional ways of killing them, but what about hunting? I do cringe at the idea and could never kill my own meat, but could anything change you from a vegetarian to Paleo? Just curious on other thoughts

 

Since when is a high protein, high fat diet, healthy? I understand, no processed sugar, salt, and oil. No reason to be eating that. But less than 50% Carbohydrates? I don't see the appeal of having no energy. I don't see the appeal of having extra belly fat.

IMO early human was a fruigavor living in African wet woodlands. As we traveled out of where we were meant to live we had to adopt other diets out of necessity. This fad paleo diet recreates how we ate for necessity. If you are looking for health, don't look to paleo.

Again IMO, there is no need for the average adult human to eat more than 10% of calories from fat, and 10% calories from protein.

 

High carb diets contribute to belly fat.

I eat a lot of fruit, but very little starchy carbs, and I have plenty of energy.

 

Don't blame carbs for your spare tire. Keep eating that fruit, it will never make you fat.

 

I'd like to note that those who originated the paleo diet (the paleo people) changed their diet as soon as they new how to.

Perhaps there's a reason they changed.

 

I've been reading about the Paleo diet lately and I think its interesting but I don't necessarily think it is healthier than eating a well balanced diet with carbs thrown in the mix. Humans are very adaptive with our diets which is one reason we have flourished as a species. The Paleo diet might be healthy for you but there are other healthy options as well. The Italians have always been celebrated as being some of the most healthy people in the world and they have a very carb heavy diet. They also cook with a LOT of olive oil, which goes to show how beneficial monounsaturated fat is.

 

one version of the "Paleo diet" is simply eating much smaller quantities, several times a day rather than "3 squares".
supposedly a traditional Chumash Indian greeting when waking was something to the effect of "good morning, lets go find food". the science behind nutritional requirements vs environmental realities is pretty well known, we just choose to eat differently than we are naturally evolved to.

 

Paleo is just another fad diet, as far as I am concerned.

 

Based on what?

There are different types of fat. Fat is not healthy if it's trans fat, but saturated fats from whole food sources are plenty healthy, and they don't spike your blood sugar. Your body uses fat for energy and to boost your metabolism.

Coconut oil is one of the best things a person can eat. The lauric acid found in coconut oil has so many health benefits it's not even funny, including antifungal and antibacterial properties.

 

IF is what I do. I fast 20 hours everyday, with a 4-hour eating window. The benefits are immense. You have more energy, think more clearly, and achieve stability in insulin levels. Most of all, it turns your body into a fat-burning machine. Highly recommended for anyone looking to get toned, or simply into optimal health.

 

When is your 4-hour window? I don't think that I could not eat for 20 hours straight.

 

Well, I have to fit it in to my work schedule, so my feeding window is generally from 6:30-10:30 at night. It's tough at first for a few days, but you get used to it quickly. I did, anyway. I am not saying everyone will, or that fasting for 20 hours is for everyone. Many people do a 16-8 fast, which is basically eating your last meal at 8 in the evening then skipping breakfast the next morning. That seems to be less extreme and easier for people to handle.

 

This belief is why so many Westerners are obese and overweight. The obesity epidemic really began in the 80s and 90s when this whole scare campaign against fat began. The people who are afraid of fat are basing that fear on false information, because the latest evidence overwhelmingly shows that eating fat helps you burn fat.

Non-vegetable carbs spike the blood sugar so that you retain fat, whereas saturated fats are immediately burned off and used as energy, all the while boosting one's metabolism without spiking the blood sugar.

Based on what flimsy evidence? That is just insane, and completely inaccurate. I would suspect that a person who gets only 10% of calories from fat and 10% from protein would be not only very unhealthy and deficient in many things, but also incredibly weak and devoid of any muscle mass.

If this belief is shared by other vegans/vegetarians, that would explain who so many of the ones I have seen look so pale and gaunt. Not at all what I would consider to be healthy.

 

Excuse me in advance, I have to warn all of you that I do tend to have some strong opinions as far as food and health go due to my history with eating disorders, and quite honestly it scares me that some day, someone decides this new "diet" works for them, and so they shout it out from the roof tops, and then, with "group mind" all kinds of other people come out of the wood work supporting it too, and trying it out themselves, thinking that there is some magic solution to whatever physical ailment or other issue they may have.

Sometimes, I think that people these days are trying too hard to find perfection in their eating habits. YES, eating healthfully should be a top priority... it is your fuel for your entire vehicle that is your body. So don't misunderstand me, please. But, there is no "perfect" diet out there that will fix everything for you. It's like people get headaches, and so, they think, "Hmmm maybe I should try this paleo thing cuz, it might get rid of my headaches! I bet it's the yogurt I'm eating that's doin' it..."
Definitely some issues can be related to food, especially if certain foods are eaten in excess, and/or "foods" that aren't even really foods (i.e. preservatives, dyes, etc)...

I'm sorry, but the same thing goes for vegetarianism. Being vegetarian doesn't = optimal health. It doesn't mean you're going to live longer, by default, or rid you of your aches, pains, or tummy issues. Neither does paleo, gluten-free (unless you actually have Celiac disease, that is), etc.

I understand completely adopting a vegetarian or vegan lifestyle because of moral values. I can't understand however, adopting ANY diet because you heard around from some people that it might be the solution to your weight issues, or fatigue, or whatever else.

With that said... I am sick of hearing paleo this and paleo that. I am not saying that it can't work for some people... but I think the way that it is glorified these days is sickening, and I think it's really very scary that people will jump so quick to mess around with their health without a real understanding of it, or help from a professional, etc.

Maybe I am just hyper-sensitive to all of this (and I definitely, really am) because of my past and all the crap I had to go through, and really, what people do with their bodies IS their business... and there is NO "right" or "wrong" way to eat and live... and so if the next fad diet/lifestyle is what fancies them, then so be it...
I just REALLY think it's taking a huge gamble with your health when you make such a drastic change in your diet without a really solid, and educated reason.

And, speaking of that...how much do we even really know about the paleo diet and how it affects our bodies? As far as I understand, this particular way of eating is relatively new to our modern society, and I doubt long-term results/effects are really understood yet.

Another thing I think about is yeah, maybe a diet like that was appropriate for human beings a long, long time ago... however, what about the fact that our lifestyles are now completely different from that of a cavemen, and thus our bodies have also changed/evolved, etc.? I would think it's only logical to want to re-evaluate the diet on a MODERN human body as the properties of our body and whole environment have DRASTICALLY changed...

Someone somewhere took this theory that oh, this is how cavemen used to eat, this is the NATURAL way of eating therefore it is superior...
That seems like a HIGHLY flawed logic to follow... ahem, especially considering we DO know that humans live like double (or triple) the life expectancy than they did back then.

I think the logic behind this diet has a LOT of holes in it.

P.s. I am not vegetarian, or vegan, or anything, either. I just feel strongly about nutrition and this paleo thing is one thing I've been itching to vent about and I actually feel comfortable doing so amongst you guys.

 

I think "The Paleo Diet" is a horrible name for the diet. The idea behind the paleo diet is what put me on track to getting in shape. I'm 41 years old 6'1 and this past May I weighed 246 lbs today I weigh 215 that's with adding a little muscle and I've gone from a waist size 38" to 34"

They should have just called it the "no processed food diet" that's basically what I'm doing. When most people hear paleo diet they assume you sit down with 3 lbs of steak and go to town like a savage. I'm not eating any more meat than I did before I'm just eating a lot more veggies and fruits in place of processed foods.

It's working for me but I don't call what I'm doing The paleo diet even though the paleo diet plan got me on my way. I still don't have any processed foods but I do eat stuff like rice, potato's, and corn these are things the hard core paleo community avoid. I wouldn't try to tell anyone what they should do for their health but I will say cutting out processed foods and drinks has done wonders for me. I still don't call it the paleo diet even though some people would say that's basically what it is.