8 replies to this topic

[7beast7]

All my life my diet has pretty much been junk. I'm wanting to begin on the road to good health. Despite my bad eating habits i am still extremely lean therefore am not looking to loose weight, just to feel more energetic and healthy.

The paleo diet has really caught my attention and i have been researching alot on it and want to continue that research. Any experiences or information, or any links to sites that might be worthwhile in regards to the paleo diet would be greatly appreciated. thanks

[Johan]

I find that I learn a lot by reading Paleo people's blogs. There are a few blogs out there that might be of interest:

Whole Health Source
Cooking in our Cave
Son of Grok
Mark's Daily Apple
Free the Animal
At Darwin's Table
Feel Good Eating
Dr. Eades' Protein Power
Caveman Food
Pay Now, Live Later
Living Primal

These are the ones I've been able to find so far - if anyone knows any other ones, please list them too.

[kismet]

Could someone provide (or hint me to a source of ) a reference meal plan for a paleo diet? I'm especially interested in the amount of nuts & seeds commonly consumed and grain/cereal/legume intake (if any). Preferably a meal plan of a life extensionist.

Edited by kismet, 28 April 2009 - 06:23 PM.

[Skötkonung]

Could someone provide (or hint me to a source of ) a reference meal plan for a paleo diet? I'm especially interested in the amount of nuts & seeds commonly consumed and grain/cereal/legume intake (if any). Preferably a meal plan of a life extensionist.

Here is a sample food menu:
http://www.marksdail...nt-sample-menu/

The paleolithic diet does not incorporate any grain/cereal/legume intake as these foods were not available to paleolithic peoples. They were introduced at the start of the neolithic when agriculture first took hold.

Interesting article on eating habits of paleolithic versus neolithic:
http://www.proteinpo...nter-gatherers/

[CobaltThoriumG]

Could someone provide (or hint me to a source of ) a reference meal plan for a paleo diet? I'm especially interested in the amount of nuts & seeds commonly consumed and grain/cereal/legume intake (if any). Preferably a meal plan of a life extensionist.

Here is a sample food menu:
http://www.marksdail...nt-sample-menu/

The paleolithic diet does not incorporate any grain/cereal/legume intake as these foods were not available to paleolithic peoples. They were introduced at the start of the neolithic when agriculture first took hold.

Interesting article on eating habits of paleolithic versus neolithic:
http://www.proteinpo...nter-gatherers/

How do we know paleos didn't eat legumes? If they encountered a pea plant, wouldn't they have eaten peas? What paleo would have eaten lettuce but not snow peas, for instance? I generally don't eat any legumes but am curious.

[Skötkonung]

How do we know paleos didn't eat legumes? If they encountered a pea plant, wouldn't they have eaten peas? What paleo would have eaten lettuce but not snow peas, for instance? I generally don't eat any legumes but am curious.

Legumes are tricky, because obviously snow peas are edible in their raw form where as peanuts, kidney beans, and many others are not. Furthermore, many legumes contain phytoestrogens, lectins, phytates, and protease inhibitors, which interfere with our absorption of nutrients. These toxins serve legumes as natural pesticides and preservatives, but they do not serve us as they perform the same operations within our bodies. Toxins are associated with the development of autoimmune diseases. For this reason many paleo dieters strictly remove all legumes from their diet. However, I personally think that if the legume can be eaten raw (not that it always must be eaten raw) then it is probably okay to add to the list of acceptable foods if one eats them in moderation.

Anthropologists have a pretty decent understanding of what paleo people ate from the condition of their bones and artifacts surrounding their places of habitation. One new technique being used by scientists is analyzing the carbon isotope signature of the collagen in paleolithic and neolithic bones. The collagen has the carbon signature of the foods we have eaten.

Recently I was reading a book on the paleolithic peoples of Europe (ranging from Britain to Greece) and it was found their diet consisted mostly of local leafy vegetation, some fruit, and large quantities of animal meat and nuts. These foods were identified by carbon isotope signatures.

Edited by Skotkonung, 29 April 2009 - 06:16 PM.

[RoadToAwe]

Legumes are tricky, because obviously snow peas are edible in their raw form where as peanuts, kidney beans, and many others are not. Furthermore, many legumes contain phytoestrogens, lectins, phytates, and protease inhibitors, which interfere with our absorption of nutrients. These toxins serve legumes as natural pesticides and preservatives, but they do not serve us as they perform the same operations within our bodies. Toxins are associated with the development of autoimmune diseases. For this reason many paleo dieters strictly remove all legumes from their diet. 

Phytochemicals like Resveratrol, Allicin and Sulforaphane are toxins(natural pesticides) by plants produced to tackle microbes and fungi. But they are greatly beneficial for humans.

Arguing that some food is bad just because Paleolithic men didn't eat them is poor argument. If you go by that argument you will probably need to ask people to stop eating Turmeric, Cocoa and Green tea.

[Mind]

Another Imminst discussion on the Paleo diet.

This one is also somewhat about the paleo diet

[Skötkonung]

Arguing that some food is bad just because Paleolithic men didn't eat them is poor argument. If you go by that argument you will probably need to ask people to stop eating Turmeric, Cocoa and Green tea.

It should be noted that all of what you listed can be eaten raw and is not a legume. Paleolithic people likely ate grapes (which contain resveratrol), the flesh and seeds of cocoa pods, leaves and even some roots from ginger plants (tumeric), and the raw leaves from camellia aka green tea (as is still done in China).

Also, just because a plant has one or two good aspects, doesn't mean it won't also contain bad things as well. That is why we have extracts.