Paleo / Primal Blueprint type diets (3 Viewers)

[Balco]

Okay, I need some help here. Just dropped $250.00 on not a whole lot of food (to be fair, a good chunk was supplements for the diet - following Perfect Health Diet).

Grass Fed Beef - WTF? This stuff is friggin expensive. Suggestions? Does this ever go on sale at Whole Foods or anywhere????

Pastured Eggs - $6.00 for a dozen. This is going to be my biggest problem as I anticipate eating a ton of eggs.

I found the grass fed butter.

Also bough white rice pasta, hoping it is good. It was $3.00 for a package (should give me at least 5 servings, though).

Also bought cocunut oil. Does this stuff have a strong coconut taste?

Starting the diet tomorrow. I have high hopes.

 

[cosjobs]

Okay, I need some help here. Just dropped $250.00 on not a whole lot of food (to be fair, a good chunk was supplements for the diet - following Perfect Health Diet).Grass Fed Beef - WTF? This stuff is friggin expensive. Suggestions? Does this ever go on sale at Whole Foods or anywhere????Pastured Eggs - $6.00 for a dozen. This is going to be my biggest problem as I anticipate eating a ton of eggs. I found the grass fed butter.Also bough white rice pasta, hoping it is good. It was $3.00 for a package (should give me at least 5 servings, though).Also bought cocunut oil. Does this stuff have a strong coconut taste? Starting the diet tomorrow. I have high hopes.

Grass fed is just high. I eat a lot of beef and just cannot afford to fo all grass fed, so this is one of my main compromises - just getting supermarket beef. I have been looking into getting a side of grass fed for about $5 an lb. Ask around locally or look on craigslist, maybe even find a few people to slit the cost.Lots of yard eggs available here from people raising their own chickens. Going price here is $3 a dzI like rice a lot better than rice pasta. THere are some Chinese and Thai rice noodles that I like pretty wellNo one has ever commented on coconut flavor using that oil in cooking a lot of meals. You can smell it when cooking the food, but the taste is faint, if at all in the end productWith the high price of coconut oil, I make sure and keep the rendered fat from when I cook chicken and bacon.

 

[Balco]

Okay, I need some help here. Just dropped $250.00 on not a whole lot of food (to be fair, a good chunk was supplements for the diet - following Perfect Health Diet).Grass Fed Beef - WTF? This stuff is friggin expensive. Suggestions? Does this ever go on sale at Whole Foods or anywhere????Pastured Eggs - $6.00 for a dozen. This is going to be my biggest problem as I anticipate eating a ton of eggs. I found the grass fed butter.Also bough white rice pasta, hoping it is good. It was $3.00 for a package (should give me at least 5 servings, though).Also bought cocunut oil. Does this stuff have a strong coconut taste? Starting the diet tomorrow. I have high hopes.

Grass fed is just high. I eat a lot of beef and just cannot afford to fo all grass fed, so this is one of my main compromises - just getting supermarket beef. I have been looking into getting a side of grass fed for about $5 an lb. Ask around locally or look on craigslist, maybe even find a few people to slit the cost.Lots of yard eggs available here from people raising their own chickens. Going price here is $3 a dzI like rice a lot better than rice pasta. THere are some Chinese and Thai rice noodles that I like pretty wellNo one has ever commented on coconut flavor using that oil in cooking a lot of meals. You can smell it when cooking the food, but the taste is faint, if at all in the end productWith the high price of coconut oil, I make sure and keep the rendered fat from when I cook chicken and bacon.

I have to admit I didn't do a ton of research regarding prices. So I bought two pretty big grass fed rib eyes. Cut each one of them in thirds, but still expensive! I have bookmarked a ton of Paleo recipe sites, so I am hoping to find a lot of recipes, especially for vegetable dishes.

 

[Maurile Tremblay]

Pastured Eggs - $6.00 for a dozen. This is going to be my biggest problem as I anticipate eating a ton of eggs.

It seems expensive if you compare it to factory-farmed eggs, but really, it's still pretty cheap. It's $2 a meal.

 

[Maurile Tremblay]

I have to admit I didn't do a ton of research regarding prices. So I bought two pretty big grass fed rib eyes. Cut each one of them in thirds, but still expensive! I have bookmarked a ton of Paleo recipe sites, so I am hoping to find a lot of recipes, especially for vegetable dishes.

Yeah, grass-fed rib eye is going to be very expensive.You can find grass-fed ground beef that's pretty reasonable. Also lamb, which I think is pretty much always grass-fed.

 

[Major]

Pretty amazing how much better I feel after giving up bread and milk for the most part. Definitely have lost some weight and feel much leaner. What would you paleo purists recommend Major drop next from his diet and/or what should I add? I'm looking to remain lean and keep my 6 pack even though I'm heading to the wrong side of 30. Here's a sample of what I consume regularly:

6am: 1 large coffee (black) mixed with Chocolate Whey Protein (no carb)

8am: 1 oatmeal splash of almond milk w blueberries + 4 eggs (2 yolks) + wheat grass shot + Animal Pak multi

12pm: Grilled Chicken + brown rice or salad

3pm: Protein shake (no carb) + almonds/peanut butter

5pm: workout

7pm: Protein/Carb Smoothie - coconut water, strawberries, acai and Isopure vanilla

8pm: steak, chicken or tuna w brown rice + black beans

10pm: slow release protein shake (when I'm in weight gain mode or had a tough workout)

 

[Balco]

So far so good (using Perfect Health Diet).

Eating more sushi. Haven't weighed myself, but after 2 weeks, I feel good, and that is why I am changing my eating habits.

Super expensive, I am trying to find cheap paleo friendly foods, especially for snacks. Right now I eat macadamia nuts (ridiculously expensive), dark chocolate (85 % cocoa), and olives. Anyone have some convenient snack suggestions (expensive or not expensive)?

Typical day for me:

Breakfast - Pastured Eggs cooked in grass fed butter, and uncured bacon.

Snack 1 - half a can of olives

Lunch - Meatballs (made with grass fed beef), about a cup of raspberries

Snack 2 - Dark Chocolate, 1/4 cup macadamia nuts

Dinner - Sushi of some sort, or a cut of grass fed beef, green vegetable (usually brussel sprouts) cooked in either coconut oil or grass fed butter

I am not very hungry, but if I am I eat until full. Supplementing daily with Magnesium, K2, D3, and vitamin C.

Going to try and eat some liver. I used to enjoy liver, onions, and bacon on rye when I was a kid, haven't had liver in 25 years. Hoping I still don't mind the taste.

 

[SacramentoBob]

I'm giving this thing a shot for a month. So far I don't notice any difference other than things cooked in coconut oil taste funny and my farts have been awful. Just hideous. I don't think this couch is ever going to be the same.

I generally don't cook with coconut oil, but in general, I have virtually zero gas when I eat paleo/primal.

 

[cosjobs]

So far so good (using Perfect Health Diet).Eating more sushi. Haven't weighed myself, but after 2 weeks, I feel good, and that is why I am changing my eating habits. Super expensive, I am trying to find cheap paleo friendly foods, especially for snacks. Right now I eat macadamia nuts (ridiculously expensive), dark chocolate (85 % cocoa), and olives. Anyone have some convenient snack suggestions (expensive or not expensive)?Typical day for me:Breakfast - Pastured Eggs cooked in grass fed butter, and uncured bacon.Snack 1 - half a can of olivesLunch - Meatballs (made with grass fed beef), about a cup of raspberriesSnack 2 - Dark Chocolate, 1/4 cup macadamia nutsDinner - Sushi of some sort, or a cut of grass fed beef, green vegetable (usually brussel sprouts) cooked in either coconut oil or grass fed butterI am not very hungry, but if I am I eat until full. Supplementing daily with Magnesium, K2, D3, and vitamin C.Going to try and eat some liver. I used to enjoy liver, onions, and bacon on rye when I was a kid, haven't had liver in 25 years. Hoping I still don't mind the taste.

I've been pretty much trying to follow the Mercola school, but I am reading this book (halfway through so far) and have decided to give it a shot. My biggest prob previously was cheating with corn tortillas and occasional breading on foods. I think the addition of some rice and potatoes as part of the diet will enable me to quit the more damaging corn and flour.I've not yet finished the book and my biggest questions so far are the requirement to do grass-fed protein and drinking alcohol.

 

[Chaka]

I've been pretty much trying to follow the Mercola school, but I am reading this book (halfway through so far) and have decided to give it a shot. My biggest prob previously was cheating with corn tortillas and occasional breading on foods. I think the addition of some rice and potatoes as part of the diet will enable me to quit the more damaging corn and flour.I've not yet finished the book and my biggest questions so far are the requirement to do grass-fed protein and drinking alcohol.

Mercola requires you to drink alcohol? Where do I sign up?

 

[cosjobs]

I've been pretty much trying to follow the Mercola school, but I am reading this book (halfway through so far) and have decided to give it a shot. My biggest prob previously was cheating with corn tortillas and occasional breading on foods. I think the addition of some rice and potatoes as part of the diet will enable me to quit the more damaging corn and flour.I've not yet finished the book and my biggest questions so far are the requirement to do grass-fed protein and drinking alcohol.

Mercola requires you to drink alcohol? Where do I sign up?

Not a requirement, but ts ok.

 

[Chaka]

So far so good (using Perfect Health Diet).

Eating more sushi. Haven't weighed myself, but after 2 weeks, I feel good, and that is why I am changing my eating habits.

Super expensive, I am trying to find cheap paleo friendly foods, especially for snacks. Right now I eat macadamia nuts (ridiculously expensive), dark chocolate (85 % cocoa), and olives. Anyone have some convenient snack suggestions (expensive or not expensive)?

Typical day for me:

Breakfast - Pastured Eggs cooked in grass fed butter, and uncured bacon.

Snack 1 - half a can of olives

Lunch - Meatballs (made with grass fed beef), about a cup of raspberries

Snack 2 - Dark Chocolate, 1/4 cup macadamia nuts

Dinner - Sushi of some sort, or a cut of grass fed beef, green vegetable (usually brussel sprouts) cooked in either coconut oil or grass fed butter

I am not very hungry, but if I am I eat until full. Supplementing daily with Magnesium, K2, D3, and vitamin C.

Going to try and eat some liver. I used to enjoy liver, onions, and bacon on rye when I was a kid, haven't had liver in 25 years. Hoping I still don't mind the taste.

A couple Brazil nuts are a great way to get your selenium requirements and they are generally cheaper than macadamias.I am a big fan of seaweed as a source of iodine. In particular I like SeaSnax over Trader Joe's Wasabi Roasted Seaweed Snacks because the former are roasted in olive oil (hopefully low temp but I am not certain) while the latter is roasted in canola oil. Emerald Cove sells many different sea vegetable products many of which are good on a salad but not so much for just snacking on.

Kale chips should be a good source of vitamin K. They are expensive but I have made homemade kale chips and I honestly think it comes close in cost (plus T&E) to the market price so I just buy them.

If you want to take your chocolate eating up a notch look for brands that don't use soy lecithin as an emulsifier. Green & Black's is a good option for 85% dark chocolate bars that can be found most anywhere.

Trader Joe's sells roasted coconut chips that are pretty decent. 9 g of sugar per serving, 2 servings per package.

Hail Merry makes coconut macaroons that are quite good with only 4-5g of sugar per serving (2 cookies).

Beef jerky, of course, is a good option for protein but I also find that most of them have more sugar than I would like. Shelton's makes a good turkey jerky that has only 1g of carbs. Of course jerky is pricey.

This might not be for everyone but I am a big fan of just cutting open an avocado and eating it with a spoon. Maybe with a little salt or sometimes with a tablespoon of Wilderness Family Naturals Healthy Addictions Coconut Spread (great stuff but the problem with it is that you have to keep it above 76 degrees otherwise it is solid and won't mix up).

 

[cosjobs]

Only a couple days left in my paleo/no booze experiment month, and, well - I'm pretty well sold on it.

I feel great. I think I've lost about 15 pounds, though I haven't weighed myself. I'm down a few belt loops, I've got a lot more energy, and I find I need a lot less food satiates me. I'm drinking a lot less coffee, I'm sleeping great, and aside from a fairly gaseous first few days there really isn't anything I have to complain about.

:highfive:Have you read THe Perfect Health Diet?

I'm enthralled. I have not started yet because I need to lose poundage and I am not sure how well tPHD will do that but I'm loving everything I read about it.

If you stay with us over the holidays, a Paleo meal plan is an option.

 

[cosjobs]

Only a couple days left in my paleo/no booze experiment month, and, well - I'm pretty well sold on it.

I feel great. I think I've lost about 15 pounds, though I haven't weighed myself. I'm down a few belt loops, I've got a lot more energy, and I find I need a lot less food satiates me. I'm drinking a lot less coffee, I'm sleeping great, and aside from a fairly gaseous first few days there really isn't anything I have to complain about.

:highfive:Have you read THe Perfect Health Diet?

I'm entralled. I have not started yet because I need to lose poundage and I am not sure how well I will do that with the new diet, but I'm loving everything I read about it.

If you stay with us over the holidays, a Paleo meal plan is an option.

I have not. I've been meaning to get back to you, but we haven't figured out which days we're going to be in Austin and which we're going to be an hour or so outside of town. Wife was a tad concerned (I think she had visions of crashing in someone's duplex) but she totally dug the place from the website. I will not be doing no booze then, just so we are precisely clear

Hey we're so flexible Nadia Cominichi is jealous. No worries on if or when. It will work out as it should,or should not. I'm not sure if the is a rational or profitable business model, but its how we"ll roll for now. And give all guests a bottle of wine or champagne the first night if they want it. You can decline in advanec if you want. A drinkfest is not expected or required. So what about tPHD book are you familiar with it?

 

[cosjobs]

Only a couple days left in my paleo/no booze experiment month, and, well - I'm pretty well sold on it.

I feel great. I think I've lost about 15 pounds, though I haven't weighed myself. I'm down a few belt loops, I've got a lot more energy, and I find I need a lot less food satiates me. I'm drinking a lot less coffee, I'm sleeping great, and aside from a fairly gaseous first few days there really isn't anything I have to complain about.

:highfive:Have you read THe Perfect Health Diet?

I'm entralled. I have not started yet because I need to lose poundage and I am not sure how well I will do that with the new diet, but I'm loving everything I read about it.

If you stay with us over the holidays, a Paleo meal plan is an option.

I have not. I've been meaning to get back to you, but we haven't figured out which days we're going to be in Austin and which we're going to be an hour or so outside of town. Wife was a tad concerned (I think she had visions of crashing in someone's duplex) but she totally dug the place from the website. I will not be doing no booze then, just so we are precisely clear

Hey we're so flexible Nadia Cominichi is jealous. No worries on if or when. It will work out as it should,or should not. I'm not sure if the is a rational or profitable business model, but its how we"ll roll for now. And give all guests a bottle of wine or champagne the first night if they want it. You can decline in advanec if you want. A drinkfest is not expected or required. So what about tPHD book are you familiar with it?

Definitely will not decline the wine/champagne.I'm not familiar with it, but I'm scanning the website now. Seems light on veggies and heavy on starch. What's the rationale behind rice but no legumes?

Legumes are toxic. white rice is not. Book is wonderfully and credibly referenced. They've pretty much sold me, but I have not yet begun to implement/ The fact that I can have a couple of cups of rice or a couple of baked potatoes means this i something I could stick with very long term.I just got in two,35# pails of coconut oil speaks to my commitment.

 

[cosjobs]

As to veggies - you can have all you want - a pound a day is recommended/. They are basically a "free food"

 

[John Bender]

What is the quintessential book to read about paleo diets?

 

[culdeus]

Only a couple days left in my paleo/no booze experiment month, and, well - I'm pretty well sold on it.

I feel great. I think I've lost about 15 pounds, though I haven't weighed myself. I'm down a few belt loops, I've got a lot more energy, and I find I need a lot less food satiates me. I'm drinking a lot less coffee, I'm sleeping great, and aside from a fairly gaseous first few days there really isn't anything I have to complain about.

:highfive:Have you read THe Perfect Health Diet?

I'm entralled. I have not started yet because I need to lose poundage and I am not sure how well I will do that with the new diet, but I'm loving everything I read about it.

If you stay with us over the holidays, a Paleo meal plan is an option.

I have not. I've been meaning to get back to you, but we haven't figured out which days we're going to be in Austin and which we're going to be an hour or so outside of town. Wife was a tad concerned (I think she had visions of crashing in someone's duplex) but she totally dug the place from the website. I will not be doing no booze then, just so we are precisely clear

Hey we're so flexible Nadia Cominichi is jealous. No worries on if or when. It will work out as it should,or should not. I'm not sure if the is a rational or profitable business model, but its how we"ll roll for now. And give all guests a bottle of wine or champagne the first night if they want it. You can decline in advanec if you want. A drinkfest is not expected or required. So what about tPHD book are you familiar with it?

Definitely will not decline the wine/champagne.I'm not familiar with it, but I'm scanning the website now. Seems light on veggies and heavy on starch. What's the rationale behind rice but no legumes?

Legumes are toxic. white rice is not. Book is wonderfully and credibly referenced. They've pretty much sold me, but I have not yet begun to implement/ The fact that I can have a couple of cups of rice or a couple of baked potatoes means this i something I could stick with very long term.I just got in two,35# pails of coconut oil speaks to my commitment.

I love it. You have people in the same thread saying white potatoes are the devil and beans are ok, then you have people saying legumes are toxic and white potatoes and rice are the savior.

What argument can be made in support of white potatoes and white rice? Both are the classic example of an empty calorie. I think if you really tried hard enough you could pin the humble russet as a key factor in all sorts of problems here.

 

[Slapdash]

Okay, I need some help here. Just dropped $250.00 on not a whole lot of food (to be fair, a good chunk was supplements for the diet - following Perfect Health Diet).Grass Fed Beef - WTF? This stuff is friggin expensive. Suggestions? Does this ever go on sale at Whole Foods or anywhere????Pastured Eggs - $6.00 for a dozen. This is going to be my biggest problem as I anticipate eating a ton of eggs. I found the grass fed butter.Also bough white rice pasta, hoping it is good. It was $3.00 for a package (should give me at least 5 servings, though).Also bought cocunut oil. Does this stuff have a strong coconut taste? Starting the diet tomorrow. I have high hopes.

Grass Fed Beef and Eggs are going to be best purchased at a local farmers market.

 

[Maurile Tremblay]

Only a couple days left in my paleo/no booze experiment month, and, well - I'm pretty well sold on it.

I feel great. I think I've lost about 15 pounds, though I haven't weighed myself. I'm down a few belt loops, I've got a lot more energy, and I find I need a lot less food satiates me. I'm drinking a lot less coffee, I'm sleeping great, and aside from a fairly gaseous first few days there really isn't anything I have to complain about.

:highfive:Have you read THe Perfect Health Diet?

I'm entralled. I have not started yet because I need to lose poundage and I am not sure how well I will do that with the new diet, but I'm loving everything I read about it.

If you stay with us over the holidays, a Paleo meal plan is an option.

I have not. I've been meaning to get back to you, but we haven't figured out which days we're going to be in Austin and which we're going to be an hour or so outside of town. Wife was a tad concerned (I think she had visions of crashing in someone's duplex) but she totally dug the place from the website. I will not be doing no booze then, just so we are precisely clear

Hey we're so flexible Nadia Cominichi is jealous. No worries on if or when. It will work out as it should,or should not. I'm not sure if the is a rational or profitable business model, but its how we"ll roll for now. And give all guests a bottle of wine or champagne the first night if they want it. You can decline in advanec if you want. A drinkfest is not expected or required. So what about tPHD book are you familiar with it?

Definitely will not decline the wine/champagne.I'm not familiar with it, but I'm scanning the website now. Seems light on veggies and heavy on starch. What's the rationale behind rice but no legumes?

Legumes are toxic. white rice is not. Book is wonderfully and credibly referenced. They've pretty much sold me, but I have not yet begun to implement/ The fact that I can have a couple of cups of rice or a couple of baked potatoes means this i something I could stick with very long term.I just got in two,35# pails of coconut oil speaks to my commitment.

I love it. You have people in the same thread saying white potatoes are the devil and beans are ok, then you have people saying legumes are toxic and white potatoes and rice are the savior.

What argument can be made in support of white potatoes and white rice? Both are the classic example of an empty calorie. I think if you really tried hard enough you could pin the humble russet as a key factor in all sorts of problems here.

Potatoes are extremely nutrient dense. They have a complete amino acid profile, and are rich in minerals and pretty much all vitamins except the fat-soluble ones. I think it was Kurt Harris who called potatoes the liver of the plant world because they are so nutrient dense. They are definitely not empty calories. (That goes for sweet potatoes as well, which are about equally nutrient dense.)

 

[culdeus]

Only a couple days left in my paleo/no booze experiment month, and, well - I'm pretty well sold on it.

I feel great. I think I've lost about 15 pounds, though I haven't weighed myself. I'm down a few belt loops, I've got a lot more energy, and I find I need a lot less food satiates me. I'm drinking a lot less coffee, I'm sleeping great, and aside from a fairly gaseous first few days there really isn't anything I have to complain about.

:highfive:Have you read THe Perfect Health Diet?

I'm entralled. I have not started yet because I need to lose poundage and I am not sure how well I will do that with the new diet, but I'm loving everything I read about it.

If you stay with us over the holidays, a Paleo meal plan is an option.

I have not. I've been meaning to get back to you, but we haven't figured out which days we're going to be in Austin and which we're going to be an hour or so outside of town. Wife was a tad concerned (I think she had visions of crashing in someone's duplex) but she totally dug the place from the website. I will not be doing no booze then, just so we are precisely clear

Hey we're so flexible Nadia Cominichi is jealous. No worries on if or when. It will work out as it should,or should not. I'm not sure if the is a rational or profitable business model, but its how we"ll roll for now. And give all guests a bottle of wine or champagne the first night if they want it. You can decline in advanec if you want. A drinkfest is not expected or required. So what about tPHD book are you familiar with it?

Definitely will not decline the wine/champagne.I'm not familiar with it, but I'm scanning the website now. Seems light on veggies and heavy on starch. What's the rationale behind rice but no legumes?

Legumes are toxic. white rice is not. Book is wonderfully and credibly referenced. They've pretty much sold me, but I have not yet begun to implement/ The fact that I can have a couple of cups of rice or a couple of baked potatoes means this i something I could stick with very long term.I just got in two,35# pails of coconut oil speaks to my commitment.

I love it. You have people in the same thread saying white potatoes are the devil and beans are ok, then you have people saying legumes are toxic and white potatoes and rice are the savior.

What argument can be made in support of white potatoes and white rice? Both are the classic example of an empty calorie. I think if you really tried hard enough you could pin the humble russet as a key factor in all sorts of problems here.

Potatoes are extremely nutrient dense. They have a complete amino acid profile, and are rich in minerals and pretty much all vitamins except the fat-soluble ones. I think it was Kurt Harris who called potatoes the liver of the plant world because they are so nutrient dense. They are definitely not empty calories. (That goes for sweet potatoes as well, which are about equally nutrient dense.)

Sweet potatoes/yams are at least 3x as nutrient dense as their white counterparts. Where do you get about as equal?

 

[John Bender]

What is the quintessential book to read about paleo diets?

So is The Primal Blueprint the way to go.Is there a reason to read the book and not just tear Marks Daily Apple apart?

 

[Slapdash]

What is the quintessential book to read about paleo diets?

So is The Primal Blueprint the way to go.Is there a reason to read the book and not just tear Marks Daily Apple apart?

That is what I did. I read the book after reading the website for a few months. Haven't read anything else along those lines, but Good Calories, Bad Calories is pretty well recomended.

 

[cosjobs]

Today the new edition of The Perfect Health Diet is being released. In this edition, Mark Sisson is one of the co-authors.

I loved the first edition, but the implementation of the daily eating strategies was a bit too vague and I was a bit too lazy to calculate it all out.

I have the new edition ordered and should receive tomorrow.

 

[cosjobs]

What is the quintessential book to read about paleo diets?

So is The Primal Blueprint the way to go.

Is there a reason to read the book and not just tear Marks Daily Apple apart?

I would recommend The Perfect Health Diet.If you ahve read all this thread and Marks Daily Apple, you will probably find the Primal Blueprint redundant.

 

[Maurile Tremblay]

Sweet potatoes/yams are at least 3x as nutrient dense as their white counterparts. Where do you get about as equal?

Three times? I'm not sure how one would measure that. White potatoes have more and better protein. They are similar in most vitamins and minerals, except that sweet potatoes have way more vitamin A and substantially more vitamin C and manganese, and white potatoes have substantially more folate. So which is more important to you — protein or vitamin A? It depends on the context of the rest of your diet, I'd say. But both white potatoes and sweet potatoes are nutritional powerhouses.When the Irish were getting an absurd proportion of their calories from white potatoes, Adam Smith remarked on what a strong and good-looking people they were.

 

[Maurile Tremblay]

Haven't read anything else along those lines, but Good Calories, Bad Calories is pretty well recomended.

The first 100 pages, destroying the myth that fat is evil, are terrific.The rest of the book, perpetuating the myth that carbs are evil, has been persuasively criticized. (See, for example, here.)

 

[Chaka]

What is the quintessential book to read about paleo diets?

I am not sure that there is a quintessential book.Sisson's Primal Blueprint is probably the easiest to digest while Taubes' Good Calories, Bad Calories is pretty dense with the science to support his claims. Jaminet's The Perfect Health diet probably falls somewhere in between but I found it to be somewhat vague and I needed to do a lot of cross referencing with their recommendations throughout the book to figure out the numbers.Ultimately they all pretty much reinforce the same ideas.

 

[Rick James]

Haven't read anything else along those lines, but Good Calories, Bad Calories is pretty well recomended.

The first 100 pages, destroying the myth that fat is evil, are terrific.The rest of the book, perpetuating the myth that carbs are evil, has been persuasively criticized. (See, for example, here.)

So low carb / paleo isn't the way to go? Things change so quickly it's hard to keep up

 

[Rick James]

Haven't read anything else along those lines, but Good Calories, Bad Calories is pretty well recomended.

The first 100 pages, destroying the myth that fat is evil, are terrific.The rest of the book, perpetuating the myth that carbs are evil, has been persuasively criticized. (See, for example, here.)

So low carb / paleo isn't the way to go? Things change so quickly it's hard to keep up

low carb/paleo are not the same thing.Eat food without ingredients. Don't worry too much about the bickering in here until you've read enough to be able to understand that a lot of this is splitting hairs. Some of us enjoy the bickering, but if reading people arguing about potatoes makes you say "#### it, nobody can know what's actually good, I'll just have a big mac" then it's probably best to read one of the books listed and then come in here.

But, if I could get people to follow one rule, it would be to eat food without ingredients.

That's right. I keep forgetting paleo is just anti-sugar, not anti-carbs. Carbs from veggies are A-ok.

 

[cosjobs]

What is the quintessential book to read about paleo diets?

I am not sure that there is a quintessential book.Sisson's Primal Blueprint is probably the easiest to digest while Taubes' Good Calories, Bad Calories is pretty dense with the science to support his claims. Jaminet's The Perfect Health diet probably falls somewhere in between but I found it to be somewhat vague and I needed to do a lot of cross referencing with their recommendations throughout the book to figure out the numbers.Ultimately they all pretty much reinforce the same ideas.

Agree on the vagueness of the Jaminet book. I am really hoping the new edition co-authored with Sisson lends more clarity. I was very persuaded by the book's arguments but had a hard time implementing the diet.

 

[cosjobs]

Haven't read anything else along those lines, but Good Calories, Bad Calories is pretty well recomended.

The first 100 pages, destroying the myth that fat is evil, are terrific.The rest of the book, perpetuating the myth that carbs are evil, has been persuasively criticized. (See, for example, here.)

So low carb / paleo isn't the way to go? Things change so quickly it's hard to keep up

low carb/paleo are not the same thing.Eat food without ingredients. Don't worry too much about the bickering in here until you've read enough to be able to understand that a lot of this is splitting hairs. Some of us enjoy the bickering, but if reading people arguing about potatoes makes you say "#### it, nobody can know what's actually good, I'll just have a big mac" then it's probably best to read one of the books listed and then come in here.

But, if I could get people to follow one rule, it would be to eat food without ingredients.

That's right. I keep forgetting paleo is just anti-sugar, not anti-carbs. Carbs from veggies are A-ok.

Not so much anti-carb as anti-grain, altho Jaminet makes a very strong arguement for some potatoes, yams and rice.

 

[Maurile Tremblay]

That's right. I keep forgetting paleo is just anti-sugar, not anti-carbs. Carbs from veggies are A-ok.

"Paleo" means different things to different people, but if it means eating foods that our paleolithic ancestors ate, there may be nothing more paleo than fruits and starchy tubers. Our ancestors have been eating fruits since way before they were human. And starchy tubers (e.g., yams) probably became a prominent part of the diet around the same time that meat did, possibly a bit before (if Richard Wrangham's theory is right).It's not as simple as "sugar is bad." It's more like "Oreos are bad; but oranges are great, especially if you are physically active."The reason Oreos are bad isn't just because of the sugar. It's because they are devoid of beneficial nutrients, and their artificially engineered tastiness leads to overconsumption. Oranges don't have those problems.

 

[Ramsay Hunt Experience]

That's right. I keep forgetting paleo is just anti-sugar, not anti-carbs. Carbs from veggies are A-ok.

"Paleo" means different things to different people, but if it means eating foods that our paleolithic ancestors ate, there may be nothing more paleo than fruits and starchy tubers. Our ancestors have been eating fruits since way before they were human. And starchy tubers (e.g., yams) probably became a prominent part of the diet around the same time that meat did, possibly a bit before (if Richard Wrangham's theory is right).It's not as simple as "sugar is bad." It's more like "Oreos are bad; but oranges are great, especially if you are physically active."The reason Oreos are bad isn't just because of the sugar. It's because they are devoid of beneficial nutrients, and their artificially engineered tastiness leads to overconsumption. Oranges don't have those problems.

In fairness, early paleo books did demonize fruit. Or they would just assert that "modern fruits" are sugar bombs. Denise Minger's rebuttal of that point re: modern v. ancestral fruits is kind of an underrated moment in the paleo movement. It became clear that some smart people interested in ancestral health were going to call out unsupported stuff said by other people interested in the movement. Just in my first year following it, Taubes went from a guy who was almost unquestioned to a guy who had lost almost all of his credibility.

 

[phrozen]

That's right. I keep forgetting paleo is just anti-sugar, not anti-carbs. Carbs from veggies are A-ok.

"Paleo" means different things to different people, but if it means eating foods that our paleolithic ancestors ate, there may be nothing more paleo than fruits and starchy tubers. Our ancestors have been eating fruits since way before they were human. And starchy tubers (e.g., yams) probably became a prominent part of the diet around the same time that meat did, possibly a bit before (if Richard Wrangham's theory is right).It's not as simple as "sugar is bad." It's more like "Oreos are bad; but oranges are great, especially if you are physically active."The reason Oreos are bad isn't just because of the sugar. It's because they are devoid of beneficial nutrients, and their artificially engineered tastiness leads to overconsumption. Oranges don't have those problems.

In fairness, early paleo books did demonize fruit. Or they would just assert that "modern fruits" are sugar bombs. Denise Minger's rebuttal of that point re: modern v. ancestral fruits is kind of an underrated moment in the paleo movement. It became clear that some smart people interested in ancestral health were going to call out unsupported stuff said by other people interested in the movement. Just in my first year following it, Taubes went from a guy who was almost unquestioned to a guy who had lost almost all of his credibility.

the fruit that frequents the grocery store shelves is not the same as it was thousands of years ago. The fruit today is sweeter, has more sugars, and at least for me, eaten on a less frequent basis.

 

[Ramsay Hunt Experience]

That's right. I keep forgetting paleo is just anti-sugar, not anti-carbs. Carbs from veggies are A-ok.

"Paleo" means different things to different people, but if it means eating foods that our paleolithic ancestors ate, there may be nothing more paleo than fruits and starchy tubers. Our ancestors have been eating fruits since way before they were human. And starchy tubers (e.g., yams) probably became a prominent part of the diet around the same time that meat did, possibly a bit before (if Richard Wrangham's theory is right).It's not as simple as "sugar is bad." It's more like "Oreos are bad; but oranges are great, especially if you are physically active."The reason Oreos are bad isn't just because of the sugar. It's because they are devoid of beneficial nutrients, and their artificially engineered tastiness leads to overconsumption. Oranges don't have those problems.

In fairness, early paleo books did demonize fruit. Or they would just assert that "modern fruits" are sugar bombs. Denise Minger's rebuttal of that point re: modern v. ancestral fruits is kind of an underrated moment in the paleo movement. It became clear that some smart people interested in ancestral health were going to call out unsupported stuff said by other people interested in the movement. Just in my first year following it, Taubes went from a guy who was almost unquestioned to a guy who had lost almost all of his credibility.

the fruit that frequents the grocery store shelves is not the same as it was thousands of years ago. The fruit today is sweeter, has more sugars, and at least for me, eaten on a less frequent basis.

Yeah, Denise Minger completely destroyed that myth.

 

[Chaos Commish]

That's right. I keep forgetting paleo is just anti-sugar, not anti-carbs. Carbs from veggies are A-ok.

"Paleo" means different things to different people, but if it means eating foods that our paleolithic ancestors ate, there may be nothing more paleo than fruits and starchy tubers. Our ancestors have been eating fruits since way before they were human. And starchy tubers (e.g., yams) probably became a prominent part of the diet around the same time that meat did, possibly a bit before (if Richard Wrangham's theory is right).It's not as simple as "sugar is bad." It's more like "Oreos are bad; but oranges are great, especially if you are physically active."The reason Oreos are bad isn't just because of the sugar. It's because they are devoid of beneficial nutrients, and their artificially engineered tastiness leads to overconsumption. Oranges don't have those problems.

In fairness, early paleo books did demonize fruit. Or they would just assert that "modern fruits" are sugar bombs. Denise Minger's rebuttal of that point re: modern v. ancestral fruits is kind of an underrated moment in the paleo movement. It became clear that some smart people interested in ancestral health were going to call out unsupported stuff said by other people interested in the movement. Just in my first year following it, Taubes went from a guy who was almost unquestioned to a guy who had lost almost all of his credibility.

Taubes is Paleo 1. I have a degree in accounting. That begins with a class called Accounting 1. In that class you learn theory, basic ledger keeping and financial statements. It's a needed foundation. For the next few years you'll take classes that progressively overrule things taught in the basic class. Good Calories Bad Calories, flawed and incomplete, is still a great foundation to the topic.I just scanned the last two pages of this thread thinking about sharing my mom's testimony. I just don't want to jinx her... haha. Anyway, a couple pages back there's a strong statement by someone that cutting out grains and sugars are great and then just go from there. I think the importance of eliminating refined oils, and adding better oils may be neck and neck with grains, and it's nice to see sugar in healthy packages gaining acceptance. Six years ago my "partner" at Mark's Daily Apple, who despises vegetables, took off 100 pounds on a diet that consisted primarily of fruit. No low carbing, no ketogenics, lots of sugar. She took a ton of grief in the forums there back then, but her results were so consistent she stuck with it. Ya know. Whatever works for you.

 

[Ramsay Hunt Experience]

That's right. I keep forgetting paleo is just anti-sugar, not anti-carbs. Carbs from veggies are A-ok.

"Paleo" means different things to different people, but if it means eating foods that our paleolithic ancestors ate, there may be nothing more paleo than fruits and starchy tubers. Our ancestors have been eating fruits since way before they were human. And starchy tubers (e.g., yams) probably became a prominent part of the diet around the same time that meat did, possibly a bit before (if Richard Wrangham's theory is right).It's not as simple as "sugar is bad." It's more like "Oreos are bad; but oranges are great, especially if you are physically active."The reason Oreos are bad isn't just because of the sugar. It's because they are devoid of beneficial nutrients, and their artificially engineered tastiness leads to overconsumption. Oranges don't have those problems.

In fairness, early paleo books did demonize fruit. Or they would just assert that "modern fruits" are sugar bombs. Denise Minger's rebuttal of that point re: modern v. ancestral fruits is kind of an underrated moment in the paleo movement. It became clear that some smart people interested in ancestral health were going to call out unsupported stuff said by other people interested in the movement. Just in my first year following it, Taubes went from a guy who was almost unquestioned to a guy who had lost almost all of his credibility.

Taubes is Paleo 1. I have a degree in accounting. That begins with a class called Accounting 1. In that class you learn theory, basic ledger keeping and financial statements. It's a needed foundation. For the next few years you'll take classes that progressively overrule things taught in the basic class. Good Calories Bad Calories, flawed and incomplete, is still a great foundation to the topic.I just scanned the last two pages of this thread thinking about sharing my mom's testimony. I just don't want to jinx her... haha. Anyway, a couple pages back there's a strong statement by someone that cutting out grains and sugars are great and then just go from there. I think the importance of eliminating refined oils, and adding better oils may be neck and neck with grains, and it's nice to see sugar in healthy packages gaining acceptance. Six years ago my "partner" at Mark's Daily Apple, who despises vegetables, took off 100 pounds on a diet that consisted primarily of fruit. No low carbing, no ketogenics, lots of sugar. She took a ton of grief in the forums there back then, but her results were so consistent she stuck with it. Ya know. Whatever works for you.

Yeah. I'm a guy who has kind of strayed from Paleo principles and has paid for it. There are a lot of factors, including an unrelated heath issue, but for some people, caving on starches or eating other sweet things might lead into other worse habits. Such as saying, "screw it, what's one pasta meal every once in a while?" I do imagine for many people with significant weight to lose, it's probably easier to do while low carbing due to appetite control.

 

[phrozen]

That's right. I keep forgetting paleo is just anti-sugar, not anti-carbs. Carbs from veggies are A-ok.

"Paleo" means different things to different people, but if it means eating foods that our paleolithic ancestors ate, there may be nothing more paleo than fruits and starchy tubers. Our ancestors have been eating fruits since way before they were human. And starchy tubers (e.g., yams) probably became a prominent part of the diet around the same time that meat did, possibly a bit before (if Richard Wrangham's theory is right).It's not as simple as "sugar is bad." It's more like "Oreos are bad; but oranges are great, especially if you are physically active."The reason Oreos are bad isn't just because of the sugar. It's because they are devoid of beneficial nutrients, and their artificially engineered tastiness leads to overconsumption. Oranges don't have those problems.

In fairness, early paleo books did demonize fruit. Or they would just assert that "modern fruits" are sugar bombs. Denise Minger's rebuttal of that point re: modern v. ancestral fruits is kind of an underrated moment in the paleo movement. It became clear that some smart people interested in ancestral health were going to call out unsupported stuff said by other people interested in the movement. Just in my first year following it, Taubes went from a guy who was almost unquestioned to a guy who had lost almost all of his credibility.

the fruit that frequents the grocery store shelves is not the same as it was thousands of years ago. The fruit today is sweeter, has more sugars, and at least for me, eaten on a less frequent basis.

Yeah, Denise Minger completely destroyed that myth.

thanks for the link. looks like an interesting read.

 

[culdeus]

Haven't read anything else along those lines, but Good Calories, Bad Calories is pretty well recomended.

The first 100 pages, destroying the myth that fat is evil, are terrific.The rest of the book, perpetuating the myth that carbs are evil, has been persuasively criticized. (See, for example, here.)

Good link.

 

[Limp Ditka]

That's right. I keep forgetting paleo is just anti-sugar, not anti-carbs. Carbs from veggies are A-ok.

"Paleo" means different things to different people, but if it means eating foods that our paleolithic ancestors ate, there may be nothing more paleo than fruits and starchy tubers. Our ancestors have been eating fruits since way before they were human. And starchy tubers (e.g., yams) probably became a prominent part of the diet around the same time that meat did, possibly a bit before (if Richard Wrangham's theory is right).It's not as simple as "sugar is bad." It's more like "Oreos are bad; but oranges are great, especially if you are physically active."The reason Oreos are bad isn't just because of the sugar. It's because they are devoid of beneficial nutrients, and their artificially engineered tastiness leads to overconsumption. Oranges don't have those problems.

In fairness, early paleo books did demonize fruit. Or they would just assert that "modern fruits" are sugar bombs. Denise Minger's rebuttal of that point re: modern v. ancestral fruits is kind of an underrated moment in the paleo movement. It became clear that some smart people interested in ancestral health were going to call out unsupported stuff said by other people interested in the movement. Just in my first year following it, Taubes went from a guy who was almost unquestioned to a guy who had lost almost all of his credibility.

the fruit that frequents the grocery store shelves is not the same as it was thousands of years ago. The fruit today is sweeter, has more sugars, and at least for me, eaten on a less frequent basis.

Because you know how the fruit tasted thousands of years ago?

 

[culdeus]

That's right. I keep forgetting paleo is just anti-sugar, not anti-carbs. Carbs from veggies are A-ok.

"Paleo" means different things to different people, but if it means eating foods that our paleolithic ancestors ate, there may be nothing more paleo than fruits and starchy tubers. Our ancestors have been eating fruits since way before they were human. And starchy tubers (e.g., yams) probably became a prominent part of the diet around the same time that meat did, possibly a bit before (if Richard Wrangham's theory is right).It's not as simple as "sugar is bad." It's more like "Oreos are bad; but oranges are great, especially if you are physically active."

The reason Oreos are bad isn't just because of the sugar. It's because they are devoid of beneficial nutrients, and their artificially engineered tastiness leads to overconsumption. Oranges don't have those problems.

The tastiness is sugar, lets not go nuts here. Sugar alone is going to drive consumption as we are built to seek and consume it whenever it is found.

 

[cosjobs]

Question for smart guys:Why are people in the paleo community against legumes because of phytic acid (that you can soak/ferment out) but not anti-nut/spinach for the same reasons? Why are raw, unprocessed almonds ok for "paleo" but soaked beans aren't?

There have been a number of studies showing a strong correlation between excreted "second hand" methane gas exacerbated by legumes and significantly increased risk of cancer, diabetes and gout in the subject's immediate family and pets.

 

[shader]

I love Taubes. He really started a movement and did an amazing job destroying the myths that have been around for years.

I think where he went wrong was that he went TOO far. If he had stuck with sugar and refined carbs only, than his book never goes out of style.

But he's a little too "Atkins" for the average person. And he had some rather curious ideas about exercise.

 

[culdeus]

Question for smart guys:Why are people in the paleo community against legumes because of phytic acid (that you can soak/ferment out) but not anti-nut/spinach for the same reasons? Why are raw, unprocessed almonds ok for "paleo" but soaked beans aren't?

There have been a number of studies showing a strong correlation between excreted "second hand" methane gas exacerbated by legumes and significantly increased risk of cancer, diabetes and gout in the subject's immediate family and pets.

You are gonna have to come strong with link(s) here. Google is nearly dry except talking about how methane gas cow farts is killing the ozone layer.

 

[Random]

Whats the deal on potatoes? How should they be cooked? Is the skin good or bad?

 

[Maurile Tremblay]

I think if you really tried hard enough you could pin the humble russet as a key factor in all sorts of problems here.

In the form of french fries, I agree.A boiled or baked potato without butter or sour cream is not only nutritious, but it is very filling. Potatoes might be the most filling food in existence on a per calorie basis. (They were found to be the most filling of the 38 foods that were tested in one experiment; Google "satiety index.")

But when you fry them in oil and cover them with salt, they become very tasty and much easier to overconsume. The combination of carbs and fat together seems to make foods much more palatable than foods found in nature, which typically come with either carbs or fat, but not both. (Milk is the only exception I can think of that has both fat and carbs in decent amounts. And milk, being for infants, is designed to promote weight gain.)

It's not as simple as "sugar is bad." It's more like "Oreos are bad; but oranges are great, especially if you are physically active."

The reason Oreos are bad isn't just because of the sugar. It's because they are devoid of beneficial nutrients, and their artificially engineered tastiness leads to overconsumption. Oranges don't have those problems.

The tastiness is sugar, lets not go nuts here. Sugar alone is going to drive consumption as we are built to seek and consume it whenever it is found.

It's very difficult to eat 800 calories of pure sugar in one sitting, just like it's very difficult to eat 800 calories of plain butter in one sitting. After your second spoonfull of either one, you'd likely be grossed out and want to quit. But put them together to make toffee, and all of a sudden it's pretty easy. The cream filling made of vegetable oil is essential to Oreos' tastiness, I think. It's the combination of carbs and fat together that seems to get snack foods to sell particularly well.

 

[Ramsay Hunt Experience]

Whats the deal on potatoes? How should they be cooked? Is the skin good or bad?

There are any number of ways to cook potatoes. The one way not to cook them, is to deep fry them. And if you do sautee them, some fats are probably better than others. Avoid seed oils. Maybe see if you enjoy coconut oil or beef tallow or red palm oil. Olive oil is fairly neutral.The skin contains all the antinutrients in a potato, so that's one argument for peeling. I'm not sure the glycononoids are a huge problem. I generally peel unless I'm baking a potato. I do eat the skin of baked sweet potatoes. My favorite use for potatoes are in a stew made with a bone broth combined with other root veggies like carrots and turnips, some type of protein (generally a grass fed short rib or chuck roast) and sometimes some greens like Kale.

 

[Slapdash]

One thing about these diets is it makes it impossible to figure out what to get for lunch when I'm at work. Avoiding gluten and seed oils is pretty much impossible. I seem intolerant of both of those so I often just end up skipping lunch.

 

[Slapdash]

One thing about these diets is it makes it impossible to figure out what to get for lunch when I'm at work. Avoiding gluten and seed oils is pretty much impossible. I seem intolerant of both of those so I often just end up skipping lunch.

dinner leftovers in tupperware

Not a fan of bringing leftovers into the office at all, I'd rather skip honestly. Plus, I typically want to have the leftovers for dinner the next night so I don't have to cook every day...