Can someone do a quick summary of what the Paleo diet entails?
I gather it is no grains or legumes and I am guessing no processed food. So that leaves all meat, dairy, fruit and veg. Right? What about lightly processed stuff like EV olive oil, frozen peas etc?
And why would one try it? Presumably good for multiple food sensitivities?
Lyn
What is the Paleo diet?
Moderators: Rosie, JFR, Dee, xet, Gabes-Apg, grannyh, Gloria, Mars, starfire, Polly, Joefnh, mbeezie
Hi Lyn,
Polly can probably give you a better answer than I can, but the paleo diet is a reasonably close approximation of the diet utilized by our ancient ancestors, over hundreds of thousands of years preceding the neolithic period of history. During the neolithic period of our history, (beginning roughly 20,000 years ago), nomadic tribes began to establish permanent settlements as they "discovered" agriculture, and slowly developed grain crop production, livestock ranching, dairy, etc. In other words, the paleo diet is a hunter-gatherer diet, and it is sometimes referred to that way. Since our digestive systems were developed over thousands of generations of our ancestors, eating this diet, it is assumed that these foods are more easily tolerated by our digestive systems, and they are healthier and generally safer for us. On the overall timescale of human development, the 20,000 years that we have been eating wheat, and other grains, is only a brief blip of time, so in theory, our digestive systems have not evolved sufficiently to efficiently digest the products developed during the neolithic period, and later.
You are partially correct - actually the paleo diet excludes all grains, legumes, and dairy products, (which were all developed during the neolithic period). It does not exclude fruits and vegetables, however, nor does it exclude most root crops, such as sweet potatoes, manioc, (tapioca). Nuts, berries, honey, and natural oils, (such as olive oil), are also all allowed, since they were all a part of the original paleo diet. Technically, potatoes are not allowed in the diet by purists, but since virtually no one reacts to Irish potatoes, there is really no good reason why they cannot be eaten, and some who otherwise follow the paleo diet, do include potatoes in their diets.
And yes, technically, no processed or canned foods are allowed. Dried, smoked, or even salt-preserved items should be fair game, and I would think that frozen food, (unprocessed, otherwise),should not be off limits, since some of the later paleo "tribes" lived in very cold climates, and could have utilized the preservation qualities of ice.
Tex
Polly can probably give you a better answer than I can, but the paleo diet is a reasonably close approximation of the diet utilized by our ancient ancestors, over hundreds of thousands of years preceding the neolithic period of history. During the neolithic period of our history, (beginning roughly 20,000 years ago), nomadic tribes began to establish permanent settlements as they "discovered" agriculture, and slowly developed grain crop production, livestock ranching, dairy, etc. In other words, the paleo diet is a hunter-gatherer diet, and it is sometimes referred to that way. Since our digestive systems were developed over thousands of generations of our ancestors, eating this diet, it is assumed that these foods are more easily tolerated by our digestive systems, and they are healthier and generally safer for us. On the overall timescale of human development, the 20,000 years that we have been eating wheat, and other grains, is only a brief blip of time, so in theory, our digestive systems have not evolved sufficiently to efficiently digest the products developed during the neolithic period, and later.
You are partially correct - actually the paleo diet excludes all grains, legumes, and dairy products, (which were all developed during the neolithic period). It does not exclude fruits and vegetables, however, nor does it exclude most root crops, such as sweet potatoes, manioc, (tapioca). Nuts, berries, honey, and natural oils, (such as olive oil), are also all allowed, since they were all a part of the original paleo diet. Technically, potatoes are not allowed in the diet by purists, but since virtually no one reacts to Irish potatoes, there is really no good reason why they cannot be eaten, and some who otherwise follow the paleo diet, do include potatoes in their diets.
And yes, technically, no processed or canned foods are allowed. Dried, smoked, or even salt-preserved items should be fair game, and I would think that frozen food, (unprocessed, otherwise),should not be off limits, since some of the later paleo "tribes" lived in very cold climates, and could have utilized the preservation qualities of ice.
Tex
It is suspected that some of the hardest material known to science can be found in the skulls of GI specialists who insist that diet has nothing to do with the treatment of microscopic colitis.
Hi Lyn and 
to the potty people!
Tex has given you an excellent description of the paleo diet (also known as the caveman or hunter-gatherer diet).
The theory is that human genes that allow for the digestion of grains and dairy have not yet had time to evolve properly. In fact, if you look at the entire amount of time that humans have inhabited the earth, they have eaten grains/dairy less than 1 percent of that time!
Apparently hunter-gatherers persisted for a long time in Europe, and many of us have this ancestry, the British Isles in particular. Ireland has the highest incidence of celiac disease in the world, and I find it interesting that its staple food is the potato, unlike so many countries whose staple is a grain.
Any veggie/legume that must be cooked for a long time to be edible, like potato or dried beans, is excluded. Eggs are OK, as they were in the diet briefly during the bird nesting season. Seeds are OK too.
Many believe this diet may be the healthiest for most people. In fact, anthropologists have found (from fossils or however they do it) that our ancestors on the hunter-gatherer diet were taller, longer-lived, healthier, and had better teeth than those who later began farming and ate mainly grains.
Hope this helps!
Polly
P.S. A good way to learn about this diet is to read the book by Dr. Loren Cordain titled "The Paleo Diet".
to the potty people!Tex has given you an excellent description of the paleo diet (also known as the caveman or hunter-gatherer diet).
The theory is that human genes that allow for the digestion of grains and dairy have not yet had time to evolve properly. In fact, if you look at the entire amount of time that humans have inhabited the earth, they have eaten grains/dairy less than 1 percent of that time!
Apparently hunter-gatherers persisted for a long time in Europe, and many of us have this ancestry, the British Isles in particular. Ireland has the highest incidence of celiac disease in the world, and I find it interesting that its staple food is the potato, unlike so many countries whose staple is a grain.
Any veggie/legume that must be cooked for a long time to be edible, like potato or dried beans, is excluded. Eggs are OK, as they were in the diet briefly during the bird nesting season. Seeds are OK too.
Many believe this diet may be the healthiest for most people. In fact, anthropologists have found (from fossils or however they do it) that our ancestors on the hunter-gatherer diet were taller, longer-lived, healthier, and had better teeth than those who later began farming and ate mainly grains.
Hope this helps!
Polly
P.S. A good way to learn about this diet is to read the book by Dr. Loren Cordain titled "The Paleo Diet".
Blessed are they who can laugh at themselves, for they shall never cease to be amused.
I have a couple of questions about the Paleo diet.
1) I am hoping to try chia and hemp seeds, which I've heard are both very nutritious. I already successfully eat quinoa and millet, but I think that buckwheat is causing me a lot of problems. Are chia, hemp, quinoa, and millet part of the paleo plan?
2) Potatoes -- apparently they are not part of the plan, but they seem OK anyway? I am afraid I would starve if I gave up potatoes.
3) Sweet potatoes -- Are they part of the paleo plan or not?
4) For a person, such as me, who is sensitive, according to EnteroLabs, to eggs, tuna, chicken, pork, and all nuts, do you really think it's possible to get enough calories on a paleo diet?
I would appreciate your responses, as I am very interested in paleo's large variety of fruits and vegetables, which I've been sorely missing.
1) I am hoping to try chia and hemp seeds, which I've heard are both very nutritious. I already successfully eat quinoa and millet, but I think that buckwheat is causing me a lot of problems. Are chia, hemp, quinoa, and millet part of the paleo plan?
2) Potatoes -- apparently they are not part of the plan, but they seem OK anyway? I am afraid I would starve if I gave up potatoes.
3) Sweet potatoes -- Are they part of the paleo plan or not?
4) For a person, such as me, who is sensitive, according to EnteroLabs, to eggs, tuna, chicken, pork, and all nuts, do you really think it's possible to get enough calories on a paleo diet?
I would appreciate your responses, as I am very interested in paleo's large variety of fruits and vegetables, which I've been sorely missing.
Yes, but please be aware that several sources of quinoa have been shown to be cross-contaminated with barley, which is a source of gluten. "Safe" quinoa is available, but you have to seek out a safe brand. You can learn more in the thread at this link:tnelson wrote:1) I am hoping to try chia and hemp seeds, which I've heard are both very nutritious. I already successfully eat quinoa and millet, but I think that buckwheat is causing me a lot of problems. Are chia, hemp, quinoa, and millet part of the paleo plan?
http://www.perskyfarms.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=15853
Yes, potatoes are not paleo, but they are safe for most of us (though a few seem to react to them).tnelson wrote:2) Potatoes -- apparently they are not part of the plan, but they seem OK anyway? I am afraid I would starve if I gave up potatoes.
Yes, sweet potatoes are paleo, and they're safe for most of us. There are a very few members who react to them, though.tnelson wrote:3) Sweet potatoes -- Are they part of the paleo plan or not?
Sure. There are many members here who have many more sensitivities than you listed, and they do OK. Meat provides all the essential amino acids, and many paleo tribes almost surely lived on meat alone for much of the time. Contrary to USDA and other "official" propaganda, animal fat is healthy, and it was probably a vital part of the original paleo diet. If you feel that you need additional calories, you can always add corn, rice, potatoes or other carbs, (provided you can tolerate them). They're not paleo, but they have a high calorie content. Remember, feed lot operators don't fatten livestock with vegetables -- they use corn or sorghum, or other grains.tnelson wrote:4) For a person, such as me, who is sensitive, according to EnteroLabs, to eggs, tuna, chicken, pork, and all nuts, do you really think it's possible to get enough calories on a paleo diet?
Tex
It is suspected that some of the hardest material known to science can be found in the skulls of GI specialists who insist that diet has nothing to do with the treatment of microscopic colitis.
-
MBombardier
- Rockhopper Penguin
- Posts: 1523
- Joined: Thu Oct 14, 2010 10:44 am
- Location: Vancouver, WA
http://paleofood.com/
This is a website I frequent for paleo recipes. The blurb says, "The PaleoFood Cookbook -- 1244 Recipes in 46 Chapters. Recipes are: gluten-free, grain-free, bean-free, potato-free, dairy-free, and sugar-free. Ingredients used: meat, fish, shellfish, eggs, tree nuts, vegetables, roots, fruit, berries, mushrooms, herbs and spice seeds. None of these recipes were taken from other paleo diet (or Crossfit) websites.
On the right side there is a list of Paleo cookbooks. I use recipes from Everyday Paleo a lot. The last meal we fixed from it was zucchini lasagna and it was so good. I also have the Primal Blueprint Cookbook. We eat the coconut pancakes out of that one fairly often.
As a person with multiple food sensitivities, I have found the Paleo diet to be a lifesaver. I don't feel deprived, and I know that I am getting good nutrition.
This is a website I frequent for paleo recipes. The blurb says, "The PaleoFood Cookbook -- 1244 Recipes in 46 Chapters. Recipes are: gluten-free, grain-free, bean-free, potato-free, dairy-free, and sugar-free. Ingredients used: meat, fish, shellfish, eggs, tree nuts, vegetables, roots, fruit, berries, mushrooms, herbs and spice seeds. None of these recipes were taken from other paleo diet (or Crossfit) websites.
On the right side there is a list of Paleo cookbooks. I use recipes from Everyday Paleo a lot. The last meal we fixed from it was zucchini lasagna and it was so good. I also have the Primal Blueprint Cookbook. We eat the coconut pancakes out of that one fairly often.
As a person with multiple food sensitivities, I have found the Paleo diet to be a lifesaver. I don't feel deprived, and I know that I am getting good nutrition.
Marliss Bombardier
Dum spiro, spero -- While I breathe, I hope
Psoriasis - the dark ages
Hashimoto's Thyroiditis - Dec 2001
Collagenous Colitis - Sept 2010
Granuloma Annulare - June 2011
Dum spiro, spero -- While I breathe, I hope
Psoriasis - the dark ages
Hashimoto's Thyroiditis - Dec 2001
Collagenous Colitis - Sept 2010
Granuloma Annulare - June 2011
Thanks Tex and Marliss. I didn't add to the list that I react violently to rice (noctural D is assured) and corn is also off the list. Now that I think buckwheat is what may have been causing me problems over the last month--dare I hope--that's also off the table--ha--I'm sure that's a well worn pun around here :-) .
The paleo diet is indeed very appealing to me. I am seriously looking at the Paleo diet because it emphasizes fruits and veggies. All the "products of modern agriculture"--grains, eggs, milk--seem to be out for me. I used to be a vegetarian, but I think it's a luxury I cannot afford now. Without soy and all the grains, vegetarian would not provide sufficient nutrition.
Like you, Marliss, I'm very concerned about good nutrition. Do you go out of your way to find antibiotic-free animal products?
The paleo diet is indeed very appealing to me. I am seriously looking at the Paleo diet because it emphasizes fruits and veggies. All the "products of modern agriculture"--grains, eggs, milk--seem to be out for me. I used to be a vegetarian, but I think it's a luxury I cannot afford now. Without soy and all the grains, vegetarian would not provide sufficient nutrition.
Like you, Marliss, I'm very concerned about good nutrition. Do you go out of your way to find antibiotic-free animal products?
P.S. I just looked at the cooking site. Yum. Lots of nice stuff there. I wish I had a batch of the coconut pancakes right now!
I will have to take out the nuts for now--but I've heard that one can soak nuts and pour off the water and make them safe(r). Right now, though, things are in too much of an uproar to chance it.
Are "paleo" and "primal" essentially the same food plan? are there key differences?
I will have to take out the nuts for now--but I've heard that one can soak nuts and pour off the water and make them safe(r). Right now, though, things are in too much of an uproar to chance it.
Are "paleo" and "primal" essentially the same food plan? are there key differences?
-
MBombardier
- Rockhopper Penguin
- Posts: 1523
- Joined: Thu Oct 14, 2010 10:44 am
- Location: Vancouver, WA
Well, living in the green PNW, finding antibiotic-free animal products is comparatively easy, as is finding less-expensive organic foods. Poultry is always antibiotic-free (I think there's a law about that), and the beef I buy is grass-fed from eastern Oregon. It goes to the feedlot for the last couple of months, but I can't afford the completely grass-fed beef.
Paleo and primal are essentially the same but there are a few key differences. Here is an explanation from Mark's Daily Apple website:
http://www.marksdailyapple.com/whats-th ... z1vS3KZASp
This is the guy who wrote The Primal Blueprint, so naturally he's more in favor of primal than paleo. I personally like what Loren Cordain (the guy mainly responsible for the paleo movement) says, which is if you eat at least 85% paleo you will do fine. Of course, those of us with GI tracts in an uproar have to be a little more diligent. But someday...
Paleo and primal are essentially the same but there are a few key differences. Here is an explanation from Mark's Daily Apple website:
http://www.marksdailyapple.com/whats-th ... z1vS3KZASp
This is the guy who wrote The Primal Blueprint, so naturally he's more in favor of primal than paleo. I personally like what Loren Cordain (the guy mainly responsible for the paleo movement) says, which is if you eat at least 85% paleo you will do fine. Of course, those of us with GI tracts in an uproar have to be a little more diligent. But someday...
Marliss Bombardier
Dum spiro, spero -- While I breathe, I hope
Psoriasis - the dark ages
Hashimoto's Thyroiditis - Dec 2001
Collagenous Colitis - Sept 2010
Granuloma Annulare - June 2011
Dum spiro, spero -- While I breathe, I hope
Psoriasis - the dark ages
Hashimoto's Thyroiditis - Dec 2001
Collagenous Colitis - Sept 2010
Granuloma Annulare - June 2011
-
humbird753
- Rockhopper Penguin
- Posts: 1014
- Joined: Mon Nov 28, 2011 4:44 pm
- Location: Wisconsin
Marliss - thank you for this information on the Paleo diet. I have been considering on going this route. I was pleasantly surprised to see so many recipes available.
Paula
Paula
Paula
"You'll never know how strong you are until being strong is the only choice you have."
"Life is not about waiting for the storm to pass... It's learning to dance in the rain."
"You'll never know how strong you are until being strong is the only choice you have."
"Life is not about waiting for the storm to pass... It's learning to dance in the rain."
-
MBombardier
- Rockhopper Penguin
- Posts: 1523
- Joined: Thu Oct 14, 2010 10:44 am
- Location: Vancouver, WA
Hi Sally,
Irish Potatoes are simply regular, white potatoes (Solanum tuberosum), the type most commonly seen in grocery stores.
Sweet potatoes and yams are considered to be paleo foods, while Irish potatoes are not.
Tex
Irish Potatoes are simply regular, white potatoes (Solanum tuberosum), the type most commonly seen in grocery stores.
Sweet potatoes and yams are considered to be paleo foods, while Irish potatoes are not.
Tex
It is suspected that some of the hardest material known to science can be found in the skulls of GI specialists who insist that diet has nothing to do with the treatment of microscopic colitis.
-
IDontGiveA
- Little Blue Penguin
- Posts: 25
- Joined: Mon Feb 15, 2010 9:41 am
- Location: Brazil
I have read one of Dr. Cordains books, and I was under the impression that starchy tubers were out. Online there seems to be varying opinions, some say potatoes yes, other no. Here in Brazil, cassava (tapioca) was a staple of the indigenous peoples. The word tapioca in fact is from their language. If I remember correctly, cassava was the staple of Brazil less than 100 years ago. Interestingly the rate of obesity and heart disease was drastically less here as little as 30 years ago. This of course coincides with the introduction of processed, industrialized food here....
Tony
Tony