Paleo Questions

TooManyHats · Post by **TooManyHats** » Wed Mar 23, 2011 7:47 pm

I understand how this diet could be more healthy, but how can someone who is still experiencing D eat paleo? The only vegetable I eat on occasion is well cooked carrots. Right now, I'm eating no fruit at all. Would canned fruit be better? But then there's the sugar and juice concentrates they're packed with.

I've read various posts on this diet at various times and can't remember whether the majority of people here allow rice and potatoes (btw, I ate raw white potatoes all the time as a kid whenever I could swipe some from my grandmother when she was making dinner--I didn't know they were considered inedible when raw!?! Did I mention my family was Irish? So obviously, potatoes were a staple at my childhood home).

Am I better off waiting till I stabilize before trying this diet? (at this rate, that could take forever) If not, how would I manage this diet while still having D?

Obviously, no nuts for me at this point, right? And, one last question, is coffee allowed on the Paleo diet?

I know I said that was my last question, but I'm sure I'll have 100 more.

Thank you!

mbeezie · Post by **mbeezie** » Wed Mar 23, 2011 8:26 pm

Arlene,

That's a good question and one that's hard to answer. Clearly you are still reacting to something. Many do find it necesary to cut back on fiber in the early stages, but I never gave up veggies and still stopped D. I see you avoid gluten, dairy and soy. Other problem foods are corn, eggs, other legumes and tapioca, so maybe stay away from those for now (eggs are paleo but the other foods aren't). As for fruits and veggies you might focus on those allowed on the FODMAP diet. FODMAP is a diet used for D and has been discussed before, so you could use the search button on the forum to see previous discussions or do a google search. I'm mostly paleo - only eat rice, corn, potatoes and sweet potatoes. I avoid other grains, legumes and starchy veggies. BTW, I ate nut butter all along as well (but not peanut butter as peanuts are legumes).

Mary Beth

Post by **tex** » Wed Mar 23, 2011 8:27 pm

Here's my 2 cents worth - simply avoid the paleo foods that you know you can't tolerate. If you absolutely can't come up with enough paleo foods to survive on, then modify the diet with a few "safe" neolithic foods, if necessary.

Canned fruit, of course, ltechnically wouldn't be paleo, but the biggest problem, (as you pointed out), is that it often has even higher amounts of sorbitol, because of the added juice, (usually pear juice, I've read somewhere, in many cases), plus the added sugar, of course, in some cases.

Arlene wrote:Obviously, no nuts for me at this point, right?

You might be able to tolerate them better as nut butters.

Arlene wrote:And, one last question, is coffee allowed on the Paleo diet?

It is on this board.

Tex

TooManyHats · Post by **TooManyHats** » Wed Mar 23, 2011 8:53 pm

I do avoid legumes and I can't imagine where I'd be getting any tapioca with what I'm eating. The only time I have corn is in corn chips, but only occasionally. And, that wouldn't be hard to stay away from at all. I haven't eaten eggs in weeks since the last time they sent me to the bathroom.

I've bookmarked the FODMAP food lists, thank you for that suggestion.

If coffee is allowed, what could you put into it? Obviously, no milk.

(I told you I'd have 100 more questions!)

mbeezie · Post by **mbeezie** » Wed Mar 23, 2011 9:00 pm

I now drink my coffee black, no sugar, and I love it. I suggest you give it a try. There are many milk substitutes (almond, coconut hemp etc) but often they have additives that are not tolerated.

Mary Beth

TooManyHats · Post by **TooManyHats** » Wed Mar 23, 2011 9:16 pm

What did you put nut butter on? I love almond butter, but I usually put it on rice cakes.

And I'm sorry to be so pesty, but what about potatoes and rice? I know if you're strict paleo, they're not allowed, but did you eat them in the beginning?

sarkin · Post by **sarkin** » Wed Mar 23, 2011 9:26 pm

Arlene - I think it's great you ask these questions. I have a lot, too - more than answers.

I am thinking about making my own nut milks - no additives. If it's burdensome or I don't like them, I just won't do it again ;) Nuts and water are the only 2 required ingredients. Soaking the nuts overnight in the fridge might help.

I am also a lover of black, unsweetened coffee. Buy special, treat yourself to a new grinder - it's such a small part of our overall food expense, you may as well live it up! I have a cup, maybe 1.5 cups each morning, and that is it, but they are goooood cups.

In the past, I have had almond butter on pear slices or apple slices. I'm not sure about raw fruit yet for me. I think it would be great on dried apple slices, but that doesn't sound like the best choice for you.

When I was in college, I would have just eaten it by the spoonful ;) (OK, I admit it - I probably would have eaten spoonfuls of dirt back then, if someone melted a little cheese on it.) I have also mixed almond butter (or peanut butter, back before I broke up with the legumes family) into chicken broth. Slow stirring helps.

You have emboldened me to reapproach my friend the almond tomorrow, very gently.

I wish you the best - your questions are helping me a lot, but I'm sure you'd be happier at the moment with a few more answers than questions.

Sara

mbeezie · Post by **mbeezie** » Wed Mar 23, 2011 9:29 pm

Nut butter is very versatile. I like sunflower butter on bananas and cashew butter stuffed into medjool dates. You could put almond butter on apple slices. Sometimes I just eat it from the jar. My son is quite fond of Justin's Chocolate Hazelnut Butter - he squeezes the contents of the little pouch right into his mouth and it's a sweet treat. Nut butter can be stirred into hot cereal, onto rice cakes, or onto bread (I occasionally eat Ener-G yeast free white rice loaf . . . it's no treat but when it is toasted it is a good vehicle for the nut butter). You can also make sauces with nut butter. Here's some info on nut butter http://www.cookinglight.com/food/recipe ... 000040028/ I recently made a batch of macadamia nut butter in my food processor - it was sooooo simple. I've also made Asian dipping sauces with nut butter - typically they call for PB but I use sunflower since I think they have a similar flavor.

Mary Beth

Polly · Post by **Polly** » Wed Mar 23, 2011 9:38 pm

I made the chicken with pecan cream sauce and mushrooms in the URL Mary Beth noted above, and it was fantastic!!! A really good, stick to the ribs paleo dish. It tasted so rich and creamy - as you know, sauces of any kind are rare with paleo. So this was indeed a treat.

Polly

TooManyHats · Post by **TooManyHats** » Wed Mar 23, 2011 9:40 pm

So you do eat rice cakes? But not just rice or white potatoes?

If I'm going to do this, I want to do it right. I NEED some relief and from what I've read from various members, this sounds like my best hope.

Polly · Post by **Polly** » Wed Mar 23, 2011 9:46 pm

Arlene,

I like the plain, small rice crackers - there are some with no additives. They make nice little sweet treats when spread with nutbutter and/or jam. And I have been eating some rice too. But no white potatoes - I reacted to them on MRT.

Polly

TooManyHats · Post by **TooManyHats** » Wed Mar 23, 2011 10:00 pm

The ones I use list one ingredient, organic whole grain brown rice. Would the whole grain part be a problem?

Gloria · Post by **Gloria** » Wed Mar 23, 2011 10:04 pm

Arlene,

I spread almond butter on plain rice crackers and on white corn chips. Rarely I will put it on rice cakes.

Gloria

TooManyHats · Post by **TooManyHats** » Wed Mar 23, 2011 10:14 pm

Could you please list the rice cracker brand?

mbeezie · Post by **mbeezie** » Thu Mar 24, 2011 6:27 am

Edward and Sons makes a plain rice crisp.

Mary Beth