Random Paleo Question

Updated on February 09, 2012
C.H. asks from Castle Rock, CO
6 answers

JFF: I am hearing so much about the Paleo Diet (& forgive my lack of knowledge) it is touted as being healthy, which by all accounts it seems to be. I have two lingering questions about this lifestyle & diet that I can not make sense of: 1- how are processed meats healthy, so many recipes call for bacon or sausage and 2- every recipe for chocolate dessert calls for chocolate chips which have sugar...? Can someone help me better understand this, I am so confused. To me, organic whole grains would seem like a healthier choice.

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K.B.

answers from Denver on

Hello
I have been following the paleo diet for quite some time. I am not sure where you are getting your information but look into Loren Cordain and his paleo web sites, books, cookbooks. As far as I know if you are using sausage meat is should not be processed and same for cold cuts (apple gates has one that is all natural without the nitrates etc...) I don't cook with sausage so I imagine he is talking organic etc... as for chocolate,yes you can bake with chocolate, but use only dark chocolate which should be 70% or more dark. for sugar I use only coconut palm sugar which you can get at whole foods. If you are baking you can use coconut flour and almond flour. I make the paleo protein bars for snacks and add dark chocolate and raisins and they are a nice sweet snack. If you use bacon, again you can buy healthy bacon at places like vitamin cottage etc... what the paleo diet does is basicly takes out all the food groups that can cause imflamation in the body..your body in the long run will thank you. The diet has a cheat day, so one day you can eat non paleo and as you stick to the diet you will find that on those days you feel bloated, or like me a headache or just plain yucky so at times it is not worth it....there is a ton of info out there on paleo esp on cross fit websites...try it for 3 months and see how you feel...you can use butter if you bake just use the kerry gold butter which is from grass fed cows...good luck with it.

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H.M.

answers from Denver on

It actually isnt healthy. In fact, doctors just named "Paleo" as one of the top 5 worst cookbooks (along with Paula Deen and Ina Garten- known for their excessive butter use) and stated, "paleo has set the country back in evidence-based health standards by 2 million years." Paleo has often been cited as top unhealthy diets since it came out. Paleos argue that their heavy meat consumption should be organic and free-range meat- but even organic and free-range meat is full of saturated fat. This is a fad diet, and a gross one at that! (anyone else notice that people who eat a lot of meat smell...well, weird? ) A balanced, plant-based diet with whole grains has proven to stand the test of time, and reduce health problems. And I still don't see too many overweight Chinese and Japanese, who rely heavily on fish and grains for their diet. Paleos will argue to the death it is healthy...but give them a year or two and I guarantee this fad will pass too....if only when the founder of Paleo also dies from heart disease.

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R.N.

answers from Provo on

Well from what I can tell true Paleos eat grass fed beef, free range eggs, and lots of organic fruits and vegetables. They just don't eat grains. There is a lot more to it but that's what I can kind of tell

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L.B.

answers from Provo on

Good question. I don't get it either. Maybe, just maybe, things are not as they are represented to be......

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K.L.

answers from Grand Junction on

The best answer I can give would be to read Robb Wolf's The Paleo Solution. I try to eat Paleo - many CrossFitters do and it has helped with my blood sugars and cholesterol. Grains are super bad!!!!!! Don't believe what the gov tells you about them as they are heavily influenced by farmers (bless them but they have a huge monetary stake).

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R.L.

answers from Denver on

HI,

Although I have never heard of this specific diet, I am curious as to why your are dieting--do you have a health condition, are you obese, etc.
Also realize that yes, bacon and sausage is semi processed but much healthier than prepackaged deli type meats---which may be what is referred too as the majority of prepackaged foods may appear cheaper for they are!!! They are cheaply prepared foods, stored with salts, sometimes sugars, chemicals and potentially food coloring and flavors.
Hence it is always best to choose more whole foods (sliced fresh from the deli or homemade from scratch) and whole grains.

Also keep in mind that although some organic foods are great---if you know the baker or grower--others are hybred with pesticides and growth hormones (GE & GMO's) --hence if you don't know where it came from choose at your own risk. But dieting doesn;t have to be a specific Diet per se' but eating sensibly and in moderation.

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