Scientific research and epidemiological studies show that diets rich in Monounsaturated and Omega-3 fats dramatically reduce the instances of obesity, cancer, diabetes, heart disease and cognitive decline. Saturated fat has been demonized by our health authorities and media. What is the basis for this position on Saturated fat?
Are current recommendations for VERY low saturated fat intake justified? How much saturated fat and what types , if any should one eat? Without a historical and scientific perspective these questions can be nearly impossible to answer. For most people the fact the Paleo diet delivers the best results is all they need. Improved blood lipids, weight loss, and reduced pain from autoimmunity is proof enough. Many people however are not satisfied with blindly following any recommendations, be they nutrition or exercise related.
Some folks like to know WHY they are doing something. Fortunately, the Paleo diet has stood not only the test of time, but also the rigors of scientific scrutiny. With a very simple shift we not only remove the foods that are at odds with our health grains, legumes, and dairy but we also increase our intake of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants.
Here is a great paper from Professor Loren Cordain exploring how to build a modern Paleo diet: The nutritional characteristics of a contemporary diet based upon Paleolithic food groups. This paper also offers significant insight as to the amounts and ratios of protein, carbohydrate and fat in the ancestral diet. The Paleo concept is new for most people and this newness can spark many questions. Experience is perhaps the best teacher and often cuts through any confusion surrounding this way of eating.
Now, all that considered, there are still some common counter arguments to the Paleo diet that happen with sufficient frequency that a whole paper was written on it. Enjoy: Evolutionary Health Promotion. While this book contains some useful practical information in its final chapters and has some succinct definitions of rather confusing health terminology, the overall attitude and arguement of the author is wildly disappointing and aggravating.
Given that the author had such a difficult time in his personal life with nutritionists and doctors, it's understandable that he'd take them to task. However, he begins the book by disparaging vegetarians and vegans, stopping just short of calling them st While this book contains some useful practical information in its final chapters and has some succinct definitions of rather confusing health terminology, the overall attitude and arguement of the author is wildly disappointing and aggravating.
However, he begins the book by disparaging vegetarians and vegans, stopping just short of calling them stupid, and he's taken it upon himself to strip nutritional scientists of their scientific credentials a move he makes using an entirely fictional dialogue in which anthropologists are super-dee-duper smart and nutritionists are ignorant even of their own field. This is all exceptionally aggravating, because I'm, for the most part, sympathetic to the claims Wolf makes.
He too easily lapses into hyperbole, however, at one point even claiming that cancer can be reversed just by adopting his dietary recomendations. How does he know this? Because hunter-gatherers didn't have cancer. Specious, much? Regardless, I've decided to surrender myself to the paleo diet for a time to test it out.
I'm relatively certain that I will feel some significant benefits from it, but I'm equally certain that it won't guarantee me a cancer-free existance. May 18, Audrey rated it it was amazing. Exercise your brain; you CAN read this book! You don't have to memorize anything for a test, so get over your issues with "geek speak". Reading this information WILL transform how you look at food and your health and particularly if you watch the documentary "Food, Inc. The combination of this book and that documentary turned my perception of the food pyramid, and what I had previously considered to be "healthy foods", compl Exercise your brain; you CAN read this book!
The combination of this book and that documentary turned my perception of the food pyramid, and what I had previously considered to be "healthy foods", completely upside down. This paragraph on page 71 really stands out for me: "It's the damndest thing - the United States is in a health care crisis, the economy is shaky, and the government subsidizes the production of corn, making high-fructose corn syrup cheaper than dirt.
Processed food manufacturers make crap foods that are making us sick, diabetic, and dead too early. The government subsidizes the development of statins and a host of drugs to manage the diseases that are a direct outgrowth of the processed foods they are subsidizing!
A hell of a racket, am I right? I strictly followed the Paleo "diet" for 30 days last fall. I kicked myself at the end for not weighing and measuring myself at the beginning. I'm not hugely overweight and stand only 5'2"; I easily dropped pounds I consider that to be significant.
I felt great - I did not experience hunger or cravings, and I had plenty of energy. I'm re-reading the book now to re-commit to the Paleo style of eating. I agree with Robb Wolf. Jan 27, Rachel rated it it was amazing. Most of my friends know that I'm a foodie. And most know of my struggles with weight loss brought on by my struggle to defeat Cushing's Disease.
While no cause for Cushing's has been identified, I've long suspected that since it throws off hormonal balances namely cortisol , the root of the problem may be other things that cause hormonal imbalances. After watching Food, Inc. I adopted a mostly organic lifestyle, mainly organic meats. I Most of my friends know that I'm a foodie. I did not give up whole grains or dairy at this point, but I did switch to organic dairy and free-range, vegetarian eggs. Now that I have successfully battled Cushing's Disease, I am trying to get rid of the weight.
I have tried nearly everything in the past. Nothing has worked. I have been resistant to higher-protein diets, especially from animals, but since it's the only thing I haven't tried, I decided to at least read a book on it before completely ruling it out. A fellow Cushie sang the praises of a Paleolithic lifestyle, so I researched Robb Wolf and purchased this book. Some may say the scientific sections are boring, but not to me.
If someone tells me something, I say "Why? Robb provides the information in layman terms. He writes for his audience and explains quite simply that which is a overly complex process.
Even better, there's an entire chapter dedicated to cortisol, which is the culprit that stole my body and five years of my life from me. That was the chapter that convinced me to try. Other diet practitioners discuss fat, and calories, and sugar Since its the hormone that controls not only stress but how your body processes fats, you may want to listen.
I started the lifestyle three weeks ago. It is amazing. I love to cook, and I'm making great-tasting, colorful meals. My "diet" is far from boring. There was no detox period like on South Beach and other low-carb diets.
I have to take several prescriptions to live now that I am without a pituitary gland, but in three weeks, my legs have stopped hurting, I have tapered further on my hydrocortisone synthetic cortisol , and I have completely stopped taking one pill.
My sleep patterns are perfect, and I sleep through the night. My depression is gone, and my skin has cleared. My migraines are gone or at least so rare I can't remember the last time I had one.
I have tons of energy and vitality. My upset stomach has ceased completely. I also lost 7 pounds my first two weeks!
My goal is to lose pounds and with Paleo I know that I can and I will. This book will change your life. Trust me. Jan 11, Craig rated it it was amazing Shelves: health.
The challenge Robb Wolf faces with this book is that not only does he have high technical knowledge of his field, but many devotees of this regimen themselves come to the table with a considerable base of knowledge. So the problem at the onset is not merely how to distill the more technical aspects of the science down to something palatable for novice intake, but how to do this while providing a level of content to invigorate the already converted.
Additionally there are those who come Wolf look The challenge Robb Wolf faces with this book is that not only does he have high technical knowledge of his field, but many devotees of this regimen themselves come to the table with a considerable base of knowledge. Additionally there are those who come Wolf looking for improvement in often major health conditions along with elite athletes hoping to top their latest personal record.
While The Solution errs on the side of benevolence towards newbies and takes ailment as the point of departure, Wolf does indulge in enough explanation for those who want to understand the whys of their nutrition. Mostly he handles this with often humorous prefaces, segregating prescription from explanation with something along the lines of, "Here's the part where it get's a bit technical.
This knowledge will enhance the understanding of those who want to geek out on this stuff, but is not necessary for those who just want to be told what to do; the latter can skip ahead to chapter This is a primer on paleolithic nutrition and exercise meant to keep aging and disease at bay so long as one adheres to it. Results depend on individual investment. Well aware that he flaunts both the entrenched standard medical dietary advice and the far more visceral pasta addiction that much of that diet's adherents face, Robb incorporates a mix of good natured and sardonic humor to ease novitiates into better health.
His mantra is "Try it for thirty days and see how you look, feel and perform. For what it's worth, I've been eating this way myself for nearly five years and continue to see nothing but improvement in my health and levels of contentment.
Feb 12, Jennifer rated it did not like it. This book is awful for a number of reasons 1. He sounds like an arrogant jerk. Not well cited or sourced just a bunch of general "it's well known that carbs cause heart attacks" etc not data to bac This book is awful for a number of reasons 1. Not well cited or sourced just a bunch of general "it's well known that carbs cause heart attacks" etc not data to back it up 4.
That is a term coined by the USDA all proteins are complete, but the ones that are labeled complete by the USDA meet a specific ratio of 8 certain amino acids. If he does not know this then he is missing very basic nutritional education.
The only thing that I read that even seemed to have a decent explanation was why we should avoid gluten, though he labels some gluten free grains as containing gluten and then after that chapter is over just says "Don't eat any grains because if the ones that contain gluten are bad, they must all be bad" with no real reason to back up why you shouldn't eat other grains.
He was stupid enough to point out several times that carbs cause diabetes, but our broken medical system doesn't recognize it and so too many people suffer because they aren't told to stop eating carbs. Ummm, I know several people with diabetes most of them ate closer to paleo than to vegan before diagnosis and they are ALL put on a carb restricted diet. Our medical system does not give people more carbs when they are diabetic- he is an idiot!
Jul 22, Kathleen rated it liked it Shelves: non-fiction. I was prescribed this diet over 10 years ago by a physician to help with Acid Reflux that had taken its toll on my voice box.
In addition, I was told NOT to use spices at all. I ate the Paleo way faithfully for 4 months and I did great. It was the lack of spicing and flavor that eventually got to me. For myself, this way of eating absolutely works. I lost weight steadily, and was satiated by eating the "caveman" way. I had no desire to cheat. I chose this book because I was looking for something I was prescribed this diet over 10 years ago by a physician to help with Acid Reflux that had taken its toll on my voice box.
I chose this book because I was looking for something to inspire me to have a go at this diet again in an effort to better my health. The author, Robb Wolf, uses humor throughout the book and I think that it helps to have that, especially when you are learning about the details of the digestive system, hormonal release, and how what we eat affects our health. His enthusiasm for this way of eating is obvious as well as contagious. My only con is that he does make comments to the effect that this is the one and only diet for all people and I just do not agree with that.
We are all different and that does not allow for the many other diets that may come along in the future. Who knows what diet works for each of us until we have given it a chance?
For me, this time, I plan to keep it going for the long haul. I do believe that this book can help you to lose weight, get fit, and reverse disease- just as it says on the cover. Shelves: nonfiction , nutrition. Absolutely fascinating! The chapters about grains and leaky gut, as well as our fat confusion, and the topics of stress and cortisol or why we need more sleep, were hands down the best chapters.
I also liked that Robb got down on my level and explained nutrition in ways that even I could understand and make sense of. Plus, I never would of thought a nutriton book could be funny and this one actually was in certain parts. I'm a fan and can't wait to download some of his podcasts onto my ipod to l Absolutely fascinating! I'm a fan and can't wait to download some of his podcasts onto my ipod to listen to in the near future.
As for myself, my own personal journey with thinking about food differently, began when I was diagnosed with celiac disease and was experiencing severely low energy levels. Sheena said I was really good with the veggies but I was eating too much rice. So, we did an experiment. I replaced the rice with fat primarily avocado and coconut oils and these last few weeks since the beginning of September I've been feeling really energetic!
Jan 05, Emilie rated it it was ok. Although I thought the premise was interesting and the scientific explanations clear, I came away with a dislike of the author. His tone is arrogant and he takes a definite "everybody else is wrong" approach. He would definitely appeal to the elitists in the nutrition world. Nov 07, Manuel rated it did not like it. This book did little to convince me that the "paleo diet" is a big plus for an average thirtysomething male who avoids excessive junk carbs, omega-6 fats and sugar.
I have by no means performed the research or bloodwork on myself, but I have a pet theory. Over on Tim Ferris' blog the author did a guest post, using shock tactics to lure in readers "when you eat grains, poop leaks into your bloodstream! It sparked a holy war several hundred comments deep.
When pressed by critics he often r This book did little to convince me that the "paleo diet" is a big plus for an average thirtysomething male who avoids excessive junk carbs, omega-6 fats and sugar. When pressed by critics he often responded, "just try the diet for 30 days and then you can argue with me. So he's sort of hiding behind that benefit. Of course you're going to feel better and have better cholesterol numbers if you cut that shit out! It's the low hanging fruit.
One passage that particularly irked me is from his explanations of a molecular structure or cell biology. I can't remember exactly, and I donated the book. It went something like, "This molecule is like a chicken egg. It is strong when compressed from the outside but so weak from the inside that a baby chicken can break through it. Maybe try a different analogy Mr. Yeah I did the paleo thing for 3 weeks, 1 week semi and the last 2 strict plus dairy , but it didn't work out for me.
I do have a friend who is doing a very similar diet and it is working out really well with his physiology. So I don't discourage others from trying it, but be wary of the new and unproven science that it's based on. View 2 comments. Sep 07, Jenny rated it it was amazing. Lines like, "Do you need a hug? I've been doing something very similar and I feel like a MILLION dollars -- it was great to read Wolf's book as a confirmation of the physiological science behind making changes in diet and exercise.
I highly recommend this book to anyone who feels tired, moody or otherwise dragging - or anyone considering a day paleo-related experiment or cleanse. Oct 10, Greg rated it it was amazing Shelves: recommended-health-and-fitness.
I've been in the fitness business for a long time. I've seen and tried every diet trend that has come around. In my opinion, this is the most scientifically sound and healthy diet that has ever been advocated by anyone. The book is has a lot of science, but doesn't lose the reader.
It's simple and it works. Like the author says. If you don't look, feel and perform better I'd be shocked. Apr 27, Cherie rated it really liked it. Wolfe makes many salient points and backs up his theories with anecdotal as well as with scientific facts that are dumbed down enough for me to get a cogent understanding of his case.
I don't enjoy nutrition coursework. So sue me. The objections that I have with this work is the tone that the author strikes with the reader. I assume that he means to be non-threatening, approachable, and grounded instead of an elitist hippy can those two things actually exist on one place? I think something might explode spouting feel-good, relativistic food stories.
Perhaps the work written by Cordain would be more to my liking. I just can't respect any author who comes across as patronizing and possibly sexist.
Shooting the messenger? I do not deny that since I have drastically cut all the garbage from my own diet that I have lost weight and feel so much better that my children were confused "Who is that woman who is taking her bike instead of the car, smiling and laughing instead of being cranky and tired, wearing Mom's clothes that are now too big? Cutting grains from my diet went hand in hand with what I was reading in Wheat Belly. So I was getting the same principles thrown at me from different sources, but all saying essentially the same thing: dump anything processed.
That includes the grains that have been so genetically modified that they don't bear ANY resemblance to what our ancestors ate--and my ancestors, I mean anyone born before No processed sugar. Sadly, no dairy because of the wretched conditions of the animals in the dairy industry.
The customer KNEW the cows were not grain fed and the the milk was as fresh as it could be, but hey, the law is the law, folks. So: material? I'd give it a solid 8 out of And you can quote me. Dec 19, Nancy rated it liked it. I read this book to find out more about the Paleo diet, which a lot of people seem to be doing and have had great success with. This book reads very science-y which is fine.
And most of it makes sense, when broken down that way. I feel and look much better after having switched from white to whole grains several ye I read this book to find out more about the Paleo diet, which a lot of people seem to be doing and have had great success with.
I feel and look much better after having switched from white to whole grains several years ago. I also look and feel better after cutting back on meat. And who wants leftover salmon for breakfast? Jan 03, Betsy rated it liked it Shelves: , fitness , cookbooks , health. While I'm already on a gluten free diet, I was curious as to the other benefits I could achieve if I went completely grainless. I read a book on the Candida diet last year and followed it for a while and did feel better, so I was willing to give this a shot.
While Robb Wolf provided some great info and statistics, I couldn't stand how he kept referring to me, the reader, as "Buttercup". While trying to get his point across in a cute way, it was creepy. In addition, his terrible remarks about vega While I'm already on a gluten free diet, I was curious as to the other benefits I could achieve if I went completely grainless. In addition, his terrible remarks about vegans and vegetarians were uncalled for.
I was also getting tired of reading about NoCal Margaritas. The information provided was interesting and was presented in layman's terms, which was helpful, since a lot of the medical jargon is lost on me. I do recommend this book for those thinking about starting a Paleo diet or just want to know what it's all about. It will definitely help you understand the diet and how the body digests food as well as the added benefits of healthy food. I think I will give the diet a go for the 30 days and see how I feel.
Sep 20, David rated it liked it. This book is probably my favorite of all the paleo-esque, primal books. Wolf has a great sense of humor and does a great job describing the science as far as how the human body absorbs and utilizes nutrients. Being an endurance athlete I don't think I'll ever be able to go full paleo while doing hardcore marathon training; however during times when my endurance training takes a back seat to my other endeavors gettin' pumped up yo I think it makes sense to try and eat as clean as possible and i This book is probably my favorite of all the paleo-esque, primal books.
Being an endurance athlete I don't think I'll ever be able to go full paleo while doing hardcore marathon training; however during times when my endurance training takes a back seat to my other endeavors gettin' pumped up yo I think it makes sense to try and eat as clean as possible and it doesn't get much cleaner than this.
This diet is basically about eating the foods humans have been eating forevs. Like caveman type stuff, bro: meat, vegetables, tubers known to most lay folks as potatoes , and fruit and that's all she wrote. No dairy, no bread, no sugary sweets. The paleo community refers to people who do not respond well to these verboten foodstuffs as "broken" so if you have gluten intolerance or celiac disease you should definitely check this book out as it could greatly improve your quality of life.
Dec 21, Julie rated it really liked it. Well this is a slight modification of the South Beach diet but, I think, reasonable enough, knowing as little about human chemistry and evolution as I do but he makes sense.
More to the point he does it in a way that had me laughing out loud. When's the last time you can say you did THAT for a "diet" book. At any rate, it's not a hard "regime" in any sense of that word and works for those of us who don't really feel the need of grains, flours, and dairy products including sadly cheese. However Well this is a slight modification of the South Beach diet but, I think, reasonable enough, knowing as little about human chemistry and evolution as I do but he makes sense.
However if you do go to some of his referenced material, you'll find that it's not all that hard-ass a program. His mentor pretty much says -- okay 3 meals a week non-Paleo. Robb Wolf recommends tequila as a drink of choice I'm exaggerating but it's the vein in which he writes this book that makes me think -- hey If you've done South Beach, look at Paleo, particularly this book.
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