Pro and Con: Paleolithic or Modernistic?
From “International College of Integrative Medicine” on Linked In
Prof. Peter Jonanovic MD: Ok, I am not a big fan of #faddiets or actually any diets unless there
is a medical or other scientific reason for it. So, it tickles me pink when I stumble across a well
written (article)
The palaeolithic diet and the unprovable links to our past http://medicalxpress.com/news/201411-palaeolithic-diet- unprovablelinks.html?utm_source=nwletter&utm_medium=email&utm_content=ctgritem&utm_campaign=daily-nwletter
Dr. Hennie Palm: While I agree that many of the assertions about diet in the paleolithic period
is only speculation I am a proponent of the Paleo diet for entirely different reasons than those
described in the article.
Here are my reasons:
1. It emphasizes fresh and nutrient dense foods.
2. It eliminates all processed and by definition chemically contaminated food.
3. It eliminates gluten, which we now know significantly affects a large percentage of the
population negatively.
4. It emphasizes the consumption of omega 3 and healthy fats such as those found in tree nuts
and avocado.
5. It completely eliminates refined sugar in all forms.
How do you argue with these benefits? Don't throw out the baby with the bath water.
Christina Virago PhD: Then don't call it the paleo diet, because it isn't. Our ancestors ate grains
in the late summer months: (what were all the grinding stones for) and honey was highly prized.
I seem to remember that what you list above was also part of the macrobiotic diet. There is also
growing evidence that it might not be gluten, per se, that is the problem, but the gluten from
chemically farmed, harvested and stored and processed wheat. "Diet" experts and books are an
enormous industry, and that's the sludgy bottom line.
Geoffrey Leigh: One other thing the "hamburger" or for that matter sandwiches. in excess may
be a major contributor to pancreatic and other cancers in our society. Study the digestive process
and you may find why? Latter day evidence would suggest that a paleo type diet may very well
suit O Blood type but certainly not blood type A who were the first out of Africa to the middle
east where it was a case of sit in the shade and watch it grow consequently a vegan diet may best
suit blood type A. A major concern with wheat today is that if one is of Irish Descent as is the
writer you are most likely wheat intolerant. The Irish as a race did not consume wheat until the
Potato famine 1845-1852 when the Brit's fed them wheat. Which of course they have consumed
ever since! In the practice of Orthomolecular Medicine we find that blood type a both genders
but especially female are very much more prone to psychoses! For the past fourteen years one
has been committed to the "Metabolic typing Diet" which suits most individuals. Ref: "The
METABOLIC TYPING DIET". William Wolcott and Trish Fahey. www.broadwaybooks. Com
Dr Millie Lytle ND, MPH, CNS: The paleo diet, as it's written, may or may not be an accurate
depiction of how some of our ancient ancestors ate, some places on the globe, at some period in
history...and is fun to think about. It is a cookie cutter approach to get people lean and mean, and
certainly does it's job at that. But the most shameful aspect of the paleo diet is how it's
misconstrued as a diet for carnivores and raw meat lovers. The actual paleo diet as it's written is
supposed to be an overall alkaline diet consisting primarily of non-starchy vegetables with
animal protein at a maximum of 35% of the daily intake. It's a shame that the media latches on to
whatever they want to read and as a nutrition expert, it's even scarier that people put all common
sense out the window, and follow ridiculous schemas, as generated, not by nutrition experts but
by sensationalist newspapers. I am not a true fan of the paleo diet because it does not include
enough vegetarian sources of protein, is not individual enough and is therefore really not varied
enough to be be sustainable for the majority of the population. But it definitely is a diet designed
to help, its just everyone needs to individualize their diet for their time, place, age, metabolism,
sensitivities, health history and preferences.
Dr. Hennie Palm: Well spoken Millie. Thank you.
I am in agreement that the popular press is a major contributor to a lot of nonsense that
ultimately confuses the general public and can exacerbate dis-ease.
My other concern are the many "prophets of lifestyle and nutrition". Claiming to have found the
"ultimate truth" and then evangelizing it.
Christina Virago PhD: The real concern in that, Hennie, is not the "prophets", but the mass
need to follow and not think! The other issue that I have with the Paleo diet is that it is
completely "male" driven. The old stereotype shown in the picture above, which is utterly at
odds with what is known of hunter/gatherer societies, that is, if it weren't for the foraging,
generally done by the women and children, the family/clan/tribe unit would starve. Hunted meat
was/is a necessary luxury and the small animals caught by the women (lizards, mice and insects,
and shellfish) augmented the predominant plant products collected. There is record of "fish
farming" in paleolithic societies too.
Phillip Bayer, Complementary Dermatology Practitioner: Very good comments above. I do
agree that more and more evidence is emerging that it is indeed modern farming and
manufacturing techniques causing issues with gluten consumption. That is not to say we
shouldn't limit intake of gluten. In 15 years of practice I have seen amazing benefits for ill
patients when they avoid or limit gluten intake. Another emerging trend which is, without a
doubt, helping many people is the 5:2 way of life. I have not had a single bad or even neutral
result after recommending this to patients. They all report benefits ranging from weight loss,
increased energy levels, reduction in blood pressure, more manageable blood sugar levels, better
cholesterol, and the list goes on. Many of them can reduce or even cease taking their
medications. This relatively easy lifestyle change has the potential to become a serious contender
in the war against the epidemic of obesity and its related sequelae, where modern medicine is
failing spectacularly.