Thanks for posting this, Xanthippa. I’ve become very interested in this topic most recently, reading up on both the Paleo & Primal Blueprint diets (both very similar to each other). I’ve also been reading some of what (neurosurgeon) Dr Jack Krause has to say on leptin resistance: http://jackkruse.com/easy-start-guide/.
With all such information, I like to read criticisms as well, and found one here very critical of Taubes: http://blogs.scientificamerican.com/cross-check/2011/05/16/thin-body-of-evidence-why-i-have-doubts-about-gary-taubess-why-we-get-fat/. I think he’s wrong on so many points and over-simplifies what the Atkins/Paleo/Primal diet is all about. From what I’ve seen, it’s lots of animal protein, butter, etc but also LOTS of low-carb veggies. The key is no flour/no sugar. (And perhaps I’m oversimplifying but I think it boils down to giving your body the fat energy it needs and it will burn stored fat.)
I’m also reading Younger Next Year, which essentially says to enjoy good health from 50 and upwards, we need to exercise our butts off. And I’m fascinated by this woman’s story about being a non-athlete for most of her life until at age 50 she took up running: http://www.myroadtoromethebook.com/. She’s 6 years older than my parents and seems at least 10 or more years younger (*sigh*). I know that adult-onset (Type II) diabetes is big in my family as is the carb-craze diet. If I don’t start working on this issue soon, I see my future in them.
And with that said, I’m off to have my egg, cheese, and ham breakfast!
Xanthippa says:
Did you know that scientists recently found that butterfat actually protects against heart disease?
They don’t know why: rather, this was the result of observation. Now, they are studying it further.
That’s how you do science – observations first, theory after – then test, test, test…
First observation, then theory – not the other way around, the way the low-fat diets were designed. Did you know the low-fat, high carb diets (specifically, balancing complementary proteins from various plant sources to replace meat protein) were based on observations on what type of diet rats thrived the best? No human follow-up studies were done. (Well, my momma never raised no rhodent! I’m a star-nosed mole!)
Do you know the most telling thing in the movie ‘Supersize Me’ was – at the end of the month, the dude’s ‘readings’ were going back to normal. The movie pooh-pooed it as an anomaly, but in reality, that is what is to be expected: any very sudden change in one’s diet will throw things out of whack. As his body was adjusting to the diet, his ‘readings’ ought to slowly but surely return to normal.
For contrast, I recommend watching ‘Fat-Head’ – if you have not already.
With the paleo and Atkins and so on diets – there is a lot of wrong with them, as well. I think that especially the Atkins diet which starts with a sudden change to ‘purge’ carbs out of your system is downright dangerous.
It is important for you to listen to your body. Each one of us is a little different!
So, see what makes your body work the best and stick with it!
P.S. – Unless you have advanced heart disease, don’t follow a low-sodium diet, especially if you are a woman: that way, osteoporosis lies! Sodium is chemically similar to calcium and if starved of sodium, your body will take calcium out of your bones to substitute for the missing sodium in order to function. Also, our body uses sodium levels as one of many indicators to modulate appetite – low-soduim diets mean you will require more food not to feel hungry…
Xanthippa's Chamberpot 
July 20, 2012 at 11:52
Thanks for posting this, Xanthippa. I’ve become very interested in this topic most recently, reading up on both the Paleo & Primal Blueprint diets (both very similar to each other). I’ve also been reading some of what (neurosurgeon) Dr Jack Krause has to say on leptin resistance: http://jackkruse.com/easy-start-guide/.
With all such information, I like to read criticisms as well, and found one here very critical of Taubes: http://blogs.scientificamerican.com/cross-check/2011/05/16/thin-body-of-evidence-why-i-have-doubts-about-gary-taubess-why-we-get-fat/. I think he’s wrong on so many points and over-simplifies what the Atkins/Paleo/Primal diet is all about. From what I’ve seen, it’s lots of animal protein, butter, etc but also LOTS of low-carb veggies. The key is no flour/no sugar. (And perhaps I’m oversimplifying but I think it boils down to giving your body the fat energy it needs and it will burn stored fat.)
I’m also reading Younger Next Year, which essentially says to enjoy good health from 50 and upwards, we need to exercise our butts off. And I’m fascinated by this woman’s story about being a non-athlete for most of her life until at age 50 she took up running: http://www.myroadtoromethebook.com/. She’s 6 years older than my parents and seems at least 10 or more years younger (*sigh*). I know that adult-onset (Type II) diabetes is big in my family as is the carb-craze diet. If I don’t start working on this issue soon, I see my future in them.
And with that said, I’m off to have my egg, cheese, and ham breakfast!
Xanthippa says:
Did you know that scientists recently found that butterfat actually protects against heart disease?
They don’t know why: rather, this was the result of observation. Now, they are studying it further.
That’s how you do science – observations first, theory after – then test, test, test…
First observation, then theory – not the other way around, the way the low-fat diets were designed. Did you know the low-fat, high carb diets (specifically, balancing complementary proteins from various plant sources to replace meat protein) were based on observations on what type of diet rats thrived the best? No human follow-up studies were done. (Well, my momma never raised no rhodent! I’m a star-nosed mole!)
Do you know the most telling thing in the movie ‘Supersize Me’ was – at the end of the month, the dude’s ‘readings’ were going back to normal. The movie pooh-pooed it as an anomaly, but in reality, that is what is to be expected: any very sudden change in one’s diet will throw things out of whack. As his body was adjusting to the diet, his ‘readings’ ought to slowly but surely return to normal.
For contrast, I recommend watching ‘Fat-Head’ – if you have not already.
With the paleo and Atkins and so on diets – there is a lot of wrong with them, as well. I think that especially the Atkins diet which starts with a sudden change to ‘purge’ carbs out of your system is downright dangerous.
It is important for you to listen to your body. Each one of us is a little different!
So, see what makes your body work the best and stick with it!
P.S. – Unless you have advanced heart disease, don’t follow a low-sodium diet, especially if you are a woman: that way, osteoporosis lies! Sodium is chemically similar to calcium and if starved of sodium, your body will take calcium out of your bones to substitute for the missing sodium in order to function. Also, our body uses sodium levels as one of many indicators to modulate appetite – low-soduim diets mean you will require more food not to feel hungry…