most recent 30 from http://paleohacks.com 2013-05-21T16:48:49Z http://paleohacks.com/feeds/user/10178 http://www.creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/2.5/rdf http://paleohacks.com/questions/83693/cause-of-anemia Matthius 2011-12-15T11:56:21Z 2013-01-30T10:14:03Z

<p>I'm trying to determine potential causes for my moderate case of anemia, which has been affecting me for the past several months. I'm consuming large quantities of iron from natural sources, so the problem presumably has to do with absorption. I asked my doctor if there were any clear-cut indicators from the blood test recently done on me, but he didn't have a definitive answer.</p> <p>After tracking my diet for several weeks on Cron-O-Meter, I have discovered that while my O6/O3 ratio is pretty good (about 3-4:1), I'm taking in substantially more Zinc than Copper, leading to an average ratio of 16:1. Supposedly supranormal amounts of Zinc can lead to anemia through blocked absorption.</p> <p>Should I strive to lower my zinc intake or up my copper intake? Or both? Or is this not even worth messing around with?</p>

http://paleohacks.com/questions/148691/from-a-paleo-view-why-do-men-like-big-breasts/148697#148697 Matthius 2012-09-11T21:15:49Z 2012-09-11T21:15:49Z

<p>My instinctive line of thought is</p> <p>breast growth induced by estrogen ---> higher levels of estrogen induce greater breast growth ----> high levels of estrogen correlated with fertility ---> high fertility characteristic of a desirable mate</p> <p>but don't quote me.</p>

http://paleohacks.com/questions/148321/i-eat-rice-cakes-so-what-of-it/148322#148322 Matthius 2012-09-10T10:02:31Z 2012-09-10T10:02:31Z

<p>They're certainly not doing you any favors, but rice cakes are benign in the grand scheme. </p> <p>Benign and kind of nasty and cardboard-esque. But whatever rocks your rice cake I guess.</p>

http://paleohacks.com/questions/148060/ibs-paleo-and-almonds/148123#148123 Matthius 2012-09-09T10:44:11Z 2012-09-09T10:44:11Z

<p>The fiber can be rough on digestion. Have you considered soaking almonds to make home-made almond milk? Here's a recipe: <a href="http://everydaypaleo.com/2012/07/11/homemade-almond-milk/" rel="nofollow">Homemade Almond Milk</a></p>

http://paleohacks.com/questions/148119/hack-my-negative-response-to-incorporating-curry-into-my-diet/148122#148122 Matthius 2012-09-09T10:41:46Z 2012-09-09T10:41:46Z

<p>I would first switch to a guar gum-free coconut milk. It destroys my digestive tract, and I have heard several similar anecdotes from others. If you're still having problems, remove the coconut products entirely, as many report digestive troubles from any type of coconut. </p>

http://paleohacks.com/questions/148120/chicken-legs-how-much-is-too-much/148121#148121 Matthius 2012-09-09T10:37:52Z 2012-09-09T10:37:52Z

<p>Nutrition Information for 1 lb (454g) of chicken leg, meat and skin, roasted:</p> <ul> <li>835.36 kcal</li> <li>40.81 g fat - 8.42 g polyunsaturated (4.87 g o6)</li> <li>109.1 g protein</li> <li>0.0 g carb</li> </ul> <p>Assuming you're not frying the chicken in butter or oil, I'd say that's a hefty but reasonable lunch. The polyunsaturated fat level is a tad high, but easily fits into the nutritional context of a day's eating. </p> <p>Do you feel well after eating it? Are your health markers looking good? Are you in control of your weight? If you can say yes to those three, then don't worry about it.</p>

http://paleohacks.com/questions/145376/polyunsaturated-content-of-oats/145378#145378 Matthius 2012-08-26T20:45:33Z 2012-08-26T20:45:33Z

<p>2.3g of polyunsaturated fat per 100g of dry oats, 2.2g of which are o-6. The ratio heavily favors o-6 but the overall fat content is negligible.</p>

http://paleohacks.com/questions/145294/intermittent-fasting-day-supplemention/145300#145300 Matthius 2012-08-26T14:09:41Z 2012-08-26T14:09:41Z

<p>Maybe I'm a purist, but it doesn't really seem like fasting if you have a steady stream of supplements entering your system. I'd like to think we should be able to go without fish oil and amino acids for a 16 hour period without ill effect. </p> <p>Stay hydrated, though!</p>

http://paleohacks.com/questions/145297/when-do-i-exercise-if-i-have-low-morning-cortisol/145299#145299 Matthius 2012-08-26T14:08:11Z 2012-08-26T14:08:11Z

<ul> <li>How many hours do you sleep and how is your overall sleep quality?</li> <li>Do you use caffeine and/or other stimulants?</li> </ul>

http://paleohacks.com/questions/145295/low-carbing-a-hell-to-get-out-of/145298#145298 Matthius 2012-08-26T14:06:30Z 2012-08-26T14:06:30Z

<p><em>Imagine a world in which all sickness and psychological abnormality could be explained by diet...</em></p> <p>Yuck.</p>

http://paleohacks.com/questions/145164/whats-the-deal-with-oatmeal-barley/145175#145175 Matthius 2012-08-25T23:50:48Z 2012-08-25T23:50:48Z

<p>Generic oats may be exposed to gluten during processing, and barley contains gluten (along with wheat and rye). </p> <p>Neither are Paleo, by definition. Doesn't mean you can't or even shouldn't eat them, but there's a wealth of evidence suggesting you should at least be suspicious.</p>

http://paleohacks.com/questions/145153/wheres-the-energy/145155#145155 Matthius 2012-08-25T21:41:08Z 2012-08-25T21:41:08Z

<p>How are your stress levels? Getting enough sleep? Can we see a blood panel? There are so many non-food-related factors involved in determining your overall health that to assume that following a Paleo diet will cure you of your ails is unreasonable. </p> <p>Paleo is conducive to health, but not necessarily curative.</p>

http://paleohacks.com/questions/145127/diabetes-risk-in-grilled-meat-seriously/145148#145148 Matthius 2012-08-25T20:57:41Z 2012-08-25T20:57:41Z

<p>Study: comparison of the effects of an iso-compositional, iso-caloric (i.e. same stuff) meat source prepared two ways - grilled and steamed - on glucose tolerance when paired with a set amount of carbohydrate (e.g. 100g white rice). </p> <p>Hmmmmmmm</p>

http://paleohacks.com/questions/144774/what-are-some-cheap-low-glycemic-carbs-to-eat-for-someone-who-has-hypoglycemia/144832#144832 Matthius 2012-08-23T21:19:15Z 2012-08-23T21:19:15Z

<p>My first suggestion would be to reduce carbohydrates in general if suffering from hypoglycemic swings. You don't have to purchase the grass-fed stuff if you truly can't afford it; standard meat is better than riding the Gluco-Whirl all day.</p>

http://paleohacks.com/questions/144461/how-to-prevent-losing-weight-on-the-paleo-diet-for-sports-reasons/144463#144463 Matthius 2012-08-22T10:31:20Z 2012-08-22T10:31:20Z

<p>You don't have to avoid carbohydrates to follow a "Paleo" diet; many ancestral eaters advocate safe starches like sweet potatoes and rice (as you suggested) in unregulated quantities - especially considering you're an athlete who could definitely use the added boost.</p> <p>In addition to carbs, healthy fats like grass-fed butter and extra virgin coconut oil can be thrown in for extra energy to prevent unwanted weight loss. A tablespoon here and there adds up very quickly, each packing between 100-130 calories.</p> <p>At your age and activity level, I strongly advise against restricting your food consumption. Stay healthy, stay paleo, stay active, and eat up!</p>

http://paleohacks.com/questions/144283/lean-bulking-for-a-month/144301#144301 Matthius 2012-08-21T16:42:40Z 2012-08-21T16:42:40Z

<p>Have you also posed this question at other fitness sites with a bodybuilding focus? You'll have a much better chance of getting relevant responses at communities like <a href="http://forum.bodybuilding.com/" rel="nofollow">http://forum.bodybuilding.com/</a></p>

http://paleohacks.com/questions/144295/arguments-that-changed-your-mind-about-diet-and-health/144299#144299 Matthius 2012-08-21T16:34:55Z 2012-08-21T16:34:55Z

<p>After reducing my weight substantially and white-knuckling a moderate carb diet for years, even going through a severe binge-eating phase at the beginning of 2012, I stumbled upon It's The Wooo's blog: <a href="http://itsthewooo.blogspot.com/" rel="nofollow">http://itsthewooo.blogspot.com/</a>. </p> <p>Her anecdotal experience convinced me to try ketosis to cure my relentless appetite; lo and behold, I'm able to finally get on with my life. I'm no longer plagued by hunger.</p> <p>Yes, for the record, I was totally "paleo" when eating carbs - nothing but safe starches. Eliminating even the "safe" starches eliminated my appetite.</p>

http://paleohacks.com/questions/144260/anchovies-carcinogenic-what/144262#144262 Matthius 2012-08-21T13:35:13Z 2012-08-21T13:35:13Z

<p>Did the book identify the carcinogens? Was there any biochemistry? </p> <p>I'd ditch the sea salt entirely and have your damn anchovies. Watch the polyunsaturated oils, though; take 'em straight!</p>

http://paleohacks.com/questions/143933/coconut-oil-for-cooking/143942#143942 Matthius 2012-08-19T22:01:55Z 2012-08-19T22:01:55Z

<p>There is no Paleo Bible; everyone has different view points regarding the optimal human diet. With that said, most people who subscribe to a "Paleo" diet eat foods available before the agricultural revolution.</p> <p>Both olive oil and coconut oil are generally regarded as acceptable, but they are structurally different. Olive oil is mainly monounsaturated, and susceptible to spoilage over time. Coconut oil, on the other hand, is almost entirely saturated, comprised of medium-chain-triglycerides, and extremely shelf-stable.</p> <p>Neither is "free" - too much of anything is toxic or conducive to unwanted weight gain. </p> <p>For high-heat frying, I recommend coconut oil over olive oil, due to the latter's susceptibility to oxidation in higher temperatures.</p> <p>Both are "totally Paleo", but context and common sense are crucial.</p>

http://paleohacks.com/questions/143925/does-anyone-do-the-5-2-diet/143927#143927 Matthius 2012-08-19T21:01:56Z 2012-08-19T21:01:56Z

<p>Sounds substantially more stressful than IFing every day. I would personally be dreading the two day period after every "5-day island."</p> <p>Whatever allows you to reduce your caloric intake sufficiently to lose weight is fair game if that's your only goal, but does that kind of regimen seem sustainable to you?</p>

http://paleohacks.com/questions/142500/would-you-agree-with-this-revision-to-substitute-ad-libitum-nuts-in-favor-of-ad/142536#142536 Matthius 2012-08-13T23:21:19Z 2012-08-13T23:21:19Z

<p>The concept of ad libitum intake of anything is entirely foreign to me, having lost over 80 lbs and consciously maintained at least some level of externally-imposed control for over 2 years. </p> <p>With that said, nuts seem way easier to overeat in the acute than tubers. I wonder how they would compare with regards to long-term satiety, though...</p>

http://paleohacks.com/questions/139998/self-pleasuring-on-paleo/140011#140011 Matthius 2012-08-02T09:56:32Z 2012-08-02T09:56:32Z

<p>It would also be useful for posters to indicate if they're losing, maintaining, or gaining weight. Caloric status has been shown to impact libido.</p> <p>My previous (high-carb) diet stressed me out and killed my sex drive, and ketosis seems to have fixed this. Not a stab at carbs per se but more of a personal observation.</p>

http://paleohacks.com/questions/139899/hacking-food-comas/139902#139902 Matthius 2012-08-01T22:15:00Z 2012-08-01T22:15:00Z

<p>When you take in a large amount of food, the body acutely prioritizes digestion over, say, higher cognition, intense activity, etc. Also, because the body works very quickly to stabilize blood glucose levels post-prandially (via insulin), energy and focus is further diverted away from other functions.</p> <p>Someone else could probably delve into the biochemistry better than I.</p>

http://paleohacks.com/questions/139682/any-brown-university-paleos/139901#139901 Matthius 2012-08-01T22:09:44Z 2012-08-01T22:09:44Z

<p>I'm applying to URochester, Claremont Mckenna, Johns Hopkins, and Cornell. I was going to apply to Brown as well but I'm on the fence at the moment. Convince me?</p>

http://paleohacks.com/questions/139096/would-like-to-know-an-explanation-thoughts-opinions/139108#139108 Matthius 2012-07-29T10:03:51Z 2012-07-29T10:03:51Z

<p>Why would anyone worry about your enjoyment of Eminem's lyricism? The Marshall Mathers LP is a masterpiece!</p> <p>Ever heard <em>Kim</em>? It gives me shivers.</p> <p><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k7sO7ZyA7wg" rel="nofollow">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k7sO7ZyA7wg</a></p>

http://paleohacks.com/questions/138606/can-those-with-better-sleep-tolerate-more-carbs/138653#138653 Matthius 2012-07-27T10:56:01Z 2012-07-27T10:56:01Z

<p><a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20209158" rel="nofollow">http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20209158</a></p> <p>There are a bunch of studies suggesting a strong link between blood sugar regulation/glucose tolerance and sleep quality.</p>

http://paleohacks.com/questions/137824/what-is-my-obligation-to-help-others-with-this-information-i-now-have/137827#137827 Matthius 2012-07-24T12:50:04Z 2012-07-24T12:50:04Z

<p>Context is crucial here. Did you initiate the argument, or did she inquire about your dietary choices beforehand? Diet is as sensitive a topic as politics and religion because most people feel it implies a lot about their character; how disciplined they are, how informed, etc. Pair that with the relevance of the "obesity crisis" and modern health crisis and you've got one heck of a sh-tstorm on the horizon if you open that can of worms (they're Paleo, no worries).</p> <p>Changes in diet and lifestyle can (and do) often have a tremendously beneficial impact on peoples' lives, should they choose to endure the stresses of sustaining major alterations to habits ingrained from the first time they savored a Carvel cake-batter Carvelanche with gramps. What is food? A social facilitator, a drug, a source of nutrients and energy? The answer is yes, depending on the way you look at it. </p> <p>This woman likely has reservations and concerns about her dietary choices that are only augmented by her own diseased state. She's scared, and when you jump into the picture with a radically alternative viewpoint, you're causing MAJOR cognitive dissonance and making things very unpleasant for her. </p> <p>The bottom line is this: even if she would benefit from the changes you suggest, it's important that you first gauge her receptivity to change. If she's clearly stuck in her ways, then it'll take a lot more than giving a Paleo-preaching seminar to shift her viewpoint. She is looking at you through biased lenses; when you attack her diet, you attack her core make-up, her intelligence, her knowledge. </p> <p>Be gentle and be wary, she's in a tough spot and she knows it.</p>

http://paleohacks.com/questions/136890/why-use-gelatin/136940#136940 Matthius 2012-07-20T17:25:16Z 2012-07-20T17:25:16Z

<p>It's jiggly and happy and jello-ey &lt;3.</p> <p>Oh, and I've found that it helps tremendously with digestion though that might be a placebo effect.</p>

http://paleohacks.com/questions/136064/how-about-this-paleo-promotional-idea/136066#136066 Matthius 2012-07-17T17:56:35Z 2012-07-17T17:56:35Z

<p>Seems like it would be cool to substantiate a transition to a paleo diet for peak athletic performance by conducting an extensive scientific study on standard athletic nutrition in comparison to "paleo/ancestral/etc." (would need to be defined more explicitly) athletic nutrition. </p> <p>I strongly believe that the root of human performance and pathology lies in the gut (mainly small intestine, though the whole system plays a key role). Generally, athletes represent the physiologically elite, those who have arrived at their elevated state because of an environment facilitative or at least acceptable to the expression of 'good' genes. Because of this, most athletes probably have extremely robust guts as is, allowing them to efficiently metabolize a lot of the crap circulating in the modern food supply. I have a hunch that a comparison of paleo and SAD nutrition exclusively amongst athletes would yield pitiful results; these athletes perform well IN SPITE of their diets, due to the resilience of their GI tracts. </p> <p>What does this mean for Paleo nutrition? Well, it makes it more of a therapeutic diet, a deliberate avoidance of foods to which many if not most of us are not metabolically optimized to handle, but which those who metabolize everything well (most athletes) should be fine with, at least in the short term (when evaluating acute athletic performance).</p> <p>Life's not fair. Damn.</p> <p>So yeah, I guess my point in response to your post is that endorsement of Paleo athletes doesn't seem promising. Why would these guys churning out effortless miles on bikes and benching 400+ lbs bother to stop eating yummy-delicious-SAD when, hey, it's working just fine for them, watchutalkinboutwillis?</p>

http://paleohacks.com/questions/135164/non-food-sources-of-gluten Matthius 2012-07-14T11:00:34Z 2012-07-15T23:51:43Z

<p>As I was taking a shower this morning, I casually decided to read the ingredient label on the generic hair conditioner I use daily. In addition to the laundry list of complex molecules the likes of which send shivers down the spines of even the most hardened chemistry veterans, I noticed several wheat ingredients, such as <strong>wheat amino acids</strong>. </p> <p>This sounds like industry-speak for gluten. My (admittedly limited) understanding of dermatology leads me to believe that any number of substances applied directly to the skin have the potential to be absorbed. </p> <p>Am I getting a nice dose of gluten every time I mush that wheaty synthetic sludge through my hair? Is the toll on my precious body worth delightfully silky-smooth hair? And on that note, can anyone recommend some gluten-free haircare products? Preferably ones that don't cost an arm and a leg and won't leave me smelling like a caveman. After all, the goal is contextual mimicry, not outright Paleolithic reenactment!</p>

http://paleohacks.com/questions/148120/chicken-legs-how-much-is-too-much/148121#148121 Matthius 2012-09-09T12:44:50Z 2012-09-09T12:44:50Z

Switching meats up from time to time probably helps with a diverse nutrient profile anyway. Hit the beef for a few days, then switch to fish, then to chicken, etc.

http://paleohacks.com/questions/146615/diabetic-and-i-know-im-killing-myself-by-eating-the-way-i-do/146723#146723 Matthius 2012-09-02T09:52:06Z 2012-09-02T09:52:06Z

*of meat. Typing on a phone...

http://paleohacks.com/questions/146615/diabetic-and-i-know-im-killing-myself-by-eating-the-way-i-do/146723#146723 Matthius 2012-09-02T09:51:11Z 2012-09-02T09:51:11Z

Ron, different types I'd meat contain different proportions of fat and protein. Chicken wings, for example, contain a relatively large amount of (polyunsaturated) fat in comparison to skinless chicken breast, which is mostly protein. Websites like cronometer.com are useful for determining polyunsaturated fat content, but don't drive yourself crazy with numbers. Beef is fair game, low fat seafood and poultry is fine, but watch the high fat fish and birds if you're worried about polyunsaturated fat.

http://paleohacks.com/questions/145295/low-carbing-a-hell-to-get-out-of/145298#145298 Matthius 2012-08-27T10:59:41Z 2012-08-27T10:59:41Z

Throw in a &quot;partially&quot; as well and I could agree.

http://paleohacks.com/questions/145295/low-carbing-a-hell-to-get-out-of/145298#145298 Matthius 2012-08-27T08:01:32Z 2012-08-27T08:01:32Z

Looking into nutrition is an excellent way to improve health, insofar as it's not to the exclusion of other factors. That's all I'm sayin'

http://paleohacks.com/questions/145297/when-do-i-exercise-if-i-have-low-morning-cortisol/145299#145299 Matthius 2012-08-26T20:43:35Z 2012-08-26T20:43:35Z

I'm certain it doesn't mitigate the effects of caffeine. The day I quit my six cups of coffee is the day, I, well...actually get some damn sleep! haha

http://paleohacks.com/questions/145295/low-carbing-a-hell-to-get-out-of/145298#145298 Matthius 2012-08-26T20:38:14Z 2012-08-26T20:38:14Z

Because the oversimplification of bodily processes is nauseating. I don't mean to diminish the value of &quot;paleohacking&quot; or community discussion, but there are tons of variables at play besides diet.

http://paleohacks.com/questions/145297/when-do-i-exercise-if-i-have-low-morning-cortisol/145299#145299 Matthius 2012-08-26T14:36:17Z 2012-08-26T14:36:17Z

Melatonin does nothing for me, too. At the very least, I would get a blood panel done to establish that you're dealing with wonky cortisol levels. That may very well NOT be the case here.

http://paleohacks.com/questions/145294/intermittent-fasting-day-supplemention/145300#145300 Matthius 2012-08-26T14:33:47Z 2012-08-26T14:33:47Z

A nice hot beverage like tea or coffee makes it a lot easier. But I can fast effortlessly. If it's really such a painful process, maybe you should take the hint from your body and try a more frequent eating pattern. I don't think fasting is for everyone.

http://paleohacks.com/questions/145153/wheres-the-energy/145154#145154 Matthius 2012-08-25T21:42:34Z 2012-08-25T21:42:34Z

I'm not disagreeing per se, but this person could be going hogwild on the potatoes and still be within the boundaries set within the original post.

http://paleohacks.com/questions/26040/have-you-read-literature-on-how-paleo-diets-can-effect-uncoupling-proteins-and-al/26185#26185 Matthius 2012-08-25T21:03:14Z 2012-08-25T21:03:14Z

The human body has everything to gain from being a dietary opportunist...millions of years of evolution have allowed us to follow alternative metabolic pathways with delightful efficiency. Funny how we live in a world nowadays where inefficiency is desirable. In a world of excess we want to be biologically wasteful.

http://paleohacks.com/questions/144774/what-are-some-cheap-low-glycemic-carbs-to-eat-for-someone-who-has-hypoglycemia/144832#144832 Matthius 2012-08-24T01:08:57Z 2012-08-24T01:08:57Z

I'm afraid I haven't an explanation; it called to me.

http://paleohacks.com/questions/144295/arguments-that-changed-your-mind-about-diet-and-health/144299#144299 Matthius 2012-08-21T18:57:53Z 2012-08-21T18:57:53Z

She's off-kilter for sure, and not someone from whom to receive definitive medical or dietary guidance. But it prompted me to try something different and it worked.

http://paleohacks.com/questions/144295/arguments-that-changed-your-mind-about-diet-and-health/144299#144299 Matthius 2012-08-21T17:59:13Z 2012-08-21T17:59:13Z

I haven't seen a day above 60g of carbs in months.

http://paleohacks.com/questions/144295/arguments-that-changed-your-mind-about-diet-and-health/144299#144299 Matthius 2012-08-21T17:58:45Z 2012-08-21T17:58:45Z

Eh, I'm not particularly strict about protein moderation actually. I probably eat 130-170g a day, never going above 190g or below 110g.