User dave s. - PaleoHacks.com

Anybody try a StrechSit cushion?

2011-04-14T12:02:52Z

And what was your experience?

I just got Esther Gokhale's "8 Steps to a Pain-Free Back" and already I'm sticking my butt out and walking taller! I currently have a very long commute (2+ hours per day). Which is not paleo and I am looking for something closer to home... Anyways, she recommends this cushion for driving. Its $50 and I just thought I'd see if anybody has tried it before I shell out the money.

Other thoughts on your application of her techniques would be appreciated as well.

Mark Sisson mentions her work in this post: http://www.marksdailyapple.com/improve-posture/

Heart Attack and Water - true or hoax?

2012-04-17T14:14:35Z

I just got an email from my sister along these lines:
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Heart Attack and Water - I never knew this !Interesting.......

Heart Attack & Water Something I didn't know either! I asked my Doctor why do I and other people urinate so much at night time. Answer from my Cardiac Doctor = Gravity holds water in the lower part of your body when you are upright (legs swell). When you lie down and the lower body (legs and etc) seeks level with the kidneys it is then that the kidneys remove the water because it is easier. This then ties in with the last statement!

I knew you need your minimum water to help flush the toxins out of your body, but this was news to me.

Correct time to drink water... Very Important. From A Cardiac Specialist!

Drinking water at a certain time maximizes its effectiveness on the body:

2 glasses of water after waking up - helps activate internal organs

1 glass of water 30 minutes before a meal - helps digestion

1 glass of water before taking a bath - helps lower blood pressure

1 glass of water before going to bed - avoids stroke or heart attack

Please pass this to the people you care about...... I can also add to this... My Physician told me that water at bed time will also help prevent night time leg cramps. Your leg muscles are seeking hydration when they cramp and wake you up with a Charlie Horse.
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I also found a web page with almost exactly the same info...
http://zadishefreeman.com/heart-attacks-water-best-times-to-drink-h2o-2/

It seems like a hoax, but before I reply to my sis (who is probably all jazzed to send me important health info), I need credible evidence.

Is there something about execise that makes dietary compliance easier?

2012-01-26T14:12:44Z

So I started doing the SL 5x5 about a week ago. I really like it. Whether or not it's any good, I don't care at this point. What's odd is that my commitment to doing this has made compliance to paleo relatively easy. (Okay, so it's MY version of paleo/primal/whatever). But I'm not even fighting urges for cookies/fritos/french fries.

Is there any evidence that exercise or committing to a work out program makes following dietary restrictions easier? Cause this is all of the sudden easy for me (crosses fingers and toes) - where it never has been before.

And I was walking/working out sporadically prior to this. Maybe walking 2-3 times per week and working out once a week, but not with any specific goals.

Maybe I shouldn't question this and just go with the flow. But if there is something to it, it could be helpful for others...

Is "spices" a code word for nasty stuff like MSG?

2011-04-14T17:01:02Z

Just bought a seafood spice mix to go with the wild salmon that I microwaved for lunch (don't get me started!). It says: salt, spices, dehydrated garlic, paprika and dehydrated onion. What can the food companies include under "spices"?

Oh, whew! There is a box that says: All Natural, No MSG, No preservatives, Gluten Free. It's Chef Paul Prudhomme's - Magic Seasoning Blend - btw. But what if they hadn't stated that explicitly?

Answer by Dave S. for Vegan "nutritionist" sister is driving me nuts. Help!

2013-02-05T19:24:13Z

I suggest you spend some time reading Denise Minger's blog:
http://rawfoodsos.com/

She's a smart, ex vegan, who crunches the numbers and looks at a lot of studies (tears them apart, more like).

That and maybe Lierre Keith's Vegetarian Myth is worth a read.

(Yes, I know Lierre plays loose with facts in that book and she seems to have gone batshit crazy lately, but I still like the book for the passion, the lyrical prose and thoughtful, compelling arguments. And anybody who takes a Tobasco cream pie to the face from angry vegans is a hero in my book.)

Answer by Dave S. for Where can I buy a Uranium supplement?

2013-01-30T21:00:31Z

I'm sorry that my answer will probably not be very helpful. I made a few phone calls inquiring about yellowcake, but I was finally referred to agent Smart, who said he would have to get back to me as he was attending some concert.

On the other hand, I can offer you a stay in my basement which has been tested to have above normal levels of radon.

Answer by Dave S. for Lose 80 lbs in a year with Paleo + exercise?

2013-01-30T14:29:48Z

I agree with the other answers - especially the idea that setting a goal of x pounds by some deadline is setting yourself up to fail. You might get 10 or 20 pounds off in a few months and then stall - this is actually pretty typical.

The real point of paleo (as I see it) is to feel better and be more healthy. For many of us that includes losing weight. Just be paleo (or primal/phd/whatever) and learn what foods make you feel good and what foods don't. You'll want to move more when you feel better. You'll eat less because you are more satisfied.

The rest will follow.

Answer by Dave S. for If I'm not in Ketosis what am I burning?

2013-01-23T14:57:52Z

First, you ALWAYS burn fatty acids and glucose. The ratio may change, but you always are burning both.

Second, you ALWAYS have some ketones in your blood. On high carb, maybe not a lot, but ALWAYS a few. Ketosis is simply a higher than normal (on SAD) level of serum ketones.

Third, ketostix measure ketonuria, not the serum levels of ketones. Ketonuria is the spilling of excess ketones in the urine. This happens to most people when they first go low carb. After some adaptation to burning ketones, more get used by the body and less are spilled into the urine (this is a good thing). Meaning that ketostix are very unreliable as a measure of ketosis. Good for a positive test, but false negatives are likely after adaptation. If you really want to know your level of serum ketones, you can get a ketone capable glucometer.

Fourth, your body is constantly releasing glucose from the liver (so that you don't go brain dead) and it is constantly replenishing its' supply. If not from the food carbs you eat, then from the food protein and lastly from your body's protein (muscle). So it incorrect to say that you are not burning carbs. In fact, if your blood sugar drops below a certain level, you are dead.

Answer by Dave S. for MSG vs Aspartame

2013-01-15T19:43:13Z

MSG has been shown to have negative effects and the science is pretty clear. (google glutamate + excitotoxicity)

Asparatme may also be an excitotoxin, but the evidence is not as strong. Aspartame may have other problems as well.

MSG would seem to be worse than aspartame, but why take chances. The precautionary principle would avoid them both on the basis that we do not have enough information and we are probably better suited to foods that have been eaten for a long time. In my mind, foods created after the industrial revolution are probably worse than foods made available by agriculture and pastoralism (grains and dairy).

Answer by Dave S. for How can people get sick while eating 100% Paleo?

2013-01-15T19:25:00Z

Do you think that humans in the paleolithic never got sick? They were eating 100% paleo by definition, but people still got sick and died. Paleo is not a panacea for infectious disease, although it does seem to help the immune system.

Paleo is probably more effective at avoiding or battling "diseases of civilization" - Heart Disease, Diabetes, Metabolic Syndrome, etc. that hunter gatherers tend not to get. Even then, just because you eat paleo is no guarantee against heart disease, etc. (Just like there are people who are heavy smokers/drinkers who never get lung cancer or liver disease).

Answer by Dave S. for Would you do anything about this?

2013-01-15T19:15:20Z

Ditch the parrot. Parrots aren't paleo. Get yourself a wooly mammoth.

Seriously, you could wait and see what the xfit does for you. Many people report excellent results. Avoid the cheating and snacking and your natural hunger should moderate (make sure you are getting enough protein/meat). You could walk around a bit in the meantime, long walks are excellent. Old timers considered them mandatory.

Worst case - don't eat anything unless you go outside anf find/kill it yourself.

Can a person with no gall bladder still eat fat?

2011-09-02T18:42:01Z

Woman I know at work had hers removed and we've been talking a lot about nutrition when this came up. I don't really know what to tell her.

Is using mouthwash daily a healthy habit?

2010-10-19T17:37:51Z

Years ago a dentist scared me into using mouthwash by saying that a certain bacteria in the mouth could attack my heart. No idea if this is true. Lately, I've not been using it, thinking that I may be killing good bacteria. Now my wife says my breath is bad. Could be coffee, ketosis or ? Should I not worry about the use of Scope - or worry about not using it? AAAAAAGGGHHHH!!!

Thanks for listening.

Answer by Dave S. for Sugar vs. alcohol

2012-12-05T20:38:15Z

Alcohol is metabolized first.

Alcohol does not metabolize into ketones, it goes from acetaldehyde to acetic acid to acetyl-CoA (which is the input to the Krebs cycle). Perhaps you are confusing acetic acid with acetone, which is a ketone. In fact, ethanol alcohol interferes with fatty acid oxidation in the liver, which pretty much disrupts all ketone generation until it is completely metabolized.

source Wikipedia. Articles on Ethanol and Ethanol Metabolism.

Answer by Dave S. for Where do you draw the Paleo line?

2012-11-29T19:28:10Z

Nothing is too paleo for me. I go out side stark naked to sharpen a stick so I can scrounge up some dinner.

You can contact me via the Fairfax County Jail...

Answer by Dave S. for Eating potatoes on the paleo diet?

2012-11-26T19:19:33Z

The theory behind not eating potatoes on the paleo diet is that they were not available during the paleolithic. White potatoes contain glycoalkaloids and solanins, which are somewhat toxic. Most of this is concentrated in the skin of the potato.

Most of us on PaleoHacks have moved beyond the re-enactment theory of paleo to evaluating foods individually for the pros and cons of each food as well as it's effects on us personally. In other words one person may be fine with potatoes and another could have difficulty. As an example, I am type 2 diabetic, so I don't eat a lot of potatoes. (I do love them still). But as long as you peel them and assuming the carb load is not a problem for you (sounds like it isn't) potatoes should be fine. In fact, potatoes have a lot of solid nutritional value. (Okay, not like liver and eggs, but pretty decent, anyways.)

Answer by Dave S. for Tips on the paleo diet!!!!

2012-11-26T12:47:05Z

Don't get stuck thinking that X is the paleo diet. There is no one "true" paleo diet. You will have to figure out what foods work best for you. Long term, you have to be happy with what you're eating. As far as a link goes, I like this one:

http://www.archevore.com/get-started/

Answer by Dave S. for What foods can stablize blood sugar?

2012-11-23T14:30:22Z

Fruit and safe starches (such as tubers and white rice) can help a type 2 avoid hypoglycemia. Bananas work well in my experience.

But it is probably better to not have to "control" your blood sugar by eating things that convert to sugar.

Strongly recommend that you read Dr. Bernstein. Or it would be even better if you can get her to read his work (either his books or website).

Answer by Dave S. for Has anyone combined Rosedale's approach with ZC and IF?

2012-11-12T18:02:47Z

People on a 30 day water fast lose about 50-70 grams of protein (from muscle) per day. So you should be good. I might err on the high side to avoid loss of muscle, but that's me. Most protein sparing modified fasts are at least 100g of protein per day for what that's worth.

http://healthcorrelator.blogspot.com/2010/10/amounts-of-water-carbohydrates-fat-and.html

With ketosis and the glucose available from fat, you don't need much gluconeogenesis, it turns out. The brain is the lion's share of glucose at 20% of total calories, but about half of that can come from ketones. Let's say you would burn around 2000 fat calories per day (dietary and body fat), then that fat will also supply about 60-80 calories of glucose from the glycerol backbone. And acetone is probably converted to pyruvate and then to glucose as well, so there may not be much need for protein for glucose. But you still need protein (amino acids) for all the other functions of life...

http://blog.cholesterol-and-health.com/2012/01/we-really-can-make-glucose-from-fatty.html

Answer by Dave S. for Best uses for Stevia

2012-11-12T17:12:49Z

I add it to coffee or tea. Also to a NorCal margarita. Just a tiny bit is enough.

Answer by Dave S. for Any PaleoHacks in the Northern VA/DC area?

2012-11-09T14:56:13Z

I'm in Alexandria and work in Tyson's Corner. I think Beth (WeightMaven) lives in DC...

Answer by Dave S. for Not Losing Weight

2012-11-07T19:54:15Z

The magic of eating fat and protein is the relative lack of hunger it produces. But if calories are too high, you still won't lose. I can't say that 1400 is too high for you or not. How long have you been doing this? What is your BMR? Are you getting enough sleep? How is you stress level?

Answer by Dave S. for Why are eggs okay but not dairy? (endocrine perspective)

2012-10-25T14:29:56Z

I usually don't expect to get hard science from infomercials. Whole9/30 is the strictest interpretation of paleo, which most people on paleohacks are not following. The reason we don't follow it? The science doesn't support it. (Or maybe we are just lazy...)

I prefer to follow the scientific thought process of the likes of Mark Sisson, Dr. Kurt Harris and Paul Jaminet, all of whom take little issue with dairy.

Answer by Dave S. for When is the best time for carbs?

2012-10-24T13:59:14Z

It depends on what purpose you want the carbs to fulfill. If you are generally running your metabolism on glucose, then you will need carbs all day long. Most paleos prefer relying on fat-burning or at least metabolic flexibility between the two.

That said, carbs are useful prior to long endurance exercise to enable better performance (of course, long endurance exercise is not very paleo). Carbs are also useful aftre an intense workout (HIIT/sprints/heavy lifting) in order to replenish glycogen (both liver and muscle).

Finally, carbs in the evening (say with dinner) can increase seratonin and help with sleep (if you aren't sleeping well). Carbs at breakfast without a workout in mind, would tend to make you sleepy - not really a great idea. But if it works for you, then it's not really a problem.

Answer by Dave S. for Paleo making me sick?

2012-10-23T14:07:56Z

If you have food allergies, then just eating paleo may not do it. People have allergies to a number of paleo foods - eggs, for example. Some people are sensitive to nightshades. You may want to look into a GAPS protocol or something similar. Also, don't be fooled into thinking that paleo is any one thing. Paleo simply means real food. Plants and animals. No processed crap. But that doesn't mean you can eat any plant or animal. You have to find out what works best for you. Eating a ton of meat is not required (although some of us do well on more meat than plants). Unfortunately, you have to figure out what works for you. It's all paleo, unless you dive into the Cheese Doodles.

Answer by Dave S. for How can I get more fat in my diet?

2012-10-23T12:34:24Z

Bulletproof coffee makes it easy. Of course, if you don't drink coffee...

Answer by Dave S. for Food for Weight Gain & Muscle Growth!?

2012-10-23T12:27:35Z

Plenty of other threads here on this. But it comes down to eating more, especially fat and protein. Bodybuilders and athletes have always feasted on steak and eggs. If you are having trouble eating enough, liquid calories makes it easier. But it is hard work. Stories abound of people having a hard time making themselves eat enough.

Answer by Dave S. for delete delete delete delete

2012-10-22T18:33:25Z

No. You would have to ingest magnesium and have failing kidneys to develop hypermagnesia, which could lead to hypocalcemia. But stones are a result of hypercalcemia, so no worries there. Kidney stones should be less likely in the presence of additional magnesium, not more likely. The amount you get from an epsom salt bath is not all that much anyway.

Hypermagnesia is not good for your kidneys long term health, but is usually due to kidneys that are already failing...

Answer by Dave S. for How long can you stay ZERO CARB safely?

2012-10-22T11:54:01Z

Vilhjalmur Stefansson did an experiment where he and his associate ate only meat for two years. They did fine. They considered eating organ meats essential, which does provide some carbohydrate. The amount of protein they ate would have kept them out of ketosis, btw. Also note that 1000 calories of fat will provide about 40 calories of glucose from the glycerol backbone of the triglycerides. Muscle meat contains some glycogen as well. So, zero carb is never really zero. And, of course, about half the protein you eat are amino acids that can be converted to sugar as needed quite easily.

My suggestion is that you stay at 50 grams or below and if you start to feel bad, eat a few more carbs that day. I really think the thyroid/low carb thing is a myth, but I've been wrong before.

Edit: spell checked his name - that's what happens when I try to remember Nordic names by heart.

Why does water have no calories?

2012-10-22T11:41:31Z

Explain me the chemistry. Hydrogen and oxygen are full of energy, but water has no calories. Is it only the carbon in food that matters? Why? Science please.

Comment by Dave S.

2013-05-11T21:22:36Z

Relatives of mine. "Stupid is as stupid does..."

Comment by Dave S.

2013-02-08T16:20:28Z

Wow. The usual cryptic nonsense without references. Save us Jesus-Jack! Just when I think he's gone off the deep end already, he finds an even bigger pool.

Comment by Dave S.

2013-02-05T19:39:02Z

We nust break free of our chains!

Comment by Dave S.

2013-02-05T19:34:40Z

While technically correct, the legumes that are the most problemmatic are peanuts, soybeans and kidney beans. I avoid pinto beans as well, but the rest really are not teh evilz. But it depends on your goals and how strict you want to be.

Comment by Dave S.

2013-02-05T19:14:53Z

Good point on the food reward aspect. He notes that his crew hated his diet (which they were forced to eat) - especially the lack of salt. He considered salt to be an addiction like tobacco. The point of his experiment was that all the nutritionists and doctors of the day were certain that he would fall ill within a few weeks. He did not. Neither did his associate. They had a third fellow who tried to do it with them but dropped out after a couple of weeks. My take is that it is not for everybody. In fact, I'm not sure why anybody would want to, unless it is the protocol that you feel best on.

Comment by Dave S.

2013-01-30T21:02:18Z

And yet, carageenan, made from seaweed, is not.

Comment by Dave S.

2013-01-30T18:05:42Z

Fruit has never been shown (in a study) to be problematic for weight loss. But your mileage may vary...

Comment by Dave S.

2013-01-30T14:22:19Z

"Make goals which you can control." +1 for that

Comment by Dave S.

2013-01-29T22:09:47Z

You don't have to make the crazy paleo recipes. Just cook food like you normally do. Meat and veggies in a pan. Stir-fry. Done. I usually make large amounts and eat whatever it is for days.

Comment by Dave S.

2013-01-29T22:05:52Z

Oatmeal and quinoa are not paleo, however, they are not the same as wheat. You do not have to be low carb on paleo. Sweet potatoes (or regular), white rice are choices that some paleoish diets allow for higher carb intake. Frankly, if the oatmeal/quinoa are not causing any digestive issues, I see no reason for a healthy, non-obese, non-diabetic to avoid them. Or eat some bananas...

Comment by Dave S.

2013-01-29T19:38:48Z

Well you can listen to your body if you want. Mine is telling me to eat some cookies. Or you could listen to the neighbor's dog. But we all know how that turns out.

Comment by Dave S.

2013-01-29T14:24:30Z

No sardines either?

Comment by Dave S.

2013-01-23T21:36:44Z

"The popular dipstick used to detect ketone bodies in urine 'Ketostix' by Bayer, only detects acetoacetate, not BHB or acetone." - wiki And, isn't acetone pretty rapidly excreted through the lungs? (I guess not all of it...)

Comment by Dave S.

2013-01-15T19:50:26Z

I recommend 5 Guys.

Comment by Dave S.

2013-01-08T14:38:47Z

Evidence, please. The people you refer to are the same ones telling diabetics to eat 7-11 servings of carbohydrates per day. I don't see most hunter gatherers sucking down Perrier. I drink water - WHEN I"M THIRSTY - and at no other time. You get plenty of water from food and other beverages.