User memostotle - PaleoHacks.com

If fish is good for us, why does it smell so bad?

2010-08-29T17:55:44Z

As anyone who brought tuna fish to lunch can attest, most people don't like the smell of fish.

I know this is a pretty unsubstantial issue, but why would it be that something very healthy would trigger a negative reaction?

And yeah, there are probably some people who enjoy the smell, but overall, I think it's pretty well established that the smell of fish is unpleasant.

Anyway, help me solve this enigma, please.

Edit: The fish in question is mainly canned salmon/tuna, with which I have frequent encounters. I do not question that a seared bass probably smells good.

Thoughts on Sisson's "Primal Blueprint"?

2010-09-05T01:20:12Z

I was wondering who here has read "The Primal Blueprint," what their takeaways were, and if they'd recommend the book.

Thanks.

Chewing Gum Conversation

2010-06-06T12:17:01Z

Does anybody here chew gum? Have you quit and noticed any improvements?

I, for one, chew a pack (15 pieces) a day of sugarfree gum, and I've created a dependency complex. Is it worth it to quit?

Here are the ingredients: SORBITOL, GUM BASE, GLYCEROL, MANNITOL, NATURAL AND ARTIFICIAL FLAVORS, LESS THAN 2% OF HYDROGENATED STARCH HYDROLYSATE, ASPARTAME, ACESULFAME K, SOY LECITHIN, BHT (TO MAINTAIN FRESHNESS), COLORS (BLUE 1 LAKE, BLUE 1, RED 40). PHENYLKETONURICS: CONTAINS PHENYLALANINE.

It's not pretty, but each piece is 2.7g. So- over the course of the day, I chew around 40g of gum.

I guess this might be one of those situations where wondering whether it is a problem means it is a problem. Thanks for your input, though.

Also- I sometimes have difficult achieving satiety. Could this have anything to do with chewing gum?

Final note- I know chewing gum looks trashy. We don't need to raise that.

Recurrent Constipation

2010-11-16T02:36:52Z

So it seems like all these discussions are somewhat tentative, or inversely, pretty far out-there. Maybe I can walk the line here.

Background Information

I've been eating paleo for maybe 6 months now, no dairy besides butter, no fruit, no nuts besides macadamias. The transition followed a 4 year period of vegetarianism, the end of which (around 1 year ago) brought with it a bought of constipation identical to the kind I'm experiencing now. I was, and am, going seldom, and with little result. Then and now I've taken Miralax, which helps slightly, but obviously I don't want to depend on it forever. Last year, I had to be admitted to the hospital for a couple days so they could do x-rays and what-not, as well as a massive Go Lytely treatment, which worked, with my situation getting progressively better, especially during the summer.

Anyway, jump to the start of school, and my constipation was back. These days, though, I'm eating clean paleo, IFing a lot, and generally doing everything in my power to be healthy, which seems elusive. However, I'm living with my parents, who really question my eating, and think it could be behind my constipation. They also advocate conventional constipation cures (prunes, raisins, fiber). I don't think fiber is an issue. I eat a lot of vegetables/grass fed beef/salmon/butter/EVOO, and that's about it.

My Question(s)

If anyone could answer any of the following, I would be really indebted. Thanks!

1) Could my constipation be from:

Stress? (This jumps out at me, as the school year corresponds to the start of my constipation, and schoolwork is pretty demanding for me.)
Lack of fruit? (Should I eat
prunes/raisins/any other fruit? Is
the conventional wisdom about prunes, specifically, accurate?)
Intermittent Fasting? (I could be
doing it wrong. I don't eat from 7:30 PM to 3:00 PM every day.)
Probiotic/Enzyme Stuff? (I'll be
honest, I just spent 2 hours reading about this stuff and I'm still pretty lost. It seems they are more
recommended for diarrhea, or I
misread something.)
Physical Issues? (Could my gut be physically damaged?)

Once again, anything you could offer will be received gratefully. I hope that, since this is such a long question, others will benefit from it as well.

Is it worth it? (grain-fed meat)

2010-05-10T13:19:04Z

I often wonder whether it's worth eating meat if it's grain fed. I can't realistically afford grass fed meats, and so it's either grain fed or nothing.

So: with the option of either eating grain fed meat or very little meat, which is the preferable choice?

If you would be so kind, I'd really appreciate suggestions on the least-bad grain fed options. Currently I try to eat lamb, because I hear it's sometimes grass-fed.

Thanks in advance.

Gary Taubes on Artificial Sweeteners

2011-10-02T02:26:59Z

Via http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2011/10/02/magazine/29mag-food-issue.html?ref=magazine#/health

Should I Be Afraid of Low-Calorie Sugar Substitutes? BY GARY TAUBES

There's not nearly as much reason to fear sugar substitutes as there is to fear actual sugar and high-fructose corn syrup. The assumption that these noncaloric or low-cal sweeteners are likely to be cancer-causing agents, and that sugar and high-fructose corn syrup are not, is as much a sugar-industry invention as anything else.

The two oldest and most undeservedly infamous sugar substitutes — saccharin and cyclamate — were first used widely in the United States in the early 1960s, when diet soft drinks came into vogue. The sugar industry responded by financing research into potential health risks of the two sweeteners — spending half a million dollars on cyclamate alone, which was a lot of money at the time. "If anyone can undersell you 9 cents out of 10," one sugar-industry executive explained to The Times in 1969, "you'd better find some brickbat you can throw at him."

The brickbat was the notion that cyclamate could cause bladder cancer in rats. Or at least it could when they were consuming the equivalent of several hundred soda cans each day. Regardless, the Food and Drug Administration promptly banned its use. In the early 1970s, when a few studies suggested that saccharin could do the same — if consumed at the rate of 800 soda cans daily — the F.D.A. moved to ban that as well before settling for a warning label that would stay on packets of Sweet'N Low for the next quarter century. (Congress passed a bill to remove it in 2000.) To further confuse matters, the Canadians banned saccharin but left cyclamate unregulated, so Sweet'N Low in the United States is made from saccharin and in Canada from cyclamate.

As it turns out, the bladder cancer in male rats appears to be promoted by a protein in their urine that's not present in male humans. And despite numerous studies, precious little evidence can be found that humans consuming Sweet'N Low anywhere in North America have more bladder cancer than those who don't.

This suggests that despite the checkered history and the F.D.A. actions, cyclamate and saccharin might actually be as safe as any sugar substitute on the market.

Stevia, however, gets my vote as the best noncaloric sweetener, by virtue of being the only one that's truly "natural." It comes from a Southern Hemisphere herb, stevia rebaudiana, known colloquially as sweet leaf or sugar leaf. Extracts of the herb have been used as a sweetener for centuries. In Japan, Stevia has been sold widely as a sugar substitute since the early 1970s without any documented ill effects. Stevia leaves are 30 times as sweet as sugar itself, and the purified extracts are 200 times as sweet, meaning that it takes less than a calorie's worth to sweeten 12 ounces of soda.12 ounces of soda.

Thoughts? Is he catering to a more mainstream audience? He doesn't even mention insulin.

How Can I Respond to This Anti-Red Meat Study?

2010-07-23T14:43:05Z

Okay, so given that I'm 17, and live with my parents, paleo eating has been really controversial (both cost-wise and abnormal-wise). Anyway, they don't believe a thing I tell them about it, which is frustrating. Today, my dad emailed me this link:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/7959128.stm

How can I decimate the thought process behind this study?

I really thank you guys for anything you can give me.

Answer by memostotle for Do you eat with your hands?

2011-09-30T21:12:06Z

You use every other sense...why not touch?

Answer by memostotle for What do you prefer, working out in morning or at night? (before or after work)

2011-09-29T16:58:19Z

Psychologically, a lot of people like to just get it out of the way by doing it in the morning.

Answer by memostotle for What are you still confused about?

2011-09-19T01:34:50Z

How important is avoiding salt?

Answer by memostotle for Beverages...what are your paleo friendly beverages?

2011-09-18T20:15:55Z

Seltzer? Not sure if carbonation has any adverse effects.

College Cafeteria Hierarchy

2011-09-17T17:47:38Z

Hey guys,

My college's cafeteria is pretty consistent with food, so I was hoping you could help rank my options. Goals are to follow paleo-principles, not really trying to gain mass, if anything I could lose a few lbs. Since they always have a really bountiful salad bar, and I'm not really concerned with that, I'll just list meat-related stuff.

So, considering I have 2 meals there (not breakfast), here are the usual offerings:

Deli Meat (Turkey, Roast Beef, Ham, Salami, Pepperoni)
Grilled Chicken Breast (no skin. as far as I know, no oils added)
Burgers (no bun, obviously. Cooked on one of those diner-type stoves? The flat surfaced one.)-
Pork Chops
Baked Chicken (with skin)

Anyway, if you have any thoughts on whether any one of these options is likely to be most healthy, I'd appreciate input. I realize my omega 6 ratio is gonna be egregious, but fish is not really offered (except as plain tuna fish, which is pretty unpalatable, so if you have any tips for making it good...). I will be buying some fish oil, but beyond that, can you think of which of these foods I'd be best off going for?

One last thing- They offer like 4 different waters, one with cantaloupe pieces in it, lemon pieces, lime, etc. Would having a piece of fruit sitting in a pitcher of water make the water have fructose, or is this just OCD? Cause I'm not eating any fruit, and don't want to mess it up by drinking lemon-infused water.

As always, thanks.

EDIT: With the cold-cuts (leaning towards roast beef and turkey) would nitrite/nitrate concerns rule them out?

Salmon Parfried in Veg. Oil?

2010-07-04T18:38:14Z

Hey guys, I've been eating these salmon burgers from costco, but I was wondering whether they're more harm than good.

Here's the ingredient list: Pink Salmon, Water, Non-GMO Canola Oil, Contains 2% or less of the following: Lemon Juice from Concentrate, Kosher Salt, Onion, Garlic, Spice, Natural Smoke Flavor, Natural Flavor, Vegetable Extractives, Color added. Parfried in Vegetable Oil (Soybean or Canola Oil.) Contains: Fish (Salmon)

They have quite a bit of Omega-3's, but should I stay away?

Thanks!

P.S., here is the link to them: http://www.tridentseafoods.com/retail/products.php?id=537

Answer by memostotle for Rank the sugars in order from most to least harmful

2011-06-06T12:45:09Z

Helpful article:

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/04/17/magazine/mag-17Sugar-t.html

Answer by memostotle for Is paleo sustainable?

2011-05-18T00:36:34Z

Methane emissions would probably increase dramatically. And less CO2 absorption from crops.

Answer by memostotle for I'm asking for this communities help and specifically patrik......what would make a paleo restaurant a success? And where should I build it? Demographics? Patrik

2011-05-07T18:16:04Z

I don't think it's a good idea.

1) There really aren't many paleo-eaters, despite how burgeoning the movement seems. If you really think about the critical mass needed to support a restaurant in a single location, I think you'd find it difficult to justify. You need a concentration of people, and even if you found this concentration, the odds that it would be in a location you're willing to move to seem slim, unless you're willing to change everything in order to embark on such a venture.

2) I think many people who eat paleo also like cooking, or feel that it's a healthier way to live. It seems like a contradictory notion to embrace paleolithic customs while also being reliant on others to cook for you. And yeah it's not a re-enactment and people do eat out, but I still think your audience isn't going to be clamoring for a themed restaurant. Plus, most restaurants serve paleo-compatible meals. I think most people are fine with ordering a steak and braving the potential gluten contamination.

This is a fun thing to think about but I don't think it's justifiable, economically.

Can I replace my HIIT with weightlifting and not gain fat?

2011-05-06T21:13:24Z

I hate doing HIIT. Right now, it consists of 30 minutes of cycling with 10 total minutes of all-out effort.

Anyway, I'm moving and I am pretty sure my HIIT routine will fall apart. Since I like to lift, and currently do so 3 days a week, I was wondering if adding other lifts, specifically more leg oriented lifts, could stop fat gain, or whether I should try to continue doing HIIT if I want to stay/get more lean. I know Robb Wolf says he gets frustrated when people want to build muscle and lean out at the same time, so my priority is with leaning out a bit more. Do you guys think that switching out HIIT for weights would stop me from doing this?

Thanks.

Answer by memostotle for Is sprinting really "primal" at all?

2011-05-06T21:15:37Z

I'm pretty sure that paleolithic humans captured animals not by sprinting but by running for hours until they (the prey) collapsed.

Saw this on Discovery channel so be gentle with your barbs, could well be nonsense.

Paleo Recipes- Less Than 9 Items Lane

2010-07-14T13:03:01Z

Hey, I've gotten tremendous responses for all my questions, and again, thanks!

Today, I'd like to know your favorite recipes with under 9 ingredients. I really don't have a huge amount of time to be cooking, and I'd like to throw a 100% paleo and delicious meal together. Honestly, I get pretty daunted when I see massive lists of obscure (to me) ingredients (arrowroot!?). So, if you'd be so kind, let me know the simplest ways you've found to rejoice in the sublimity that is paleo eating.

Thanks!

Trans fat in full fat dairy?

2010-04-12T22:57:35Z

Hey guys,

I bought some full-fat Greek style Trader Joes yogurt. A few questions:

Should I be worried about the 1g of trans fat, or is that the natural kind? Should I be concerned that it's "greek style" rather than greek itself? Any big difference?

Thanks!

Why wouldn't those slightly more gluten tolerant have been selected?

2010-11-17T23:10:40Z

Pretty simple question. I can't figure out why even an infinitesimal ability to consume gluten without inflammatory effects would not have been present and selected for once gluten became part of a regular diet. Could somebody clear this up for me?

I guess the way I'm seeing it is that when people started eating grains, even though they may not have had really deleterious effects until post-reproductive periods, those humans who experienced less severe deleterious effects would have been able to care better for their kids, or have more kids (well, men, since they don't pass out of the reproductive period), or what have you.

And, for the response that gluten has an impact "later in life," I have a question.

Do you contend that absolutely zero effects manifest themselves before reproductive age? That would be counter to what I'd expect, given the success stories of people who stopped eating gluten prior to being reproductively inept. Further, even if this impact occured after reproductive activity ended, you'd still be able to do things (gather food, care for young), so that those effected by gluten, and therefore unable to aid their families, would be less likely to see their genes spread.

Anyway, throw me some insight please.

Answer by memostotle for Painful dichotomy: no fat v trans fat: which is worse?

2010-09-09T20:40:36Z

I would go with whatever could conceivably be part of an ancestral diet.

That would mean no trans fats. From what I understand, they're pretty much the worst thing you can do to your body.

Also: Check this out, it deals with a similar question.

Am I IF'ing correctly?

2010-09-08T11:54:42Z

Since the school year started, I thought it would be a good time to start trying to IF.

I'm 100% Paleo, no dairy (except butter) or fruit, and have been for a while.

I go to bed every night at 9-9:30. Usually eat my last food around 7:45. Every morning around 5:30 I'll either do free weights or HIIT for a half hour or so. Then I'll have coffee, but no food until around 2:45 PM. So I guess it would be a 19 hour fast, but with sleep included.

Anyway, I first want to know: does this seem okay? Am I setting myself back by IF'ing post workout?

Also: My parents are freaking out about this. It was hard enough getting them to let me eat Paleo, but the notion that I would dare contradict the 'breakfast as day-determining' belief is outrageous. What can I show them to make them more open to the idea of IF?

Thanks!

Answer by memostotle for What is Paleo? What is the Paleo Diet?

2010-09-07T01:19:34Z

This'll help.

Answer by memostotle for celebrity doctors and writers

2010-08-26T02:51:03Z

I think it's helpful, when reading studies, to think about:

The sample size
Correlation not being causation
Who sponsors the study
If there is confounding (mixed variables that make correlation irrelevant)
What your personal experience has been

Making a list of who to trust, and who not to trust, is a little silly, because you can get pigeonholed into believing whatever some given person spews, rather than actually making your own opinions.

Is Ground Lamb Healthy?

2010-07-25T14:04:19Z

After reading numerous comments saying commercial lamb is usually grass fed, with some grain, I went to the store to get some. Since I am only spending 35 bucks on meat per week (not counting other expenses, produce, fish, etc.), I am looking for the cheapest cuts.

The arm blade chops and shoulder blade chops were each $5/lb. BUT, the lamb breast and ground lamb were $2/lb. I bought a lot of ground lamb, and love it. Am I setting myself back by doing so? Will the ground lamb not be as good nutritionally? Should I get the lamb breast instead?

I really appreciate your help!

Backyard Workout

2010-07-21T18:06:22Z

Hey guys.

Let me start by saying the following is all with the objective of lean-ness and better body comp.

I'm trying to revamp how I exercise, and I'm starting by making (or buying) a sandbag to work out with in my backyard (Maybe 40x40 feet, 13x13 meters).

Do you know what weight is a good starting point? I've read all sorts of different sizes on different websites. I bench around 135 (sadface).

Should I buy a kettle-bell or any other additional tools to work out with?

So, in summation:

What weight for a sandbag if I bench 135? What other objects should I try to get my hands on?

Thanks!

Canned Salmon and Frozen Fish

2010-07-12T22:29:16Z

Hey guys, let me say thanks for the wonderful help I've recieved so far from this community.

I'm trying to get purer fish into my diet (rather than preprepared stuff), so I've taken to buying either canned salmon or frozen fillets o' fish.

For the canned salmon, what can I put on it to make it taste better? Homemade Mayo could be an option, though the recipe I used tasted overwhelmingly of olive oil. If you have a high O-3 mayo recipe you like, or another canned fish method, let me know.

For a slab of fish, what sort of sauces do you put on it? In my experience, fish is bland with just salt and pepper.

This site is really incredible, and any help is gratefully received!

Sweetener Question (e.g., Elevator Pitch)

2010-06-24T11:50:01Z

Hey guys, quick question.

I am of the belief, as nearly all of you are, that sweeteners are not healthy. Insulin secretion, and a lot of chemistry I look forward to understanding but currently don't.

Anyway, I was telling someone (not obnoxiously, they asked first) about diet sodas being unhealthy due to artificial sweeteners which can have the same effect as sugar. Anyway, the person asked me, "Well why do people drinking diet soda gain less, or lose more, weight?"

This seems like a fairly accurate assessment of what does happen in my limited anecdotal experience. Am I confusing correlation with causation? Are sweeteners not necessarily weight-increasing? Any answers you have would be real helpful.

Answer by memostotle for KFC Double Down yet?

2010-05-31T22:14:30Z

On Free the Animal, he describes a similar urge to try it: http://freetheanimal.com/2010/04/the-kfc-double-down-is-going-down.html

Then he offers make-your-own strategies: http://freetheanimal.com/2010/05/if-its-good-enough-for-meatza-its-good-enough-for-a-double-down-burger.html

Comment by memostotle

2011-09-30T15:06:19Z

I personally prefer doing other stuff, and exercise is a necessary component of my day that I prefer to get done.

Comment by memostotle

2011-09-25T00:18:34Z

To make it clearer, HDL+LDL+(Triglicerides/5)

Comment by memostotle

2011-09-20T23:37:44Z

Is this being upvoted for correctness, or because it's convenient to believe?

Comment by memostotle

2011-09-17T17:34:44Z

Salt causes a puffy face? From water retention, or what?

Comment by memostotle

2011-09-16T14:10:47Z

Sounds like crossfit from the WOD terminology.

Comment by memostotle

2011-09-14T10:49:34Z

Take some meat at each meal and put it in a ziploc.

Comment by memostotle

2011-09-13T01:57:20Z

Isn't olive oil in high heat supposed to be really bad for you?

Comment by memostotle

2011-05-23T19:09:11Z

yes flossingforlife.com good source

Comment by memostotle

2011-05-07T13:16:52Z

Is it enjoyable for you? Or just for health reasons?

Comment by memostotle

2011-05-07T13:09:13Z

There are a couple editions of the New Rules for Lifting- do you know which one you used?

Comment by memostotle

2011-05-06T21:59:55Z

It's only 3 days/week?

Comment by memostotle

2011-05-06T21:22:51Z

Don't know if you heard him on Robb Wolf's podcast, but he said insulin, basically. He had some weird argument, though, that involved his inability to understand some of today's nutritional science. Probably just self-deprecation, but yeah, he said insulin.

Comment by memostotle

2011-03-19T23:17:51Z

She's not talking about lessees?

Comment by memostotle

2011-01-28T04:01:25Z

Not really. You can't possibly wade through everything. There have to be gatekeepers.

Comment by memostotle

2011-01-11T23:21:52Z

It would be cool to add a link or something.