User april s. - PaleoHacks.com

What are the top 5 things every Paleo newbie should know (but probably doesn't)?

2012-08-08T19:23:21Z

I've been Paleo for almost a year and I'm still learning so much about this lifestyle.

Since I always see "help I'm new to Paleo!" questions here on PH, I figure let's help these little newbies out.

What are your Top 5 recommendations?

Answer by April S. for [meta] Question about badges on this site

2013-03-30T16:43:49Z

Unfortunately, there's no direct way of knowing which question earned which badge.

However, you can definitely figure it out. For example: a Popular Question badge is a question with 1,000 or more views. In your profile, you can look at the questions you've asked; click the tab that says "views" to sort your questions from most views to the least; the Popular Question badge will be one that recently hit 1K views (which will be in a gold color). Although you probably won't specifically target the question the badge is referring to (unless you're keeping track of the stats of your questions which I have no idea why anyone would do), you can more or less have an idea of which question it possibly could be.

Answer by April S. for Trying to get boyfriend on paleo...

2013-03-27T16:59:54Z

I would never try to get my boyfriend to change anything about him. I fell in love with him the way he is now and if he decides to change something about himself, I will welcome it and still love him. But for now, even though it would be awesome if he became Paleo, I accept the way he eats (and acts and dresses and so on). But I guess one difference between your boyfriend and mine is that my boyfriend loves working out.

Although I will say this: I always praise my diet; he wonders how I can eat so much red meat and butter and sweet potatoes and not gain any weight without much exercise. I cook Paleo meals for him and he always enjoys it. I think the more I claim how much I love eating this way, the more it gets embedded into his brain and maybe one day he will start eating healthier.

There's definitely no need to nag him. I know if someone were to nag me to do something, the less inclined I would be to do it. Keep things positive and get him excited about it.

Answer by April S. for How Do I Get Oily Skin?

2013-03-06T22:15:24Z

I'm just gonna ramble some things off the top of my head: Coconut or avocado oil; yogurt mask; don't use hot water; get a humidifier?

What I personally do is put a raw honey mask once or twice a week (OMG SO AMAZING) and almost every night I put a little bit of moisturizer on my face (OMG NOT PALEO but most of their products are 95% natural and don't use mineral oil, silicones, parabens, synthetic dyes, phthalates, alcohol, wheat, fragrance, etc.) from Korres.

Answer by April S. for Recently diagnosed HIV+, best course of treatment for someone trying to avoid ARVs?

2013-03-05T23:54:44Z

First of all, I have to say I'm sorry you're going through this.

Why do Protease Inhibitors/Intergrase Inhibitors cause diarrhea?

The mucosa of the intestine is where active virus production takes place. Diarrhea is a common effect of protease inhibitors (which are a part of ARV therapy) because it damages the barrier between the bowel wall and intestinal lumen. This leads to leakage of ions and water from the tissue into the lumen.

What "holistic" treatments should I be doing?

You could look into using herbs (as in Chinese medicine or Siddha medicine) and homeopathic medicine. I also found this interesting website for alternative HIV treatments.

And here's some more interesting reads on homeopathic medicine:
http://www.homeopathic.com/Documents/AIDSinJACM2003.pdf
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2637286/

Wishing you all the best.

Answer by April S. for Peel Sweet Potatoes??

2013-03-01T17:32:44Z

Wattup Desmondddddd.

Anyway, to answer your question, conventionally grown sweet potatoes are known to be treated with dye or wax. And of course, in and around the skin are where most of the anti-nutrients (such as trypsin inhibitors) and toxins are located. Everyone talks about how the peel houses a lot of vitamins/fiber/etc but I don't find any evidence that the skin has any significant nutrients but I have on occasion eaten the skin but sometimes I find it too bitter. Nonetheless, a majority of the time, I peel my sweet potatoes, organic or not BUT it's definitely not the worst thing you could be eating. Here's an old thread about it:

http://paleohacks.com/questions/1643/potatoes-eat-the-skin-or-no#axzz2MJFITN8C

I'd probably give the same answer for cucumbers; both conventional and organic cucumbers may have been waxed but a lot of people say that the skin of cucumbers is the most nutritionally dense part since if you remove the skin, a cucumber is pretty much all agua. If you're not gonna peel the cucumber skin off, I'd at least vigorously wash it before eating.

It's all a matter of personal preference.

Answer by April S. for Anyone Else Notice a Feeling of Warmth From Fructose Consumption?

2013-03-01T05:44:37Z

Fructose provokes greater thermogenesis than other carbs:

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/6476787/
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/3521319/

Edit: Just noticed your "thermogenesis" tag #lolz so my links are irrelevant because you already knew that. So I will answer your question and say nope, I've personally never noticed that warm feeling after eating fruit.

Answer by April S. for What about eating potatoes on Paleo

2013-03-01T05:16:33Z

I looooove potatoes; they are my main source of carbs on Paleo. I feel much better with them. I eat them every day and even on days that I don't workout.

My favorite way to eat them would be cutting some baby red potatoes into cubes or making some fries out of sweet potatoes and frying them in bacon grease/duck fat/butter. I season them liberally with salt, black pepper, smoked paprika, and chili powder. Of course I do love mashed potatoes made with russet and Yukon gold potatoes with some heavy cream, salt and lotsa butter.

Following up on what Eugenia said about eating potatoes: I always skin my potatoes, even the organic ones.

I think it's generally okay to eat potatoes that have sprouted so long as they are FIRM and you twist the sprouts off them (you can save these for planting!). The thing about sprouted potatoes is that most of the starch has converted to sugar. DO NOT EAT if the sprouts are GREEN.

I also agree with Eugenia that you should NOT eat potatoes that have green spots on them as these are TOXINS such as solanine. Also stay away from potatoes that have gone soft and wrinkly. The proper way to store them would be in a cool dark place (not in a plastic bag as this is more humid and may cause them to sprout faster) and away from onions because they release gases that will spoil both of them faster.

As far as cheese, the best cheese would be raw and/or aged and from pastured sources. I personally love some aged grass-fed cheddar, mozzarella and raw aged goat cheese.

What would happen to government and businesses if everyone in the US switched to Paleo?

2012-01-31T01:34:03Z

What do you think would be immediate effects? Government would probably take away their subsidies on wheat, soy, and corn. Less subsidies on potatoes and dairy probably. Restaurant chains such as McDonald's would find ways to revamp their menus to be Paleo-friendly. Possible danger of shortage of grass-fed beef (if everyone demanded that CAFO be shut down). More Paleo restaurants and smaller, local businesses with natural products. Probably a slight boom in the vitamin/supplement industry and a big blow to big pharma. An increase in naturopathic doctors. Hmm, anything else?

What would you like to see in a world where everyone was Paleo?

Answer by April S. for What are the inspirational quotes you live by that promote the Paleo lifestyle?

2013-02-28T01:00:49Z

Just Do It.

(Thanks Nike.)

Answer by April S. for Is saturated fat really healthy (or harmless)?

2013-02-15T01:54:16Z

First of all, I agree with Jim. Those papers are oooooold.

Second, I have extremely high total and LDL cholesterol after going on Paleo as well but my trigs are super low and my HDL is very high, prompting my doctor to tell me she's never seen HDL that high before. I don't worry too much about it because I do think I have a genetic predisposition towards high cholesterol. Do you know if high cholesterol runs in your family?

If you would like to do some more reading, read The Cholesterol Myth by Drs. Bowden and Sinatra. They say that there is no association between saturated fat and heart disease. Chris Kresser also has a post on how cholesterol doesn't cause heart disease.

I'd also say high triglycerides are a more important risk factor. This study found that saturated fat raises total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol but also lowers triglycerides and raises HDL cholesterol. Both this study and Dr. Bowden claim that intake of omega-3 fish oil, which is anti-inflammatory, is beneficial.

Answer by April S. for Is Bacon safe? 15 Characters

2013-02-12T05:38:34Z

I eat bacon pretty often; 4-6 strips several times a week. I'm not worried about the sodium content since I have low blood pressure and I use salt very liberally on my food. I try to buy organic when I can (such as Applegate Farms or Wellshire Farms). If not, the only thing I look out for is if it's uncured, whether it contains nitrates/nitrites, how much sugar it has, and if there are any added spices. I stick to my general rule of thumb: the fewer ingredients, the better. When I buy bacon, I try to stick with the only ingredients listed as: pork, water, sugar/cane juice, and salt. I don't know how much a "copious amount" of bacon is, but I'm sure you know better than to eat, say, a pound of bacon every day.

Here's some more reading on Mark's Daily Apple: http://www.marksdailyapple.com/a-quick-guide-to-bacon/#axzz2KezfvDPM

Answer by April S. for Raw boneless leg of lamb calories?

2013-01-30T21:10:56Z

There will always be slight discrepancies in nutrition facts.

Here is one possibility for 1 pound of raw leg of lamb:

Answer by April S. for I think I am still eating too many/wrong carbs?

2013-01-30T04:49:43Z

Sorry to burst your bubble, but the yogurt isn't the only thing that you need to stop eating.

The Grandma Hoerner's Big Slice Applesauce? TONS of sugar from apples/apple juice. Get rid of it.

Van De Kamp's fish sticks -- This is probably the worst Paleo offender on that list. It has wheat, vegetable oil, preservatives, sugar, MSG, and a host of other crap. GET RID OF IT.

Mayonnaise -- if it's your own homemade Paleo mayo using only eggs, olive oil and salt, that's great; but if it's something horrible like Kraft mayo, get rid of it.

Jif peanut butter -- Peanuts are a legume, hence, not Paleo. And Jif is also a hydrogenated vegetable oil (i.e. TRANS FAT) and sugar bomb. Get rid of it.

Clean up your diet. You will notice a difference.

Answer by April S. for Going to two meals a day?

2013-01-29T17:53:56Z

No, you must eat every 2-3 hours otherwise your metabolism will freak out and slow down.

I'm just kidding--Yes, two meals a day is great. It's what I do. It's quite convenient. You'd most likely be Intermittent Fasting.

Answer by April S. for Is it too much?

2013-01-29T17:49:36Z

I don't eat more than 4-8 oz in a week (and I think I've read most people on this site do the same) so I'm gonna go ahead and say 2 lbs is a bit overkill in one day. Yes, vitamin A toxicity is something to worry about but that will happen only over a long period of time of eating large amounts of liver.

Wait at least a week to finish the rest of the liver. Stick to no more than half a pound every time you eat it.

And I'm sure it goes without saying that there are a lot of other choices of meat to choose from to help you get full.

Answer by April S. for Confused about ApoB Units

2013-01-29T05:14:46Z

I'm guessing your test result of 2.0 is in g/L. And converting that to mg/dL would be 200, not 2000. I think Canada uses g/L, while US uses mg/dL.

Normal ApoB levels are 40 to 125 mg/dL (or 0.4 to 1.25 g/L).

This study conducted in Canada found that concentrations of <1.04 g/L indicates a low risk of CHD/CAD; 1.04-1.22 g/L has a moderate risk; 1.22-1.40 g/L has a high risk; and >1.40 g/L has a very high risk.

Don't be too alarmed that 2.0 g/L might predict that you have an extremely high risk of heart disease. There are still a lot of inconsistencies and inconclusive data with ApoB. What might be a little more helpful is if you also got your ApoA-1 test and looked at the ApoB to ApoA-1 ratio.

Answer by April S. for Did you know that paleohacks cracked the top 7,000 websites and April S is now a moderator?

2013-01-29T04:02:54Z

TROLLS BETTA WATCH OUT I'M GONNA GET Y'ALL

Answer by April S. for What to buy, exactly?

2013-01-29T03:57:17Z

Hey Animal Nurse and welcome to PaleoHacks! This question has been asked ad nauseum. At the top right corner, you will see a search box and in it, you can type in keywords to find similar questions. For this question, you could type in "shopping list."

But I'll entertain your question. Here's my shopping list (and I'll include brands since you asked):

Meats: beef, bison, lamb, chicken, pork. I get grass-fed when I can, but meat at Whole Foods is known to be "three-fourths grass-fed" meaning they're corn/grain-finished but also hormone/antibiotic-free. That is a lot better than regular CAFO meat. For bacon, I get Applegate Farms or Wellshire Farms (organic), but sometimes I'll get the Whole Foods' 365 brand which is non-organic.

Seafood: salmon, Chilean sea-bass, cod, shrimp, scallops, oysters.

Fats/Oils: Nature's Way coconut oil; Purity Farms organic ghee; Kerrygold grass-fed butter; 365 organic EVOO

Dairy: Naked Goat raw goat cheese; Claravale Farm raw milk (not found at WF)

Eggs: Vital Farms pastured eggs (if I can afford it); other than that, I don't really have a preference for brand but I try to get ones that are organic, hormone/antibiotic-free, with omega-3s. I like to refer to this egg scorecard to see which farms produce good eggs.

Vegetables: try to get organic when possible but I'm also a big fan of frozen veggies.

Miscellaneous: I like Spice Hunter spices, Himalania sea salt, and raw nuts.

Hope this helped! Whole Foods IS overwhelming.

Answer by April S. for 5'10 157.. gaining weight or muscle not sure/ acne

2013-01-29T03:42:10Z

First: You gotta give it longer than a week. Just keep doing what you're doing and be patient.

Second: My experience was the same; constantly hungry and feeling like I needed to eat every 2-3 hours. Then I tried Intermittent Fasting, which if you don't already know what it is, is to have a "feeding window" of approximately 8 hours and then "fast" for 16 hours. I found it easier to eat two large meals a day during that 8-hour window.

Third: My acne was the first thing that significantly improved within a short period of time after going Paleo. I'm sure yours will do the same.

Answer by April S. for How many calories do you eat a day?

2013-01-29T00:42:51Z

I eat anywhere from 1200 to almost 2000 calories a day. So I probably average about 1500-1600 in a week.

As far as macros, fat is about 50-60%, protein and carbs are usually equal at 20-30%. I eat moderately high carb, but I find that I still keep it under 100 g most days. Virtually all of my carbs come from potatoes.

And what exactly are you trying to get a better gauge on? How much you should eat? What your macronutrient ratios should be? Don't let anyone tell you what you should be doing. Paleo should come naturally as long as you listen to your body.

Answer by April S. for HELP! Calorie question.... I know, I know. Don't hate.

2013-01-24T01:04:41Z

In my opinion, that's too low. For anyone. Especially if you're eating that few calories every day.

A few questions: What are your goals? What is your physical activity level? Are you truly full off of eating that much (or should I say little)? How many times do you eat a day? Do you add healthy fats to your meals?

Answer by April S. for Which supplements for IBS?

2013-01-23T21:56:07Z

Most people (with and without IBS) take magnesium just because our soils are very deficient in it, so yes, you can/should take magnesium.

There's some controversy about calcium and whether or not it's actually necessary to supplement with. But keep in mind magnesium and calcium have antagonistic effects; meaning calcium is probably better for those who have diarrhea on IBS and magnesium is good for those with constipation. A 2:1 cal:mag ratio is probably good.

For IBS, the first thing thing that came to mind are probiotics, which you already say you take. Probiotics are also present in fermented foods such as sauerkraut, kimchi, and kefir. Something else to consider are prebiotics, which when taken in conjunction with probiotics encourages the growth of the bacteria. But there's some debate about whether or not prebiotics actually help. Eating soluble fiber foods definitely wouldn't hurt though.

I'd also recommend taking digestive enzymes before a meal.

Answer by April S. for Fats: The good, the bad, and the ugly?

2013-01-22T03:49:39Z

Coconut oil - very good if extra virgin, unrefined, organic
Butter/ghee - good for those who do dairy, should be grass-fed/organic
Cocoa butter - okay
Tallow - very good if grass-fed
Palm oil - okay
Lard - very good if pastured
Duck fat - good if free-range (has a higher o6 content than tallow or lard, but not as much as chicken or turkey fat)
Avocado oil - good
Macadamia nut oil - good
Olive oil - good but not for cooking
Peanut oil - really bad because it's extremely high in omega-6
Rice Bran Oil - bad
Safflower oil - really bad because it is also extremely high in omega-6
Sesame seed oil - bad
Canola oil - bad
Sunflower oil - okay if you use high oleic 70% and over
Vegetable shortening - bad
Corn oil - bad
Soybean oil - really bad
Walnut oil - okay
Grapeseed oil - okay

Answer by April S. for How do I really know if I'm doing Paleo right?

2013-01-21T20:53:17Z

1) Eating fruit is fine if you feel good on it and you are not concerned with weight loss.

2) Eat when you're (truly) hungry. Stop when you're full. Learn to listen to your body.

3) There is no such thing as too much meat.

4) It may be possible you're not eating enough. Track your calories (if you haven't already) for a typical day and based on that, decide if you need to eat more for your height/weight.

5) Something you could try is to cut out snacking/smaller meals and instead eat only two very large meals a day.

6) Another thing you could do is include starchy foods, such as potatoes and rice. That might fill you up.

7) The best recovery from shin splints is to rest, ice it, stretch/massage it. Get new shoes, stop striking the ground with your heel if you're doing that. Stay well hydrated and eat calcium-rich foods.

Answer by April S. for Questions/concerns...just started the Paleo diet!

2013-01-18T03:07:30Z

Hi Scott, and welcome to Paleo and PaleoHacks!

The simple and obvious solution is to try to eat more. Add a lot more fat when you are cooking (coconut oil, butter, lard/tallow/duck fat, etc.) and eat a lot of starches (white rice and potatoes). Don't focus on cardio but do lift heavy weights and make sure you are getting enough protein. I wouldn't worry about macronutrients right now as the important thing is to make sure you're eating at least 1000 calories above your BMR.

Answer by April S. for Grass fed 100% Beef, chicken, pork and lamb

2013-01-17T08:18:23Z

If you tell us where you live, it would be easier to help you. The default site we direct you to is www.eatwild.com.

But of course, there are several good online places to order from:
www.uswellness.org
www.texasgrassfedbeef.com
www.vermongrassfedbeef.com
www.lacensebeef.com
www.tropicaltraditions.com/grass_fed_beef.htm
www.goodearthfarms.com
www.baucomsbest.com
www.igourmet.com/shoppe/meats_and_seafood.asp
www.slankersgrassfedmeats.com

Answer by April S. for I have this phobia of oxalic acid - could someone knock some sense into me?

2013-01-16T17:41:58Z

Oxalic acid is a naturally occurring chemical found in some foods but the amount we normally eat in foods is not enough to poison us. In large amounts, yes oxalic acid is poisonous. But unless you have some medical condition like hyperoxaluria, there is no need for you to be worried. Keep in mind, your body naturally produces its own oxalic acid, whether you ingest it or not. Cooking leafy greens will kill the oxalic acid but there are actually some benefits to eating raw leafy greens. If you're eating a normal amount of leafy greens or other oxalic acid-containing foods, the effects are insignificant.

Here is an extensive list of oxalic acid content in fruits/vegetables:

HIGH in Oxalics (g/100 g)
Parsley 1.70
Chives 1.48
Cassava 1.26
Spinach .97
Chard, Swiss .65
Beet leaves .61
Radish .48
Collards .4
Leek .36
Beans, snap .36
Brussels sprouts .36
Garlic .36
Leaf Lettuce .33
Watercress .31
Broccoli .25
Kale .25

Moderate
Carrot .24
Romaine Lettuce .21
Arugula
Escarole
Chicory .21
Turnip .21
Sorrel .2
Sweet potato .2
Celery .19
Eggplant .19
Cauliflower .15

LOW in Oxalics
Asparagus .13
Endive .11
Basil
Cabbage .10
Okra .05
Onion .05
Pea .05
Potato .05
Turnip greens .05
Parsnip .04
Sweet Peppers .04
Rutabaga .03
Raspberry .03
Cucumbers .02
Squash .02
Zucchini .02
Leek .02
Strawberry .01
Coriander .01
Corn .01
Mint .01

Answer by April S. for Diseases of civilization: absence of enough nutrients or too much 'bad' foods?

2013-01-16T23:52:43Z

I agree with Colin. It's BOTH.

Consider:

-soils seriously depleted of magnesium and declines in the amount of protein, calcium, phosphorous, iron, zinc, vitamins B2, B6, E and C in fruits and vegetables due to modern agricultural methods (one study found that you would have to eat 8 grapefruits to derive the same amount of Vitamin A as our grandparents got); one study found that a higher yield of crop (i.e. more crops grown in little space) produced less nutritious vegetables

-climate change/global warming that affect soil quality through loss of organic matter, erosion, reduction of soil fertility, etc.

-the wheat that was first introduced thousands of years ago is not the same as it is today through many modifications/hybridizations which is what is responsible for an increase in gluten sensitivity

-ungodly use of vegetable oils, high fructose corn syrup, and the shitstorm of chemical preservatives and other artificial crap

-increased use of pesticides (have you seen studies on organic vs. non-organic strawberries? I love strawberries but will never touch a non-organic strawberry ever again)

-we live in a country that mass-produces food and the downside of that is it's so cheap to feed beef with that food--beef that are raised differently now than they used to: large numbers of them live together, making it easier for disease to spread faster. If a disease (say, E. coli O157) infects one animal, it will infect thousands of animals which provides a risk to the public for a food-borne outbreak. But sadly, I think the big industrialized food suppliers of this country are what most people need in order to have enough to eat.

Answer by April S. for "Genetic" Hair Loss Stopped After Paleo -- is this related to the diet?

2013-01-16T06:09:00Z

I experienced hair growth as well when I started Paleo following an eating disorder (but this was because I was severely malnourished). I highly believe that Paleo has helped with your situation, even though it's genetic.

Comment by April S.

2013-05-01T06:54:47Z

Cooking salmon in the microwave?

Comment by April S.

2013-04-25T04:29:11Z

Please edit this into a question.

Comment by April S.

2013-04-24T06:25:49Z

Ugh, does anyone want my small unopened jar? I can't stand the smell -___-

Comment by April S.

2013-04-23T05:50:53Z

I'm sensing a bromance between Stephen and FY.

Comment by April S.

2013-04-19T04:34:40Z

Please ask this as a separate question with more details. Thank you.

Comment by April S.

2013-04-16T07:42:45Z

Get some sweet potatoes and slather lots o' butter on those bad boys.

Comment by April S.

2013-04-14T20:40:06Z

Where do you live if you don't mind me asking? Sounds kind of relaxing.

Comment by April S.

2013-03-27T17:03:58Z

"Just tell him you're starting to become unattracted to his body." That doesn't sound like someone wanting to get their boyfriend on Paleo; that sounds like someone wanting to break up.

Comment by April S.

2013-03-16T03:35:13Z

Yes, most would agree that it's 50 grams or less. But I'll have to close this question since this has already been discussed.

Comment by April S.

2013-03-15T04:21:26Z

Sooooo people looking to lose weight shouldn't cook with refined fats/oils?

Comment by April S.

2013-03-14T05:00:28Z

Refined fats/oils including butter, ghee, coconut oil, etc.?

Comment by April S.

2013-03-08T00:52:20Z

@Travis, why did mag affect your sleep?

Comment by April S.

2013-03-06T22:41:50Z

I leave it on for 10-15 minutes. Comes off easily with warm water.

Comment by April S.

2013-03-05T20:43:26Z

Moderators will get notified when you guys "flag" a question or answer. We cannot go through every single question and read each answer so we badly need your guys' help to keep PH troll-free! Thanks!

Comment by April S.

2013-03-01T20:18:40Z

Please edit question to include what you normally eat on a daily basis. But regardless of that information, I'd suggest eating more starchy carbs (rice and potatoes). Increase protein if you're lifting heavy.