Paleo Diet and Paleolithic Diet Questions & Answers

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I'm starting to worry more and more about the processing of and modifications made to my food. I think most (but not all) of my undesireable food reactions come from the isolation of certain molecules used to enhance flavors or increase profitibility in some way. The natural balance of amino acids or types of sugars, etc... found in real food gets massively skewed. I'm starting to worry less and less about ideal macronutrient ratios (within reason) and whether or not I eat a piece of sweet chocolate...as long as it's organic and made with cane sugar. BTW my most bothersome symptoms are neurological. I just think that if something didn't evolve or hybridize properly it's highly possible it won't make sense to the human metabolism or can affect neurochemistry.

I especially want to avoid GMO foods, so all corn and soy. If I had a cheat, I'm starting to think an organic sandwich would be preferable to a corn syrup or soy product of any kind (as in almost anything processed). I won't eat wheat often though, just a pizza cheat sometimes. I wouldn't mind an all natural chocolate milk shake.

Does anyone else eat with this type of thinking, or do you think it's way off... like sugar is terrible and a gmo-corn-fed cow ain't so bad?

flag	asked Mar 7 2012 at 1:47 Heather 1,148●2●10

	I'd rather have a CAFO steak, than an organic pizza. – Ebice Mar 7 2012 at 10:47
	I hear ya. I've really lapsed over the last few days and have been feeling more hellish than I have in awhile. Regrouping and recommiting. – Heather Mar 8 2012 at 6:06

Eric · Answer 1 · 2012-03-07 02:01:30Z UTC

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Eat foods without labels from trusted sources.

answered Mar 7 2012 at 2:01

Eric
22.5k●1●17●68

End of story!!! – Annie Mar 7 2012 at 2:27

To what extent do you follow this? I mean, could you give a brief rundown of how you eat? No labels=no store bought? Or do you mean carrots from the store that are not in a package for example...I mean I get what you are saying and agree, just curious about your implementation. – Heather Mar 7 2012 at 2:41

And I do like ice cream :), I don't have time to make all this stuff. – Heather Mar 7 2012 at 2:42

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Most stores like Whole Foods and the local CO-OPs favor organic food at the cost of all other things. So they will have organic this and organic that but the quality of the food is low and the additives are high. – Eric Mar 7 2012 at 5:07

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That just leaves meat. Focus on grass feed beef, grass fed lamb, wild salmon, shellfish. Look to minimize poultry and pork. Costco has (hopefully) grass fed leg of lamb 95% sure on that one. Otherwise a freezer and a local farmer can get you set very easily on good meat. – Eric Mar 7 2012 at 5:16

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Invisible Caveman · Answer 2 · 2012-03-07 06:30:46Z UTC

I just went and looked and the only "processed" foods in my house right now (besides butter, heavy cream, coconut oil, and white rice) are:

Lindt 85% dark chocolate
Rice Chex cereal (for my kids when they come over)
Crystal hot sauce

If someone had told me six months ago that my kitchen was going to look like that, I most definitely would have laughed and said "yeah right". I would have laughed even harder if they told me that I'd give up pizza (my old favorite) for good after completely losing my craving for it.

Are you familiar with Kurt Harris' outline? It was my starting point for ancestral eating and really helped me eliminate all of the junk.

For what it's worth, I feel better physically and mentally than I think I ever have as an adult. It could just be from eliminating one food (like wheat, for example) or it could be from ditching all of it. I'm sure it all figures in somewhat, but it doesn't matter either way at this point. What matters is that I have my health back.

I say ditch all of it, including the cheats, for 30 days. See how you feel and go from there. You can do it!

Corbab · Answer 3 · 2012-03-07 05:14:37Z UTC

I avoid grains as much as possible, as I have a hard time getting over the "you weren't developed to eat them" block that I've put up. If you know the ingredients are organic from a trusted source, and consuming the occasional grain/dairy doesn't bother you unduly, there isn't anything wrong with it.

PaleoGran · Answer 4 · 2012-03-07 17:44:34Z UTC

Heather, if one avoids the following, as Dr. Kurt Harris explains at his blog, Archevore, on the Get-Started page:

grains

legumes

high-PUFA foods such as nuts, seeds, and their oils

high-fructose fruit, sugars, corn syrup, etc.

foods which have lots of chemicals and mysterious ingredients, such as things in boxes and plastic containers...

that covers the basics.

The next categories increase the food budget and effort to acquire food most considerably:

Pastured meat, eggs, and dairy, to avoid the GMO grains that the animals eat.

Organic tea and coffee from reliable sources.

Growing perennial herbs, vegetables and fruit reduces the cost. Many can be grown in containers.

Using a good water purifier, such as a Berkey, and making one's meals "from scratch" help, too.

As some have pointed out, grass-fed offal often costs less than CAFO muscle meat. I consider nutrient density as well as cost in planning my food preparations. I want the most nourishment possible per bite and calorie amounts, as well as the most nourishment I can get for the cost.

We each do what we can, as best we can.

I wish you much joy in eating as healthfully as you are able. :)

Eliminating processed/engineered foods with paleo

4 Answers