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Scientific Backing for Paleo

I have been living paleo for a few months now, and I feel great and love it!

Someone posted this article earlier today and I thought it was wonderful.

http://preventdisease.com/news/12/030112_World-Renown-Heart-Surgeon-Speaks-Out-On-What-Really-Causes-Heart-Disease.shtml

However, I tried to share this with my cousin (who is VERY opinionated when it comes to health, she's completely anti-fats) and this is what she said,

"It's interesting but not factual yet. He didn't reference any peer reviewed work. He really doesn't have much proof of what he is saying. "

Is this true? If so, are there sources that do have proof?

At 25 she had pretty high cholesterol and after over 2.5 years of being vegetarian and not enjoying food at all, she has successfully lowered it. Now she thinks it is the only solution...

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 One little nitpick: there's no such thing as proof, only evidence which either supports or doesn't support an idea. – trjones Apr 23 2012 at 17:39
See: paleohacks.com/questions/111912/… – Matt Apr 23 2012 at 17:45
Or this one: paleohacks.com/questions/108497/… – Dave S. Apr 23 2012 at 17:51

closed as exact duplicate by Matt, Kamal♦ Apr 23 2012 at 18:19

4 Answers

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Sure is, 1.x million years and here we are.

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In science hardly anything is ever "proved," hence the "theory of evolution."

Read as much as you can and evaluate the evidence as you best see fit. The question isn't whether there is proof that a paleo diet works - the question is whether the "experts" in the field of nutrition have enough evidence to support the categorical claims they've made for 30 years about fat (especially saturated fat).

You can also show your cousin that through your own N=1 experiment you are feeling great on a paleo diet. You can also show that your blood lipids are improving and it is probably taking you much less than the 2.5 years it took your cousin on a vegetarian diet, and you can testify to how satisfying the food is. You can also send her this YouTube lecture from Dr. Robert Lustig http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dBnniua6-oM

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 Gravity is a theory too, but I dare anyone to jump out of a window. We haven't evolved wings yet. – Chris Apr 23 2012 at 18:06
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Agree with previous posters. Check out any research in to evolution of human diet. Check out the work of Dr Margaret Schoeninger. She's an anthropologist/biological anthropologist who has done a lot of research on primitive subsistence strategies. Seems like the fact that we're still around after a million years is pretty good proof that this is a decent "diet"!

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It sounds like both your cousin may be falling into the trap of thinking there's "one right way."

Many people thrive on vegetarianism for months or years, particularly if they had generous fat reserves when they started. The same is true of "strict paleo" which includes extreme restrictions of unprocessed plant foods.

It's only my opinion, but for a lifetime of health I think the optimal food mix is somewhere in the middle. On a given day I may be close to plant-only and on the next I may be close to meat-only; a typical week will include a mix of unprocessed meat, fruit and vegetables.

Based on my particular annual physical, that's the best overall approach for me right now. I feel totally free to tweak from season to season and eat what I feel like from my unprocessed food mix on a given day.

If I eat few-to-no nuts (or meat/fruit/greens/tubers/etc.) and you eat a generous amount, what does it matter if we both feel fabulous and wake up alert, in good spirits with lots of energy?

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