Paleo Diet and Paleolithic Diet Questions & Answers

Question

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Every time I eat sweet potatoes I see an adverse reaction as in I get bloated in the stomach and am hungry shortly after eating a fulfilling meal. However when i eat fruit, I feel light and energetic and full for hours. Any cravings disappear. If I pair fruit with coconut milk I have no problem. But pair coconut milk with sweet potatoes and my stomach gets huge.

So what's your experience with potatoes and fruit? Which one do you enjoy eating more and why? Why do you think my body has these reactions to sweet Potato over fruit (even when there's more sugar)? Also what are your general opinions on the two foods groups I.e. which one do you favor?

Thanks for the input!

flag	asked Aug 26 at 22:58 YoungPaleoLover 1,939●1●7●20

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How do you do with white rice? – Bill1102inf Aug 26 at 23:18

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I second Bill's question, it could be a starch digesting problem. – Mscott Aug 26 at 23:26

Starch is significantly more difficult to digest than sugar. – BoneBrothFast Aug 27 at 0:46

I have a hard time assessing my body's reactions. I hardly eat rice but when I do it seems to bloat me and like potatoes I want to eat a lot to become full. – YoungPaleoLover Aug 27 at 2:14

Alex · Answer 1 · 2012-08-27 00:18:07Z UTC

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Starches make me very hungry and drive me to overeat; fruit does not have that effect.

answered Aug 27 at 0:18

Alex
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	Do you find any differences between the starches in initiating overeating? – Scotty Von Porkchop Aug 27 at 8:59
	The effect is most noticeable with grains and tubers, but even if I make dried bean salads and eat it every day, my weight starts creeping up. – Alex Aug 27 at 11:37
	this has not been my experience at all. in fact, quite the opposite. – jake Oct 6 at 2:36

TruthinessInc · Answer 2 · 2012-08-27 00:57:55Z UTC

Introducing Yams and removing fruit has kicked started me back into weight loss and gives my mind better clarity...I eat berries (mostly blue berries, at least a half a pound a day) instead of the fruit and I THRIVE...

Sounds like you're well on your way too a bit of an elimination "diet"...at least you're focusing in on your personal speed bump...I'm sure you'll figure it out and goood luck!

Truth.

jake · Answer 3 · 2012-08-26 23:23:29Z UTC

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on taste alone fruit wins in a landslide but for performance i dig potatoes. no pun intended ;)

answered Aug 26 at 23:23

jake
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	Eh, idk about the taste thing. I much prefer "savory" foods like meat and potatoes over sweet-for-5-seconds-on-your-tongue. – BoneBrothFast Aug 27 at 0:47
	Haha nice pun :)! – YoungPaleoLover Aug 27 at 2:13

divergirl · Answer 4 · 2012-08-26 23:27:04Z UTC

My father's bothered by sweet potatoes as well, but in a different way. If he eats anything that's starchy or sugary in the morning or afternoon (including sweet potatoes) it gives him an instant headache. He still hasn't figured that one out. Especially because if it's the evening, he can chow down a whole pint of ice cream and be fine!

aseafish · Answer 5 · 2012-08-27 01:30:01Z UTC

I've read your question and all the answers several times. I, personally, do not have problems with either sweet potatoes or fruit as long as I do not overeat either of them. Overeating seems connected with bloating but not eating moderate amounts of either.

Sunshine · Answer 6 · 2012-08-26 23:20:19Z UTC

Fruits satisfies me way better than starches - tastes better too

I don't know the logistics of it - ask a boichemist if you're curious

but it's related to the hormonal cascade triggered by the liver glycogen stores being refilled

(whatever, i call it magic, but hey, if it works...)

Eugene K · Answer 7 · 2012-08-27 01:12:19Z UTC

Hm, I think I have similar issue. Actually I gained a lot of weight doing paleo with starches. Then I tried low carb but felt too sad. Now I've introduced fruits instead of starches and it seems to be working better. I felt sleepy after straches but raw fruits give me energy and improve digestion of meat.

Probably has to do something with vitamins, enzymes and acid present in raw fruits. Btw, can't overeat them due to acidity but there was no limit on how much starches I could eat.

Veganvspaleo · Answer 8 · 2012-09-11 17:20:34Z UTC

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There is a sugar in sweet potatoes many people ca not digest.I skip sweet potatoes but do fine with fruit.

answered Sep 11 at 17:20

Veganvspaleo
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Same here!!! I no longer do potatoes but have lost weight eating berries every day! – YoungPaleoLover Sep 12 at 22:14

Ryan · Answer 9 · 2012-09-11 18:34:16Z UTC

I have noticed the same reaction to the regular orange sweet potatoes. If I eat a few bites, it makes me want to eat tons of them. And I end up feeling bloated and having poor digestion.

Asian/Korean sweet potatoes (the ones with the purplish skin and white flesh) seem to not give me the same issues. They are less watery and, I think, more delicious. Same for purple-fleshed sweet potatoes.

YoungPaleoLover · Accepted Answer · 2012-09-12 22:17:43Z UTC

I have eliminated potatoes and feel much better! I am now eating fruit and feel energized and light. Thanks to all for helping me reach this conclusion. Sometimes it is better not to know the science behind our bodies and just eat what seems to work for us :).

Rop · Answer 11 · 2012-09-13 01:56:17Z UTC

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i'm fine with sweet potatoes and potatoes. high-sugar fruits like apples and mangoes tend to cause bloating for me.

answered Sep 13 at 1:56

Rop
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crightfunnylol · Answer 12 · 2012-10-05 22:08:59Z UTC

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fruits just dont fill me up, and sweet potatoes makes me want to eat more starch so i gatta have it with chicken;)

answered Oct 5 at 22:08

crightfunnylol
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Potatoes vs. Fruit

12 Answers