Paleo Diet and Paleolithic Diet Questions & Answers

Question

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Hi, I'd really like some advice on your bog standard white potato as I've seen conflicting info. I've been told that although they are seriously starchy they don't seem to raise insulin levels. My other half has also gone paleo but has lost WAY too much weight so we need to bump up his calories and I thought maybe potatoes would bulk him up?

flag	asked Jan 14 2011 at 13:58 Carly 4,894●8●20

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youtube.com/watch?v=ihMMw0rnKz4 – Bread-Eating Beelzebub Jan 14 2011 at 15:18

Um......... cheers for that Melissa :D that's really sorted things out............. ;D (did make me laugh) – Carly Jan 14 2011 at 19:02

sherpamelissa · Accepted Answer · 2011-01-14 14:23:26Z UTC

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Potatoes really seem to be a person to person situation on Paleo. There is a lot of great information on sweet potatoes and white potatoes in these two threads:

http://paleohacks.com/questions/18825/why-are-sweet-potatoes-better-than-regular-potatoes#axzz1B1Frok3y

http://paleohacks.com/questions/15961/potatoes-unfairly-maligned-in-paleoland#axzz1B1Frok3y

Basically though, if you eliminate them for 30 days (which you may have already done) re-introduce them and just see what happens.

answered Jan 14 2011 at 14:23

sherpamelissa
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good answer. bottom line for me was that without starch i maintained pretty lean physique. But i never had that much gas in the tank. So, once i started working out with heavy weights i couldnt perform as i thought i should. Adding starch (from sweet potatoes but its all the same) kept me from dropping any more weight and has helped me add body weight. I think that one of the reasons that im still moving linearly with the workouts is prolly the starch, too. Might just be the added calories, not necessarily that they're coming from starch, but whatever - theyre tasty and they seem to be workin. – ben61820 Jan 14 2011 at 15:06

Would have thought you'd need protein to add lean body weight not starch. The only veg I eat is the occasional brussell sprout, cabbage, cauliflower etc and I'd like to drop some more fat yet but the muscle and lifts are building so I'm not complaining. – Alan Jan 15 2011 at 13:32

ben61820 · Answer 2 · 2011-01-14 15:14:08Z UTC

I think potatoes will indeed help your husband, but its prolly just a calorie thing: he needs to eat more.

Doesn't have to be starch. I think he could eat twice the amount of meat that he is now, for example, and get a good extra dose of cals that'd prolly keep him from losing bodyweight. But if he or you wanna go to starch for those cals, go for it.

I always use starch as my variable when eating: meaning that if im feeling good, performing well, keeping good body weight ill prolly skip them; thinking like youre saving them for when you need them kinda thing; after intense workouts, etc. Silly maybe but its worked for us. They're a tool.

Another general principle i find useful with starch is essentially just that if one is already healthy (active, happy, fit, etc) then eat them up. That they are a whack of starch doesn't matter if you are healthy and your body can handle it. If one is not in shape like this, then avoid them till one is.

THATgirl · Answer 3 · 2011-01-14 14:19:55Z UTC

The reason my hubby and I don't eat them is because they aren't the same potatoes that our great grandparents ate - the ones of today have been genetically altered to be bigger, more starchy, and have less nutrients. Likewise, i do believe they spike our insulin in our bodies as we had some mashed potatoes and both of us were so tired (and then hungry) that We feel there is a better choice nutritionally that can be made. We go for sweet potatoes instead. That's just our personal choice.

Do you guys eat dairy? (Paleo-laco or "primal") my suggestion is to add milk or kefir to up the calories that's what the CrossFit Football program does. I believe SO delicious makes a coconut milk version of kefir if you don't want cows milk.

Phillip B Oldham · Answer 4 · 2011-01-14 14:50:59Z UTC

If your o/h isn't exercising already, or is but isn't following a specific plan, show him the StrongLifts 5x5 plan. Lots of big compound exercises 3x45mins a week will bulk anyone up. If he's still having trouble he could also try the StrongLifts GOMAD plan.

Added benefits: he gets fitter (benefit for him) and sexier (benefit for you)!

Michael · Answer 5 · 2011-01-14 17:38:27Z UTC

For thin people, Matt Lalonde says eat the potatoes, just peel the skins, which contain antinutrients. Or just go for yams and sweet potatoes, which most all paleo types say are fine. Paleo isn't necessarily low carb. For people like me it has to be, but for metabolically healthy people, tubers are yet another great whole food.

Todd · Answer 6 · 2011-01-14 17:42:53Z UTC

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I was using sweet potatoes after my workouts, and recently tried using a russet instead. In both cases, I always peel them and then steam. I was happy with the russet, and I felt like the insulin surge was less (ya know, the warm sensation in your liver, kinda feel your heartbeat around your sternum)

But, I will say I prefer the taste of the sweet potato. I think I will alternate for a while.

answered Jan 14 2011 at 17:42

Todd
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	Why do you eat sweet potato after your workout? Not only is the use of post exercise carbohydrates non contributory to the increase in protein synthesis brought about by protein intake after exercise, it can actually be counter productive. Taken from: qfac.com/articles/dipasquale/… Give it a read, I sure don't want a burst of insulin halting my HGH production.. – Alan Jan 15 2011 at 13:50
	Basically following leangaines protocol. That article is a good read, thank you. FYI I skipped the sweet potato today post workout and had 2 tins sardines insted. Whats the deal with Cottage Cheese? I know dairy has an insularoty effect. Where does it rate compared to say a potato. Just looking for qucik easy sources of protein – Todd Jan 15 2011 at 21:04

Eva · Answer 7 · 2011-01-14 18:05:33Z UTC

Depends on your situation. In general potatoes are: good for weight gain and muscle bulking bad for weight loss and leaning out good for nutrient intake for healthy people bad for those with bad blood sugar control good for those who do better on more carbs bad for those who are trying to kill off candida overgrowth in intestines bad (regular taters that is) for those who have reaction to nightshades

Potatoes in their natural state (ie potato chips don't count) support healthy populations in many parts of the world and paleo eaters generally feel various tubers were a natural part of early human diets. Some paleo eaters rely on them for increased energy and exercise recovery. However, for those people already damaged by years of poor eating and/or ill health, some find they do better not eating them.

Travis Culp · Answer 8 · 2011-01-14 18:26:23Z UTC

I'm of the opinion that for a given level of carbohydrates, it's better to have more starch and less fructose. I've switched from about 100g of carbs a day of fruit to 100g of sweet potatoes and then from that to purple standard potatoes. It's a recent change, but my appetite is a lot less, which I take to be a sign of more favorable metabolic response.

One other upside is that you are far less likely to exceed your carb goal with potato vs sweet potato or fruit because they simply don't taste as good unless you're dumping tons of salt and whatnot on them.

So what’s the deal with potatoes?

8 Answers