Paleo Diet and Paleolithic Diet Questions & Answers

Question

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I can eat tons of carbs without getting satisfied. Even if my stomach already seems to explode my brain still says "eat it, eat it!".

It's the same with any carb-source. I can add some vegetables here and there without overeating, though.

The question is, is there any evidence that a low-carb paleo diet (which has helped my in many ways so far, by the way) can reverse this symptoms, which are, as far as I know, based on a broken metabolism?

I don't want to eat that way all my life. I want to enjoy sweet potatoes and other starchy vegetables, some nuts and also fruits and being satisfied after having eaten it.

Are there other ways to heal or change carb metabolism in a way to increase satiety? Off course I am eating the carbohydrates together with protein and fats, but it doesn't change anything.

Ah, I am very thin by the way. Could always eat the whole day before going lc paleo without gaining any weight.

edited Aug 15 2011 at 20:28

asked Aug 15 2011 at 19:49

Primordial
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Ah, I am a little confused here...If you have always been thin, and "could always eat the whole day b4 going lc paleo without gaining any weight" I have having a problem figuring out what the problem is...Eat the potatoes! If you get hungry, have a snack! Eat good paleo food and if weight gain is a non-issue, eat then you are hungry and thank your lucky stars, lol!!!! – Atkins-witha-loincloth Aug 15 2011 at 21:14

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Seriously. Eat. The. Starch. – Katherine Aug 15 2011 at 21:40

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The problem is that this carbs apparently neithder satisfy me nor give me any weight gain. Not only that, I suffer from hypoglycemia and constant hunger. That's not healthy. – Primordial Aug 16 2011 at 8:15

My nutrition instructor is diabetic(type 1.5) and extremely thin. She can't eat starches at all, or she needs insulin. I have the same issue as you without being naturally thin...carbs cause carb cravings, so I generally avoid them. Carb cravings are a major sign of blood sugar imbalance, so you are right to take this seriously and not just use thinness as an excuse to binge. Have you seen anyone about your inability to gain weight? There are many possible causes, but the first ones that pop into my mind are parasites, hyperthyroidism and diabetes. – Rogue Nutritionist Aug 16 2011 at 16:43

thanks for the answer. I didn't see anyone. Parasites, Hyperthyrroidism and diabtes - sounds awful. I'm quite sure I am not diabetic, as far as I can tell my blood test looks not that bad. (fastin Glucose 90 mg/dl, triglycerides 73 mg/dl, HDL 58 & LDL 77 mg/dl). I will see a physician anyway. Thanks for the advice. – Primordial Aug 17 2011 at 18:25

Efaitch · Answer 1 · 2011-08-15 20:23:54Z UTC

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I used to be like this! Fell off the wagon more times than I could count! It's apparently leptin resistance. Mine has reversed (yay!).

I'm still diabetic though, so working on that :-)

Once you lose the leptin resistance, something happens and you feel full when you're full! I can't say more than eat paleo, low carb (not vlc, just low carb) and it will happen with time.

answered Aug 15 2011 at 20:23

Efaitch
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Thanks. Good to know you did reverse it. But I am very thin. Can one be leptin resistant while being thin? – Primordial Aug 15 2011 at 20:29

Faitch - did you reverse it simply from Eating LC Paleo? Also, are there blood tests to determine Leptin Resistance? – Paleo4ever Aug 15 2011 at 20:40

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The Quilt's blog has some posts about leptin. That's the main reason I can say that I've reversed it - at least the symptoms. I'm not sure whether other hormones (female, lactating) had anything to do with it. My insomnia/sleep issues certainly disappeared postnatally. As for blood tests, I think there are, but I'm in the UK. I know not much about the health care in the USA. As for being thin, anorexia is linked to defects in leptin signalling too apparently. And, there are thin type 2 diabetics. – Efaitch Aug 15 2011 at 22:25

Bread-Eating Beelzebub · Answer 2 · 2011-08-15 20:15:42Z UTC

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Have you tried overcooked oversalted 100% buckwheat noodles. Chris made some for me this weekend. They kind of tasted like glue and cardboard. Definitely a perfect example of food unreward.

answered Aug 15 2011 at 20:15

Bread-Eating Beelzebub
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lol, I tried them indeed during the time I began to avoid gluten and searched for alternatives. And guess what, I like them! Give me something with carbs and I crave it. – Primordial Aug 15 2011 at 20:22

Travis Culp · Answer 3 · 2011-08-15 19:54:38Z UTC

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How do you eat your sweet potatoes? Have you tried eating them plain? I buy the white-fleshed varieties and slice them about .75cm thick, cover the surface of a plate and microwave them for about 7 minutes. There's no compulsion attached to it, even though I think it tastes pretty good this way. It would be quite different if I were mashing and buttering them.

answered Aug 15 2011 at 19:54

Travis Culp♦
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Here here. I only do mashed at the holidays or out at a restaurant. For normal eating I do them sliced this way, too. Easier to know how much you're actually throwing down. – ben61820 Aug 15 2011 at 20:08

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Yes, I don't think it makes a difference. Sometimes I ate the slices, sometimes I mashed it. We don't have white-fleshed ones here in Germany. – Primordial Aug 15 2011 at 20:16

Olivia · Answer 4 · 2011-08-15 20:31:23Z UTC

I know this runs contrary to a lot of advice that you should always "cover" carbs with protein/fat but have you tried eating the carbs separately? I find the only way I can ever overeat things like potatoes or even rice is if I'm eating them mixed with a lot of delicious fat or meat. Plain sweet potatoes taste good, but not so delicious that I won't stop when I've had enough...unless there's a lot of butter or oil involved. Adding all the fat seems to increase the amount of carbs I need to eat to feel satiated, oddly enough.

Edit: I should add the caveat that I've never had trouble eating carbs so what works for me might not be a good thing for you to try. But I thought I would suggest it anyway.

O Primitivo · Answer 5 · 2011-08-15 20:05:38Z UTC

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Exercise will do it.

answered Aug 15 2011 at 20:05

O Primitivo
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Will do what? Increase the carb cravings? – Aaron B. Aug 15 2011 at 20:12

Alchemille · Answer 6 · 2011-08-15 20:37:43Z UTC

I sometimes get times of pseudo constant hunger (I say pseudo because I know it's not real hunger) and usually crave more carbs/sweets than usual. Then I understand that my liver is cranky (can also be low stomach acid). So I usually takes some dandelion (leaf or root depending on what I need) and fermented foods (which detox the liver too and curb the cravings for sweet/starchy foods) and increase the fats. I eat root veggies and bake with chestnut flour (when I need baked goods) since I can't go super low carb (history of hypoglycemia) but I find that since going grain free my glycemia is more stable (my appetite too).

Will I ever be able to eat carbs again?

6 Answers