Paleo Diet and Paleolithic Diet Questions & Answers

Question

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I just read this tid bit today:

Bad news: Adding more bacon to your diet won't cause the pounds to melt away. That's because the addition of protein to the diet doesn't cause weight loss itself. But switching out a higher fat protein source, such as pork sausage, for a lean one like chicken or salmon does help, says Burge.

"You can't just eat protein to lose weight. When you do that, your body starts burning fat for energy," she says, because it will produce ketones, compounds that can be harmful to the brain. But consuming lean protein and good carbohydrates (like whole grains) allows your body to get the energy it needs without the added fat.

I thought the whole idea of Paleo is to put your body into a state where it DOES burn fat for energy. Now I have to worry about hurting my brain?needs without the added fat.

flag	asked Aug 27 2011 at 20:17 Shawn 602●1●4

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The idea that you can't eat protein to burn fat, because you'll start burning fat and burning fat is bad for the brain is completely incoherent. You can safely ignore this. – David Moss Aug 27 2011 at 20:46

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Burge, the Expert: carblovers.com/health/carblovers/ask.jsp – g. Aug 27 2011 at 23:25

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Shawn, can you provide a link to that exact response? I need an example of how a conventional RD flubbing up dietary advice for my blog. Thanks. – The Japsican Aug 28 2011 at 3:40

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Thanks for the link grenadine! I love it! Fat burning super resistant carbs (hint: eat you cornflakes wink wink)! A book for sale with precious few details on what's inside except for those remarkable corn flakes! 42 testimonials! Words cannot describe my blissful state! – thhq Aug 28 2011 at 5:16

@Grenadine - THANKS! That puts the comment into fantastic perspective. @The Japsican - I pasted pretty much everything the quote entailed. It was a quick article on Yahoo Shine, so I wouldn't put much credence too it anyway. It was just an alarmist point since I am still new to the Paleo world. shine.yahoo.com/channel/health/… – Shawn Aug 28 2011 at 15:34

none · Answer 1 · 2011-08-27 20:42:43Z UTC

As far as I have read, a ketogenic diet is used as a beneficial therapeutic diet in epilepsy. Ketones are a clean fuel and safe. The brain is very happy to run on them. Ketoacidosis is the harmful state.

BTW the body will burn protein for energy. It is not ideal and is not healthy. That is why many recommend that when going low carb fats must be high. One can burn fats or sugar for energy. Burning protein (which also includes your lean muscle mass) is unhealthy.

In my opinion, protein should not be your main macro. It should be balanced by fat and carbs. Protein should be used as a building block for the body's lean mass and neurotransmitters.

Jeff · Answer 2 · 2011-08-27 20:51:23Z UTC

Ketones are NOT harmful to your brain.... And salmon is a fatty fish. Whoever wrote this needs to go do some more research.

Aside from not being harmful to your brain, ketones are made from fats and proteins (certain amino acids convert to glucose, others to ketones, and some to both)

wjones3044 · Answer 3 · 2011-08-27 20:46:28Z UTC

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I don't know who this Burge is but he/she is rather incoherent on this subject. Ketones bad for the brain? Really? Let me guess, there's no reference to actual evidence for this statement?

answered Aug 27 2011 at 20:46

wjones3044
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Absolutely no reference or evidence. The entire article was basically 2 paragraph lead in and then a couple of paragraphs associated with specific "diet crutches" over the span of maybe 17 images. The article is here - shine.yahoo.com/channel/health/… – Shawn Aug 28 2011 at 15:39

Ambimorph · Answer 4 · 2011-08-28 02:49:34Z UTC

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The idea the ketones are harmful to the brain is outright laughable. They are actually neuroprotective.

I just posted this same paper to a different question, but I'll post it again: The Neuroprotective Properties Of Calorie Restriction, The Ketogenic Diet, And Ketone Bodies.

answered Aug 28 2011 at 2:49

Ambimorph
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	That is a great link, Ambimorph! I will forward this to my Health Science professor who made a broad statement to me of "Your diet is not healthy. You brain needs carbohydrates and your colon needs fiber." – Shawn Aug 28 2011 at 15:46
	Heh. Well, your brain does need glucose, but it doesn't need dietary carbohydrates, since you can make it out of protein. I think the whole fiber thing is overblown at best. But you can certainly do either low or high fiber with a paleo or ketogenic diet. – Ambimorph Aug 28 2011 at 15:54

Eric · Answer 5 · 2011-08-27 20:35:12Z UTC

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Protein is good for you and essential. My own experience would differ from the information in this article. However I do agree with eating Wild Salmon but it is high in fat. Eat whatever meat you like. The fattier the better.

edited Aug 27 2011 at 20:35

answered Aug 27 2011 at 20:21

Eric
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Beck · Answer 6 · 2011-08-28 03:17:43Z UTC

I think Emily Dean would agree that ketones are a better source of energy for the brain: "Here's the dirty little secret about glucose - when you look at the amount of garbage leftover in the mitochondria, it is actually less efficient to make ATP from glucose than it is to make ATP from ketone bodies! A more efficient energy supply makes it easier to restore membranes in the brain to their normal states after a depolarizing electrical energy spike occurs, and means that energy is produced with fewer destructive free radicals leftover."

Protein is bad for me now?

6 Answers