Paleo Diet and Paleolithic Diet Questions & Answers

Question

2

Is it really the color of the food that counts? Does something that is "white" automatically mean high-starch?

I personally don't believe so... some brown whole grains are higher on the GI than their paler counterparts, and some white potatoes and sweet potatoes have the same amount of carbs.

But, I'm not a scientist and my googling has brought this question up...

What do you guys think?

flag	asked Dec 25 2011 at 21:52 Esther 677●3●11

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It's just a general "rule of thumb" for newbies who get confused and overwhelmed. For some folks, that's the easiest place to start. Green = good, white = bad. Yes, it's overly simplistic and not at all scientific. – Crystal Apr 15 2012 at 21:06

Stabby · Accepted Answer · 2011-12-25 22:02:15Z UTC

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It is basically just the anti-refined-food mentality. White rice, sugar, and flour are all low in nutrients, and because of their refined nature are more rapidly digested and raise blood sugar faster, which can be a problem in the case of insulin resistance. Potatoes get lumped in here even though they are more nutritious, possibly because of their glycemic index.

You're absolutely right that it has nothing to do with color.

answered Dec 25 2011 at 22:02

Stabby
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I read about a diet in the early 60's called the "no white inside" diet where, literally, if the food was white - you didn't eat it. Milk, yogurt, potatoes, bread, etc. Have you ever come across that when stabbing about the intertubes? – jesuisjuba - paleorepublic.com Dec 26 2011 at 4:29

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Nope, and it sounds dumb. What likely happened is ass-for-brains got the idea that "zomg white food sucks" and then went out to look for rationalizations to hate on each one of those foods. – Stabby Dec 26 2011 at 4:38

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I find that stuff kind of fascinating. Like the belt exercise machine that jiggles your way to a slender new you or the woman who does chair exercises on PBS. – jesuisjuba - paleorepublic.com Dec 26 2011 at 16:27

Thanks, that was very helpful. :) – Esther Dec 27 2011 at 8:21

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Well, am I the only one who thought that the PBS lady was showing exercises for people who cannot stand? You know, like if they have MS or some other horrible disease that keeps them from walking. – GHarkness Jan 16 2012 at 20:19

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Ambimorph · Answer 2 · 2011-12-26 01:52:26Z UTC

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My bacon grease in a jar on the counter is white.

answered Dec 26 2011 at 1:52

Ambimorph
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My tub of beef tallow is white too. – Nance Dec 26 2011 at 2:07

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As is my full-fat yogurt. – Nance Dec 26 2011 at 2:08

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And my Lardo... – jesuisjuba - paleorepublic.com Dec 26 2011 at 4:25

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My double cream. – panteleimon Dec 26 2011 at 9:07

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My coconut oil is white when it's solid. – Curmujeon Dec 26 2011 at 12:45

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sage_ · Answer 3 · 2011-12-25 21:56:47Z UTC

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i think the "white food" analogy is useful for people trying to improve a poor SAD diet. once the diet is cleaned up it is easier to adopt more healthful habits. small steps in the right (general) direction is never a bad thing.

answered Dec 25 2011 at 21:56

sage_
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Jeff · Answer 4 · 2011-12-25 22:37:23Z UTC

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It's important not to confuse white foods with refined foods. Of course that's a good rule if you're talking to a 10 year old, but some white foods are good.

Anthoxanthins are a composite of flavones, flavanols, and flavanones, and are what gives cauliflower, turnips, potatoes, and onions their white colors.

answered Dec 25 2011 at 22:37

Jeff
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	Thanks, that's a good point. :D – Esther Dec 27 2011 at 8:21
	Mmmmm... the tasty white foods! – stephthegeek Jan 16 2012 at 23:08

Sunny Beaches · Answer 5 · 2012-04-15 20:43:51Z UTC

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If people on this site followed it, we would die out...coconut products?!!

answered Apr 15 2012 at 20:43

Sunny Beaches
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Bill1102inf · Answer 6 · 2012-01-16 19:29:52Z UTC

There are HUGE differences between 'white foods', ie, white rice/table sugar(sucrose) and things made with sucrose like white bread. Everything made with sugar(sucrose) has a carb profile of 50% FRUCTOSE and 50%glucose. Sucrose, white bread/bagels/etc have more in common with High Fructose Corn Syrup than with white rice or potato.

All you ever wanted to know about fructose metabolism: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dBnniua6-oM

White Rice and White Potato have very little sugar(ill get to it). White rice in fact has only 1/10th of one gram of sugar per cup. Imagine that. It does however have starch. And the starch is broken down by the human body into glucose. But notice, its not broken down into fructose.

There is a huge difference and if you are thinking about adding more 'carbs' into your diet, please do yourself the favor and add in carbs that enter the body as glucose and not fructose.

coprophagous · Answer 7 · 2012-01-16 19:31:49Z UTC

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pears and apples have white , whats your point?

answered Jan 16 2012 at 19:31

coprophagous
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sam_acw · Answer 8 · 2012-04-15 20:34:51Z UTC

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I have to say I don't think radishes or parsnips are that bad. Parsnips are pretty sweet but I don't eat a lot and radishes may be white inside but I don't think they're very starchy.

answered Apr 15 2012 at 20:34

sam_acw
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foreveryoung · Answer 9 · 2012-04-15 21:56:04Z UTC

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That's just silly. Cauliflower anyone?

answered Apr 15 2012 at 21:56

foreveryoung
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Some people think that all “white foods” are bad (white bread, white potato, white rice), what do you think?

9 Answers