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The other issue that is never addressed by "caveman" diets is how short life spans used to be. You probably won't get heart disease if you're dead by 35. Also nutritional need change as people age. The best diet at 21 will not be the same as at 41 or at 71.

Actually, if by caveman you mean paleolithic man, they had a lifespan much like ours - once they made it out of chidlhood. And human life span DROPPED with the advent of agriculture and the sudden introduction of massive amounts of carbs into the diet. Average human height dropped substantially as well. So the fossil record seems to support the idea that the introduction of the high carbohydrate diet was good for breeding lots of people but bad for individual health.

I would go one step further and suggest that not only did agriculture harm human health, but it paved the way for the development of the coercive state. Hunter-gatherers had mostly consensus societies with complete freedom of individual secession. As a result, the coercive state never arose. But once the people were tied to plots of land and storehouses of grain, it became possible for some people to reduce others to various kinds of subservience. And there was no escape.

So carbohydrates=tyranny. :D
 
Actually, if by caveman you mean paleolithic man, they had a lifespan much like ours - once they made it out of chidlhood. And human life span DROPPED with the advent of agriculture and the sudden introduction of massive amounts of carbs into the diet. Average human height dropped substantially as well. So the fossil record seems to support the idea that the introduction of the high carbohydrate diet was good for breeding lots of people but bad for individual health.

I would go one step further and suggest that not only did agriculture harm human health, but it paved the way for the development of the coercive state. Hunter-gatherers had mostly consensus societies with complete freedom of individual secession. As a result, the coercive state never arose. But once the people were tied to plots of land and storehouses of grain, it became possible for some people to reduce others to various kinds of subservience. And there was no escape.

So carbohydrates=tyranny. :D

Fascinating!
 
Bump. There is a lot of great advice in this thread. I've personally done the "caveman" diet. I haven't completely cut out bread yet. I think I should. I have a loaf of "ezekial" bread which is a frozen little to no preservative bread. I definitely endorse the all natural diet.
 
Actually, if by caveman you mean paleolithic man, they had a lifespan much like ours - once they made it out of chidlhood. And human life span DROPPED with the advent of agriculture and the sudden introduction of massive amounts of carbs into the diet. Average human height dropped substantially as well. So the fossil record seems to support the idea that the introduction of the high carbohydrate diet was good for breeding lots of people but bad for individual health.

I would go one step further and suggest that not only did agriculture harm human health, but it paved the way for the development of the coercive state. Hunter-gatherers had mostly consensus societies with complete freedom of individual secession. As a result, the coercive state never arose. But once the people were tied to plots of land and storehouses of grain, it became possible for some people to reduce others to various kinds of subservience. And there was no escape.

So carbohydrates=tyranny. :D

Well said. I get tired of explaining that paleolithic man did indeed live just as long as we do today. People don't seem to grasp that the age is an average. Most deaths occurred in childhood, as you state. There was no mass dieing off at the age of 45. Only at child birth and much later in life.

If you are more interested in the paleo diet check out Kurt Harris' blog and specifically his diet manifesto 'Paleo 2.0'. The one thing paleo doesn't handle well is exercise. They try to emulate how our ancestors lived, which is dangerous. For exercise I follow Doug Mcguffs work, which is backed by modern science similar to Kurts' take on the paleo diet.

The most interesting thing about the individuals I follow for diet and exercise, which I didn't realize until I became a libertarian, is that they are all libertarians themselves. It makes sense though.
 
yup

If you are more interested in the paleo diet check out Kurt Harris' blog and specifically his diet manifesto 'Paleo 2.0'..

I like Mark's Daily Apple. (also endorsed by Shemdog)

The one thing paleo doesn't handle well is exercise. They try to emulate how our ancestors lived, which is dangerous.

You mean the throwing logs and jumping around wildly? I won't be doing that. One of the other ways the "cavemen" DID die young was in traumatic accidents. I like things a bit more controlled. But I have adopted the ideas of doing brief but intense weight work, occasional short sprints, and keeping the cardio to under 20 minutes. Works great so far.
 
I like Mark's Daily Apple. (also endorsed by Shemdog)

Mark, Doug and Kurt are pretty much in agreement on what a healthy diet is.

You mean the throwing logs and jumping around wildly? I won't be doing that. One of the other ways the "cavemen" DID die young was in traumatic accidents. I like things a bit more controlled. But I have adopted the ideas of doing brief but intense weight work, occasional short sprints, and keeping the cardio to under 20 minutes. Works great so far.

More specifically, CrossFit. Robb Wolf and Mark both advocate a form of Crossfit. Mark likes to do only body weight exercises from what I understand.

Doug Mcguff advocates HIT (High Intensity Training), which I believe has the best science behind it. 15 minutes once per week on five different machines is the workout he gives for beginners in his book.
 
So does one basically cut down on "Grains" and go for Meat for energy and Veggies for nutrition?


Also I'm curious how this applies with some Ethnic cuisines. Many have a Carb somewhere as a staple part of the diet. Like Rice, Pasta, or Potatoes. Is it best to just have these very moderately?

Actually does this contradict the diet of a place like Japan for example? Or even with Rice and Pasta carbs does it depend on just being low calories?
 
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Sorta. Definitely avoid gluten grains (wheat, barley, rye, and some say even oats -- because they are usually processed in facilities the other three are.)

"Good" grains are amaranth, millet, quinoa, rice, sorghum, and teff.

See list here: http://www.csaceliacs.org/gluten_grains.php

I'd limit even these grains to only about 1/4 of your meal, though. Most of your meal should be vegetables, then meat and good fats. Plus a little fruit throughout the day.
 
So does one basically cut down on "Grains" and go for Meat for energy and Veggies for nutrition?


Also I'm curious how this applies with some Ethnic cuisines. Many have a Carb somewhere as a staple part of the diet. Like Rice, Pasta, or Potatoes. Is it best to just have these very moderately?

Actually does this contradict the diet of a place like Japan for example? Or even with Rice and Pasta carbs does it depend on just being low calories?

Here is Kurt Harris' 'get started' guide for paleo: http://www.archevore.com/get-started/

Rice is the least bad of the grains but still bad for you. Whole wheat is the worst if I recall correctly. Potatoes are iffy, some people like them some don't who are paleo. It's best to eliminate grains entirely. To paraphrase Mark Sisson: bread tastes like crap by itself so just eat whatever you put on the bread by itself and get rid of the bread.
 
Lol I'm not that attached to bread or toast. I've heard instead of Tortilla on an Adkins menu you make a wrap with lettuce leaf for your sandwich.
 
Lol I'm not that attached to bread or toast. I've heard instead of Tortilla on an Adkins menu you make a wrap with lettuce leaf for your sandwich.

Yup, same with hamburgers. Marksdailyapple.com has a few free cookbooks you can check out for ideas. You have to sign up for his mailing list though. He also releases a new recipe every Saturday that requires no signing up.
 
Okay this is all interesting to consider. Because of the terrible economy I've been truck driving the last few years and it's put on pounds. The job is very unhealthy both physically and mentally. In January I just quit and I'm trying to change careers.

Hoping to get a stable job situation, watch what's on my plate, and try to find a reasonably priced Gym.
 
details

So does one basically cut down on "Grains" and go for Meat for energy and Veggies for nutrition?

Eat lots of fresh, organic, veggies; good quality meat, fish, and eggs; fresh fruit; and a few seeds/nuts. No grain, no vegetable oil, no beans, no sugar, no processed fats. There is PLENTY of energy available in the fat in meats and also the carbs in fruit. And plenty of nutrients in all three.


Also I'm curious how this applies with some Ethnic cuisines. Many have a Carb somewhere as a staple part of the diet. Like Rice, Pasta, or Potatoes. Is it best to just have these very moderately?

Starchy vegetables are okay, unless you are trying to lose weight. But make sure they aren't cooked in vegetable oil! White rice is supposedly the best of the grains. Pasta, forget it. It is tasteless crap without a sauce anyway. Try eating un-sauced pasta! It's like eating soggy cardboard. Yuck. Keep the sauce and lose the pasta.

Actually does this contradict the diet of a place like Japan for example? Or even with Rice and Pasta carbs does it depend on just being low calories?

The Japanese eat tons of fish, which is very healthy. White rice is the least toxic of the grains. And with the exception of tempura, the Japanese don't eat much fried food. But they do eat lots of soybean products. Not so good.
 
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