Comments on: ‘Livin’ La Vida Low-Carb Show’ Episode 247: Dr. Loren Cordain’s ‘Paleo Diet’ Is The Original Low-Carb Diet

By: Methuselah

Methuselah — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 16:31:17 +0000

Jimmy,

Great interview and thanks for using my video to introduce the show in the post. I do do like your hands-off interview approach, allowing the interviewee to cover their topic fully – especially as you are still able to come in with pertinent questions when the time is right. Your nuts question was a great one, and I will be interested to see how that one plays out. As a fervent nut guzzler myself, I often wonder whether it can be entirely ‘Paleo’ to eat so many.

THANKS for your wonderful videos, Methuselah! You have a real knack for clearly explaining the Paleo way of life to those who are clueless about it. Thank you for listening to my podcast and for your insightful feedback.

–Jimmy

By: Katy

Katy — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 18:30:20 +0000

I’ve known a lot of people who were “allergic” to milk until they switched to the organic variety. My grandfather used to have allergic reactions to milk in August only, which he said was due to the cows grazing in ragweed fields. I would imagine that what the cows eat would affect the end product in some way.

By: Susan

Susan — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 17:00:29 +0000

Jimmy, I enjoyed your interview of Mr. Cordain. I have a question that maybe you can answer. Is beef that is vegetarian grain fed, with no hormones or antibiotics almost as good as grass fed? I buy our beef from a local meat market and am wondering if it is okay as described. Also they cure their bacon with a natural vitamin C nitrate – do you think that acceptable to eat? Thanks for your input. Keep up the good work – you have really helped me lose weight!

I would say no, Susan, because the healthiest cuts of meat are grass-fed for the best omega-3 fats and other important nutrition. They’re better, no doubt, but not optimal. The bacon sounds fabulous! THANKS for your comments.

–Jimmy

By: Kevan

Kevan — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 08:30:04 +0000

You know, Mr. Cordain is often criticized for his views on saturated fats, with many low carbers denouncing the way he promotes lean meat, but frankly, he gave a great defense of his position, and it made a lot of sense. He isn’t advocating that we all eat chicken all the time or something like that. Rather, he is advocating that we avoid the fattier meats, most of which come from feedlot/industrial cows, and have an abnormal amount of Omega-6 fatty acids in them. This makes a lot of sense to me. The grass fed and game meats will still have plenty of saturated fat, but a healthier kind, with a more balanced omega fatty acid profile.

What do you think, Jimmy? His reasoning seemed solid, did it not?

Actually, I agree with your assessment, Kevan. His defense was that the saturated fat content of most fatty meats is too high in omega-6 fats and replacing these with grass-fed meats and other sources of omega-3 fatty acids is preferable. So perhaps we should delineate what KIND of foods with saturated fats are good compared with those that aren’t when discussing healthy low-carb living.

I still disagree with him about cutting out ALL dairy…reduced consumption, yes, but not a complete ban. The analogy with nuts I asked him about at the end I thought was a good question for people to ponder. If dairy is so allergenic that it needs to be avoided, then why are tree nuts which can also be allergic not banned on a Paleo diet? I’m still not convinced that either is harmful to me on my low-carb lifestyle. That said, I’ve been conscious of my intake of both ever since this interview.

THANKS for your comments!

–Jimmy

By: Chris

Chris — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 06:29:53 +0000

Great stuff.

I have to ask though, how on earth can you post this – a “grains are bad” message – and also simultaneously (and vigorously) promote bread and run a competition to get ideas for menus involving bread? Cordain and Methuselah (video above) would hold that there are NO healthy whole grains, even in smart carb bread.

what is going on?

THANKS for your comments, Chris, and I’m glad you enjoyed the Cordain interview. Like I’ve said to you in personal correspondence, a lot of what he has to say is outstanding and makes sense. I don’t agree with everything, but he gives some great food for thought.

If someone chooses to eat or not eat the high-fiber, high-protein bread I am promoting with a recipe contest on my blog right now from Julian Bakery, then that’s their prerogative, Chris. I’m not making anybody get it if they don’t want to include it as part of their healthy low-carb eating plan. However, what I am doing is sharing about it with my readers who are interested in a delicious-tasting bread that is low in net carbohydrates and I trust people to make decisions that are best for their individual needs. Just because you wouldn’t eat this bread for your own reasons doesn’t mean that everyone shares that same belief. THANK YOU for your comments!

–Jimmy