Dr. Cordain is the foremost authority on the hunter-gatherer Paleo Diet
One of the best ways to describe the low-carb way of eating to people who are none the wiser is to explain it is how our early ancestors ate to survive–a caveman diet, if you will. Humans who lived during the Stone Age didn’t eat grains, sugar, starchy vegetables, or all the processed foods that are at our disposal in the 21st Century. They did eat meat, especially game meat and all the parts of the animal, including the organs and marrow. Today’s podcast guest is arguably the most knowledgeable expert on this Paleolithic way of eating that is a popular subset of the low-carb community.
In Episode 247 of “The Livin’ La Vida Low-Carb Show with Jimmy Moore,” we are privileged to have Dr. Loren Cordain with us to discuss the principles outlined in his book The Paleo Diet: Lose Weight and Get Healthy by Eating the Food You Were Designed to Eat. This hunter-gatherer way of eating does differ from an Atkins-styled diet because it does not allow dairy products like milk, cream, or cheese and it encourages lean meats as a way to control the omega fatty acid balance. But other than that, it’s pretty much a healthy low-carb way of eating that puts the focus on omega-3 rich grass-fed beef and other sources of this vital essential fatty acid. Dr. Cordain is an articulate representative of what benefits can be gained following The Paleo Diet, including how it can help athletes perform at optimal level and giving people suffering with acne a virtual “cure” for their condition.
Before you listen to my interview with Dr. Cordain, check out this hilariously informative YouTube video created by Methuselah from the “Pay Now, Live Later” blog that beautifully explains “Paleo In A Nutshell” to get your brain correctly thinking in the direction of this unique form of low-carb living:
There are FOUR ways you can listen to Episode 247:
1. Listen and comment about the show at iTunes:
2. Listen and comment about the show at the official web site:
3. Download the MP3 file of Episode 247 [44:13m]:
4. Calling (818) 688-2763 to listen via Podlinez
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Are you following a Paleo low-carb diet like the one Dr. Loren Cordain described during today’s interview? If so, tell us about your experience following it in the show notes section of Episode 247. Visit ThePaleoDiet.com and pick up a copy of Dr. Cordain’s bestselling book The Paleo Diet. If you are interested in his anti-acne program, be sure to check out DietaryAcneCure.com.
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For the last week of April next week, we’ll have two FANTASTIC interviews to share with you. First up, we will hear from Richard Morris who lost 150 pounds several years back and is now on a one-man mission to educate the public about healthy living principles at his Bread & Money web site. Richard wrote a book about his weight loss experience called A Life Unburdened: Getting Over Weight and Getting On With My Life and he’ll share his story with us on Monday. Then on Thursday, I’m excited to share my interview with Dr. Robert Su, author of the explosive new book Carbohydrates Can Kill, who will describe his own health and weight loss journey following a carbohydrate-restricted diet and explain how he came to the conclusion that consuming carbs is deadly. Should be another interesting week of podcasts! Stay tuned for the upcoming podcast schedule heading into the summer…coming soon.
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
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
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
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.
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