From: gts (gts_2000@yahoo.com)
Date: Fri Apr 25 2003 - 08:17:21 MDT
Damien Sullivan wrote (in the other thread):
> On Sat, Apr 19, 2003 at 01:54:21PM -0700, gts wrote:
>
>> The evidence is clear that paleolithic foods are more nutrient-dense
>> and healthier than non-paleolithic foods, and this evidence comes...
>
> "More nutrient-dense", yes. "Healthier" is what's being argued.
To me these terms are virtually synonymous.
> Can one get too many nutrients?
Yes if one adds massive amounts of certain vitamin or mineral supplements.
Vitamins A and E for example are toxic if you swallow too many A and E pills
every day over an extended period.
It is however almost impossible for a normal person to suffer from too many
vitamins or minerals from eating a balanced unsupplemented natural diet,
whether it be paleo or otherwise.
> Is there harm from having to
> deal with too much of some stuff? Certainly I've seen
> worries about too much protein -- gout, calcium interference,
> kidney stones.
If one eats only lean meat for awhile then one might have some problems, but
that is not the paleodiet. Dr. Cordain recommends something like 30% of
calories from protein -- not a problem.
> And even if they're not harmful, do
> beneficial effects level off? Once one has enough nutrients
> is there any harm to capping off the calories with 'empty'
> (clean-burning?) (cheaper) calories?
I'm not sure I understand this question, but if it's about protein then in
principle yes one should not eat much more than one really needs. The excess
protein can be turned into glucose to meet energy needs in a process called
gluconeogenesis, in which case one might just have well have consumed those
calories from less expensive sources like fruits and veggies.
> Again, see the Okinawans. Insofar as the paleodieters are calling for the
> elimination of the cheap calories, even after other concerns
> are met, I think they're making a strong, and weakly-supported, claim.
I note that the Okinawans also practice caloric restriction as a matter of
course. It is common for them to deliberately stop eating when they feel
they are about 80% full. This practice alone could increase their longevity
irrespective of diet.
Paleodiet theory has nothing directly to say about CR, though one could
surmise that CR was often an involuntary necessity of paleolithic life.
-gts
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