Why legumes not paleo

But even the assertion itself is wrong — bone-mineral diseases are not more common in countries where whole grains and legumes are the main source of calories. For people living in developed countries i. The incidence of hip fracture is much higher in the US than in Japan, China, and South American countries where grains and legumes e.

The UN FAO declared as the Year of the Pulse to encourage more people to grow and eat legumes because of their sustainability and health benefits. The papers published in and report on studies published by Prof. In his interview, Cordain states that the study found that a vegetarian diet did not reduce heart disease and that neither study found a difference in cancer rate. Since then, Prof. There are many other studies that connect meat intake with cancer and heart disease. For example, this systematic review and meta-analysis of mortality from all forms of cancer and cardiovascular disease concluded:.

Yes, fruit and veg are protective but meat is not — another example of the tactic of slipping in an unsupported idea in this case, that meat may reduce the risk of cancer. As discussed in the post on low-carb diets , the risk of cancer and cardiovascular disease is significantly higher in populations that follow animal-based low-carb diets.

Instead of tell using about his research, he goes on to talk about celiac disease, again focusing on grain gluten but just slipping the legumes in there even though they are gluten-free and therefore not relevant to celiac disease. No doubt, some people who cut out processed food and dairy will lose weight and experience an improvement in health.

But to claim that exclusion of legumes is part of this, you need evidence. These substances are proteins that plants have evolved to ward off insect predators. This is an entire page that deals with lectins and autoimmune disease. He goes on to talk about leaky guts for a while:. First, lectins are present in most plants. Commercially canned beans have lectin levels similar to beans pressure cooked for 30 min.

This article on legumes provides a useful perspective — the story is similar to that of phytates. The fact is that lectins are present in many foods and are actually considered to be beneficial in the quantities that we encounter in a balanced diet. Lectins break down the membranes of hurtful invaders: cancer cells reducing prostate, colon and other cancers , fungi, bacteria and viruses even the HIV-1 retrovirus is part of the reason that tomatoes, corn, whole grain rice, wheat, oats, nuts, sunflower seeds, peaches, mangos, grapes, cinnamon, citrus, berries, tea and most other plant foods are healthy.

All of these contain significant amounts of lectins. The ultimate measure of health is lifespan. This correlation between legume intake and longevity was statistically significant the P-value was 0.

The title of the paper said it all: Legumes: the most important dietary predictor of survival in older people of different ethnicities. In fact, legumes look more attractive than ever as a dietary staple. Meat is increasingly being recognized as unhealthy and unsustainable and legumes are the major alternative to meat as a dietary protein source.

Is there some kind of agenda, other than health, at play here? I have two sites, both focused on ethical consumerism. View all posts by jkaybay. Most people today live every sedentary lives, while consuming carbs, sugars, and processed foods. As with most diets, there are foods that are allowed and not allowed.

Some foods also fall into a bit of a grey area and are sometimes allowed. Our ultimate list of paleo-approved foods will help simplify your planning if you're dining out or cooking at home.

Whether you're a beginner, looking for a refresher on the rules or just want to adopt some of the healthiest parts of the Paleo Diet , here's what you need to know to eat paleo.

The premise behind "eating paleo" is that the current Western diet is contributing to the rise of chronic diseases such as obesity, heart disease and cancer. Paleo diet proponents claim, eating this way can reduce inflammation, improve workouts, increase energy, help with weight loss, stabilize blood sugar and even reduce the risk of chronic diseases.

The pros of paleo are that it focuses on increasing intake of whole foods, fruits and vegetables, healthy proteins and healthy fats and decreasing consumption of processed foods, sugar and salt. For those looking to eat a more well-rounded diet, these "guidelines" sound familiar and altogether healthy. However, the paleo diet also advocates cutting out grains, dairy and legumes, and this has caused controversy among scientists.

These foods, despite what paleo advocates claim, are healthful and can be good sources of fiber, vitamins and minerals. Get Inspired: Healthy Paleo Recipes. In short, if your ancestors could hunt or gather it, it is allowed on the paleo diet. This includes:. Most meat and seafood fits on a paleo diet.

Meat is a source of lean protein, and protein is the building block of all cells and tissues. Protein also helps keep you full. Watch out for pre-marinated and cured meats that may contain added sugar. Common meat and seafood choices include:. Grass-fed meat is recommended on the paleo diet because it is leaner than meat from grain-fed animals and has more omega-3 fatty acids, the healthy fats that reduce inflammation in the body and protect your heart. A typical American diet is high in saturated and trans fats and lower in healthy poly- and monounsaturated fats, hence the paleo diet's emphasis on grass-fed meats.

Look for chicken raised without antibiotics and try to source your meat from a local farm to learn more about how it was raised.

Choosing wild seafood over farm-caught may help boost your omega-3 intake too. That's not always the case, but look for wild salmon and other sustainably-caught seafood when you're eating paleo. Featured Recipe: Cauliflower Steaks with Chimichurri.

There is little argument over the health benefits of fruits and vegetables. They are chock-full of vitamins, minerals, fiber and antioxidants.

Legumes seem to pass the caveman test. No one really knows what was eaten during the Paleolithic era, so even the most well educated Paleo expert is making their best guess. Peas — All types of peas: sugar snap, black-eyed, southern, snow, etc.

Lentils — All colors of lentils: brown, red, and green. Soybeans — All derivatives of soybeans, including tofu and tempeh. Per unit of mass , most nuts actually have a little more phytic acid than most grains and beans. So why are nuts fine to eat, but lentils are problematic? The key is in how much you eat: this is why nuts are fine in moderation, while legumes and beans are discouraged.

Beans and legumes, unlike nuts and vegetables, are the primary source of calories for many people around the world, and eating foods so rich in phytic acid as nutritional staples is quite unhealthy. Thus, basing your diet on these foods can lead to severe nutritional deficiencies. In addition to their phytic acid content, legumes are also FODMAPS , meaning that they contain a type of carbohydrate called galacto-oligosaccharides that can cause unpleasant digestive problems for some people, especially people who already have IBS or similar digestive problems.

Another drawback of these foods is their lectin content. Lectins are proteins found in almost all kinds of foods, but not all lectins are problematic. Different people react to different lectins, which is why, for example, some people are fine with eating members of the nightshade family, and other people react to them. Potentially toxic lectins are highest in grains, legumes, and dairy.

In the body, lectins damage the intestinal wall, contributing to leaky gut, with all its associated digestive and autoimmune problems. Thus, making beans and legumes a regular feature in your diet can significantly contribute to gut irritation and permeability.

One cup of black beans , for example, has approximately calories, with around of those being from carbs. Your mileage may vary of course, and some legumes have a higher protein content than others. In the long term, this could contribute to weight gain and metabolic problems like insulin resistance.

Peanuts are probably the sneakiest type of legumes, if only because of their name. Like other legumes, peanuts are problematic because they contain lectins and phytic acid, but peanuts also bring a new guest to the party: aflatoxins.