Well, you’ve likely heard the expression, “If it looks like a duck and quacks like a duck…” Quinoa is botanically not a grain, but because it has evolved in a similar biological niche, Quinoa has similar properties to grains, including chemical defense systems that irritate the gut. In the case of Quinoa, it contains soap-like molecules called saponins. Unlike gluten, which attaches to a carrier molecule in the intestines, saponins simply punch holes in the membranes of the microvilli cells. Yes, that’s bad. Saponins are so irritating to the immune system that they are used in vaccine research to help the body mount a powerful immune response. The bottom line is if you think grains or grain-like items like Quinoa are healthy or benign, you are not considering the full picture.
Post 50 marathons, I am now following what I call the Neanderthal diet. I’m only eating foods that a Neanderthal man would have eaten. So getting away from refined foods and even whole grains. Could we even eat a whole grain when we were cave people? The answer is really no. How could we strip the grain? We ate vegetables, fruits, lean meats, and things we could pick and eat.
But we have figured out how to strip grain since then. So why not take advantage of advances in human civilization?
I don’t have any hard-and-fast research to support this, but my thinking is: How many hundreds and thousands of years would it take our digestive system to adapt? I don’t think we’ve had time enough to adapt that much.
Not really sure if all that sugar is causing cancer? William Li takes a different approach and shows how certain foods can stop cancer from growing. Are you eating enough of them?
Just bought Robb’s new eBook.
Have you heard about the Paleo diet and were curious about how to get started? Or maybe you’ve been trying Paleo for a while but have questions or aren’t sure what the right exercise program is for you? Or maybe you just want a 30-day meal plan and shopping list to make things easier? Then Robb Wolf’s 30 Day Total Transformation is for you.
I thought this would be a great introduction to my first experiment on my fiancee Steve Gaul, who has been told he is genetically predisposed to high cholesterol. He got his physical results back today and his cholesterol is HDL 1.24, LDL 4.55. They unfortunately did not test for particle size, which would give a better indication of the cholesterol situation. Our doctor is pretty good compared to many others I’ve seen, but you still have to ask for the right tests. This is why it’s so important that you stay educated on the research and what tests you should be asking for.
The experiment: Paleoish Diet for 2 weeks to a month – I’m allowing wine and cheese in moderation with a little milk in his coffee. Then he’ll retest his cholesterol levels, after that Steve will modify his diet again to include foods that he feels are fine to be part of a health diet. Foods such as rice, quinoa, oatmeal, protein drinks and probably a beer or two. After another 2 weeks to a month we will retest.
I’m adding a link to an article on About.com “How do low-carb diets affect cholesterol and triglycerides?”, but before I do I wanted to say something about “low carb”. I use “paleo”, “eating real food”, and “low carb” interchangeably. I know that you can eat “low carb” and not be eating real food, but you can’t be eating paleo or real food and not be eating low carb compared to the average North American diet. Even if your going all out on your fruits and yams your still probably eating less carbs and then your processed food eating neighbors. If you take out processed food, you have lowered your carb intake, hence “low carb”. Please don’t let this term scare you. If it still does, throw another yam or two on the BBQ and rebel.
The current recommended carb intake seems to be 45-56% of you calorie intake. To reach that on a 2,000 calorie a day diet with no processed food you would need to eat between:
10 – 13 bananas, or
12 – 14 apples, or
5 – 6 cups of yams, or
33 – 41 medium green peppers
240 – 300 cups of spinach
I’m sure you would agree that the recommend carb intake is only possible when you start to introduce processed food, so if you advocate that real foods are the way to go and one should avoid processed foods, then congratulations you are a low carb advocate. Sorry and welcome to the club. 
– Athletes excluded (I do know people who eat 5-6 cups of yams on heavy training days).
How do low-carb diets affect cholesterol and triglycerides?
I’d heard of the 4 Hour Work Week but it wasn’t until I heard Jimmy Moores interview with Timothy Ferriss on his new book the 4 Hour Body did I finally decided to get his books. The 4 Hour Body is awesome, I’m currently doing my own experiments based on the information in the book, on increasing running speed losing fat and gaining strength. I’ll let you know how it goes.
The Livin’ La Vida Low-Carb Show With Jimmy Moore – Episode 468: Tim Ferriss Reveals The Secret To Getting ‘The 4-Hour Body’
Ingredients
1 butternut squash – peeled, seeded, and cut into French fries
1 pinch salt to taste
1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
1/2 teaspoon Cajun seasoning
Directions
1. Preheat oven to 450 degrees F (230 degrees C)
2. Place butternut squash fries on the prepared baking sheet. Sprinkle with salt, black pepper, and Cajun seasoning.
3. Bake in the preheated oven until lightly browned and tender, 15 to 20 minutes, turning once.
