There are a few things which I don't quite understand in Neanderthin. Of
course, I loved the book generally and agree with the reasoning, but if
anyone can shed some light on certain things...and, oh yes, I apologize if
these are newbie questions.
Why does the author approve of eating carrots and radishes, but not of
eating beets and turnips? What differences would there be, and what about
the greens from each? Beet and turnip greens are good stuff. All these are
edible raw, root or green.
Why would butter be considered the same as dairy, but lard be okay for
Paleo? Butter is 100% animal fat with no more than a trace of milk protein.
And why a prohibition against vinegar, which is a culture of fruit juice
and a mainstay of herbal and natural medicine?
And why would yams and sweet potatoes be disallowed in the same breath with
white potatoes, which are Solanaceae? And why, then, not prohibit other
Solanaceae like tomatos, eggplant, peppers?

I think I have a good enough grasp of the concept to be eating closely to
the Paleo diet Ray outlines. I would find some things unnecessary, like
concentrates of fruit juices, or bottled juice. I eat more raw meats, but
understand why these cannot be recommended. I do not eat potatoes, but I do
eat young green beans and tomatos which are home-grown. Oh, and I have a
bag of "raw" cashews, which Ray says are poisonous. Anyway, I'll keep
chipping away at my "fringe" foods, but more readily with a bit of
justification from you stalwarts out there. What's the true skinny?

ginny and Tomo, perplexed but Paleo

All stunts performed without a net!