In a message dated 9/19/2004 4:26:06 AM Eastern Standard Time, Jerry
Stegenga [log in to unmask] (mailto:[log in to unmask])  writes:

Why?  Carbohydrates are not necessary. They are nice and if eaten  as  nature
provides them they can be good for you. But they are not  necessary for  your
good health. Proteins and fat are!    JerrySteg




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This is an issue that has troubled me for some time. I agree that  there is
no need for carbohydrates in human nutrition. Humans can live  quite well
without carbohydrates, but we know we cannot live without protein and  fat.
However, as far as I know, the cultures that subsist on virtually all foods  of
animal origin, are getting vital nutrients from parts of animals that we
Westerners do not generally consume. Still, those cultures are in the minority,  and
most other primitive cultures, both extinct and extant, do eat foods of  plant
origin, hence, "hunter/gatherers."

The fruits that are so highly touted today are so vastly different  (with
tons more sugar) from anything our Paleo ancestors would have known, it  makes a
travesty of the notion that fruit is healthy. The exception might be  wild
berries, but even these are only available seasonably in most parts of the
world. In these modern times, we have all manner of fruits imported, and  delivered
fresh and frozen for year round consumption. The same is true for
vegetables. It seems to me, that to be somewhat closer to the notion of Paleo,  if we
are going to eat plant foods, we should attempt to eat them mostly in  their
natural season. Although technically we do not need to eat carbohydrates,  we do
need certain nutrients that are difficult to find in foods of animal  origin.
If we eat no plant foods at all, how can we remain healthy unless we eat  the
organs and bones, the insects and such that most of us generally  eschew?

Although I am not diabetic, I AM insulin resistant, and I am  learning to
control my blood sugars quite well on a very low carb, Paleo type  diet. Right
now, I am eating fewer and fewer vegetables and virtually no fruit  at all, and
find I am doing quite well. I may try some berries again in  limited amounts
when I have my sugar under better control.

Thoughts?

Maddy Mason
Hudson Valley, NY