Interesting thread. While off topic of that thread, I'd like to pose a
question that vexes me.

Cordain eschews casein in the diet, as do organizations supporting persons
with certain inflammatory conditions. As far as I can tell, they share in
common an orientation looking at a spectrum ranging from pathological
degenerative conditions on the one hand, and the other extreme of some vague
notion of normative health - as absence of disease or some construct of the
life of noble savage hunter/scavengers.

Other researchers strongly advocate casein, even advocating dietary ratios
of 80% whey isolate to 20% casein (the inverse of naturally occurring
proportions found in milk). Whey, like soy isolate, absorbs rapidly; casein,
on the other hand, is slow in breaking down and absorption. For peak
performance, high intensity sports (not aerobic events such as marathons),
post-workout recovery includes protein synthesis - and nutrient timing
approaches work to maintain positive nitrogen balance for 24 hours or longer
post-workout.

In principle, Paleo type diets go a long way in satisfying nutritional
requirements pursuant to maintaining an anabolic physiological condition.In
fact, diets advocating nutritional approaches similar to Paleo but without
the Paleo construct go well back in Physical Culture. Prior to Atkins, both
Vince "the Iron Guru" Gironda and developer of the first commercial protein
product, Irwin Johnson (later known as Rheo H Blair) advocated a casein/egg
protein powder used mixed with unpasteurized dairy cream or unpasteurized
1/2 and 1/2 (in Southern California of the 60s, Alta Dena raw milk was
available throughout the State) - producing bigger muscles and low bodyfat.
Mauro di Pasquali, MD, developed the Anabolic Diet in the early 90s to
optimize training outcomes without steroids.

I'd sure appreciate comments and insight concerning the casein debate. Could
it be that increasingly physically trained and fitness results in
physiological/metabolic conditions more in line with genetic potentialities
established long ago. Could it be the normal degenerating person, downwardly
spiraling from sedentary to sedate, exhibits an inferior metabolism
rendering casein problematic by symptom? In other words, is casein the
problem or is it our pathetic lacks of fitness? Why does it benefit athletes
and not the average man on the street?

best regards,

Ken O'Neill
Wimberley, TX

On Mon, Dec 7, 2009 at 9:20 PM, william <[log in to unmask]> wrote:

> Kenneth Anderson wrote:
>
>> Here is the latest on Dietary Acid/Base Balance being Crucial from Dr.
>> Cordain's newsletter:
>>
>> "The Paleo Diet concept lies in its ability to simply uncover a
>> pre-existing diet – a universal diet and dietary characteristics
>> consumed by all humans until very recent times. The notion that omega
>> 3 fatty acids promote health (as demonstrated in the scientific
>> literature) is quite recent – as recent as the past 30 years. The
>> notion that high protein diets may prevent disease and promote health
>> and well being is newer still. Further, the recognition that dietary
>> acid/base balance has anything to do with optimal health is barely in
>> its infancy.
>>
>
> Lots of us tried to regain health by tweaking acid/base balance; it did not
> work.
> He drags in that tired old evolution stuff, calls it a template (a template
> is fixed - it does not change in time/evolve), then ignores it.
> Those who eat raw zero carb report acid piss and increased bone
> density/stronger teeth.
>
> He carefully does not tell us where our paleolithic ancestors got these
> fruits and vegetables.
>
> Same old Cordain.
>
> William
>