People respond to lectins and antinutrients in different ways because of
differing immune systems. A brief study may not be enough to determine the
long-term effects of eating potatoes, and the effects would, most likely,
not be identical for all study participants.

The "non-paleo" foods tend to cause a net deficiency in vitamins because of
their antivitamin content. Potatoes are an excellent example of this
phenomenon. A diet dominated by potatoes leads to a Vitamin A deficiency and
is responsible for blindness in large numbers of children around the world.
See the following article for detailed info:

Stahl, Ann Brower, "Hominid Dietary Selection Before Fire." CURRENT
ANTHROPOLOGY vol. 25, no. 2 (April 1984), 151-168.

Troy G.


----- Original Message -----
From: Alan Lundin <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Tuesday, October 05, 1999 6:48 AM
Subject: Re: [P-F] Pototoes


> * Ben Balzer ([log in to unmask]) [991005 00:05]:
> * Subject: Re:      [P-F] Pototoes:
> > > Question: Are potatoes really non-paleo?
> > >
> > > I had a friend that ate potatoes raw, and liked them so they seem to
> > > edible
> > > raw.  From that definition aren't they are paleo?
> > > There IS the issue that they are very high in carbs.
> > > What is wrong with potatoes?
> > >
> > >
> > > Richard Keene, Novell Inc, Provo, Utah, 801-861-4389,
> > > [log in to unmask]
> >
> > Potatoes are VERY non-paleo.
> > They have amongst the highest level and broadest range of antinutrients
of
> > any food. They have a huge range of protease inhibitors and lectins
> > (haemagglutins). From my recall, only soy beans come close. Do not eat
them
> > raw, they will stuff your system up.
> > Even cooked, plenty of their antinutrients will still be active.
> > The main benefit of eating paleo is that you eliminate your major source
of
> > antinutrients- grains. If you're eating potatoes you may as well start
> > eating all the other crap as well. If you are eating potatoes, you are
not
> > eating paleo.
> > They fail my paleo tests.
>
> I remember reading of studies were people were only
> allowed to eat whole potatos (with the skin), but they
> could eat as much as they wanted.  The group supposedly
> lost excess weight and returned to health.  Unfortunately,
> I didn't read the actual study, but read about it
> second-hand in health and diet books. :-(
>
> I would have thought that if the anti-nutrient load was
> very high, that the people would have starved to death
> and suffered massive health problem before that.
>
> --alan
>