On Mon, 20 Feb 2006 13:27:16 -0600, Ashley Moran  
<[log in to unmask]> wrote:
>
> You probably think you need carbs because you never went a day in your  
> life without them before you started paleo.

This isn't really directed at you, Ashley, but to the list in general.   
There seems to a presumption here that a paleo diet is low carb.  The  
"carbs are evil" mantra is repeated often.

I don't get it.  From my perspective, lowering the carb intake is a side  
effect of the paleo diet, not the goal.  Elimination of all the grains and  
sugars that are present in the typical modern diet will definitely cut  
your carbs dramatically, but again, that's a side effect.

The goal, as I see it, is to eliminate foods that are artificial, highly  
processed, or inappropriate for our bodies.  That obviously includes just  
about everything in the typical grocery store other than the meat and  
produce sections.  No problem there.  But there are plenty of good foods  
in those sections that are acceptable to paleo dieters that are also good  
sources of carbs -- fruit of all types, honey, carrots, parsnips, squash,  
etc.  I have no doubt paleo man would have eaten his fill of whichever of  
those he happened to have at hand.  If the choice was to run down an  
antelope or to pluck an apple off a tree, I suspect the antelope lived to  
see another day.

My current food intake is pretty much an even split across the three  
macronutrients -- about 1/3 carbs, 1/3 protein, and 1/3 fat (as percent of  
calories).  I don't see any reason why I should strive to make that 1%  
carbs, 33% protein, and 66% fats.

I understand carbs raise the insulin level, but that's a natural response  
to food.  Eating food also raises the acid level in your stomach, but we  
don't get upset about that.

Am I missing something?

-- 
   Robert Kesterson
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