On Tue, 6 Feb 2001, R Bartlett wrote:

> <<Would a paleo diet help [someone with hemachromotosis]??
>
> No, it might make it worse because of the higher iron content (although
> white flour is also fortified with iron too).

That's true at least if the paleo diet uses much red meat.

It has been conjectured that hemochromatosis is a partial
adaptation to diets poor in meat and high in beans, which prevent
absorption of iron.  In an environment like that -- low in iron
and with plenty of iron-blocking phytates -- a tendency to retain
iron would be an advantage.  At least, that's the conjecture.  So
I suppose a person with hemochromatosis might consider something
like an "anti-paleo" diet: no red meat, few greens, lots of
legumes.  Something tells me it wouldn't work, though, and would
just lead to other mineral deficiencies.

Todd Moody
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