Prooving Paleo

I get lots of questions about who, what, why, where and how to go Paleo. 

Some inquires come from people who are happy with a response based on the basics while others want hard science.

In either case, the proof, if you will, that Paleo is the way to go, is out there, whether it’s in the form of a paper published in a medical journal or the simple evidence that, once someone begins the Paleo diet, they just feel better, all around.

If you’re a regular reader and Paleo fan, you already know exactly what I’m referring to.

I strongly believe that the proof is in the proverbial pudding and while I wholeheartedly support anyone and everyone going Paleo, at the same time I don’t generally feel the need to do any convincing or selling, leave, perhaps a situation where I’m on some sort of a nutrition panel and the entire purpose of my presence there is to defend.

Every once in a while, I’ll receive a query for which my reply is unsatisfactory to the person who posed the question. 

Just the other day, a scientist in molecular biology countered my post on Training Peaks, stating that based on studies he’d read, that there is no problem with ‘normal’, as he put it, humans who do not have Celiac Disease ingesting gluten, and that what I’d written was “not supported by the scientific literature and frankly represents an opinion.” He then went on to add, “Unfortunately for those that do not know any better, they will believe these type of statements, which are far from the scientific observations.”  He included a study that he said would support his claim.

Ok.

There are all kind of studies out there and I’d bet you could find one supporting all kinds of statements.  As an experiment, I did a quick online search to see if I could find a study that would show that cigarette smoking is healthy…and I did.

Dr. William Campbell Douglass, II, MD, named “Doctor of the Year” by the National Health Federation, has a book out entitled The Health Benefits of Smoking Tobacco.

Is he wrong?

Can I prove it?

While I would naturally think that there are not health benefits of smoking, I cannot personally prove he is wrong.

My point?

Yes, I’m sure there are studies that indicate there are no problems eating gluten if you do not have Celiac disease. However, I’d be curious to know who funded the study.  For example, I’ve read some studies which can be traced back to the USDA, which, surprisingly, demonstrate how good grains are for us.

Apart from that, if you look at it from a very fundamental level, it takes us back to something I’ve discussed before- choice.  We all have a choice. 

I chose six years ago to go Paleo because I was tired of feeling ill and wanted to reach optimal health.  I tried other diets first, including being vegan for two years, as well as the Zone and the Blood Type Diet.  They did nothing for me.  Paleo fits me like a glove.

There is science behind Paleo and it makes intuitive sense.  It fits anybody and everybody and if I had a wish granted to me, I would, indeed love to see the planet become Paleo.

At the same time, if someone feels strongly that they have found science that in and of itself is their sole reason for not trying Paleo, well, they don’t have to. It’s only themself they’re doing a disservice to. 

Because my motivation for wanting to educate people about how to go Paleo comes from the heart and the genuine desire to help people get healthy, rather than to ‘be right’, I’m really not bothered if someone doesn’t agree with me.

I always suggest giving it a try and see for yourself how you feel…if you want to!  If not, then don’t!

So simple.