Freedomain Radio

This is without doubt the most comprehensive critique of the pseudo science of the paleo diet. The author presents over 10 hours of detailed examination of the paleo diet and dismisses paleo diet theory and the few empirical studies used to defend it.

The presenter clearly shares his in depth knowledge of science and nutrition and backs his presentations with quality sources including a great deal of primary literature.

1:00 - dragging a car? WTF? 

1:21 - speaker seems to be characterizing the paleo diet as more of a religion than a science. Everybody knows weightlifting is good for you, not because it is something hunter-gatherers do.

1:49 - WTF is that picture?

Then he proceeds to talk all about vegan people, the details of the diet I don't know about, but I guess it means the viewer should look into the vegan diet.

6:54 - he should have defined what a paleo diet is in the first few seconds of the vid.

This is not the most comprehensive critique it could be. I think a really comprehensive one would be to go over each food item, or group of items, pointing out the flaws and everything. Or something -- it could easily be more comprehensive. What I got from this vid is that I should look into the vegan/vegetarian diet, but the paleo diet has not (at least in this video) been debunked.

Erös:

1:00 - dragging a car? WTF? 

1:21 - speaker seems to be characterizing the paleo diet as more of a religion than a science. Everybody knows weightlifting is good for you, not because it is something hunter-gatherers do.

1:49 - WTF is that picture?

Then he proceeds to talk all about vegan people, the details of the diet I don't know about, but I guess it means the viewer should look into the vegan diet.

6:54 - he should have defined what a paleo diet is in the first few seconds of the vid.

This is not the most comprehensive critique it could be. I think a really comprehensive one would be to go over each food item, or group of items, pointing out the flaws and everything. Or something -- it could easily be more comprehensive. What I got from this vid is that I should look into the vegan/vegetarian diet, but the paleo diet has not (at least in this video) been debunked.

Please watch the other 70 videos, this was just the first, the author does go into some details about specific food items of relivance. Every argument he presents is reasonable and backed by nutritional science.

The paleo diet(s) are beyond all reasonable doubt pseudo science.

That's a very interesting critique. I have not finished listening to all the videos yet, but so far I especially liked the philosophical approach. Thanks for posting.

 

Please watch the other 70 videos

 

Erös:

1:00 - dragging a car? WTF? 

1:21 - speaker seems to be characterizing the paleo diet as more of a religion than a science. Everybody knows weightlifting is good for you, not because it is something hunter-gatherers do.

1:49 - WTF is that picture?

Then he proceeds to talk all about vegan people, the details of the diet I don't know about, but I guess it means the viewer should look into the vegan diet.

6:54 - he should have defined what a paleo diet is in the first few seconds of the vid.

This is not the most comprehensive critique it could be. I think a really comprehensive one would be to go over each food item, or group of items, pointing out the flaws and everything. Or something -- it could easily be more comprehensive. What I got from this vid is that I should look into the vegan/vegetarian diet, but the paleo diet has not (at least in this video) been debunked.

It sounds like you only watched the 1st video in the series.

 

Of the countless hours of fitness vidoes I've watched on YouTube, I've found scooby1961 to be the most helpful.

70 videos?

And this is the video you use to represent them? The guy could have at least put a brief synopsis and not turned me off in the first one. If this one is poor, then I don't want to listen to the others. Guess I just don't have that time to burn.

Alan Chapman:

Of the countless hours of fitness vidoes I've watched on YouTube, I've found scooby1961 to be the most helpful.

 

Sarcoplasmic growth is for the vain. Myofibrillar = integrity.  Plus you get the benefits of the highest possible bone density and increased CNS activity.  

If we accept as valid that the purpose of exercise is health, clearly greater muscle contraction, nervous-muscular coordination and bone density are preferable over the long run.  

Alan Chapman:

Of the countless hours of fitness vidoes I've watched on YouTube, I've found scooby1961 to be the most helpful.

Well these progs are about nutrition, not exercise - although that does get a mention.

Hello SimonF, I have a question if I may.

Have you seen all of these videos? It would be great if you could pick one paleo argument that has been debunked in there and tell us about it. Just a sentence or two. The reason why I'm asking is because I'm interested in nutrition and I would potentially like to watch it. It would be helpful.

I watched 2 or 3 of them and most of what I saw were critiques of the presentation style of a single author in the Paleo movement. He tends to make "exceptionless" claims, like "it is the optimal diet for ALL people" leaving no room for any kind of exceptions. These are valid critiques, but to me they don't demolish the Paleo movement. Perhaps I need to keep watching, but I haven't seen anything so far that convinces me Paleo is UNhealthy and that an alternative approach is better.

This is all anecdotal evidence.  I'm highly skeptical of anyone (paleo or vegan) who say that something can be achieved in ALL or ANYONE just by using a cookie cutter (one diet fits all) approach to ideal or optimal health.  Just like public schools, a one-size-fits-all approach to diet is illogical and anit-liberty in my humble opinion.  Every (each and every) individual should approach a goal of optimal health from the standpoint what has been CUSTOMIZED for said individual based on his or her unique needs AND this, like raising a philosophical child, should be done from prior to conception (the health of the mother's womb and the health of the father's sperm) through childhood and into old age.  Such a customized diet will - logically - be as close to as possible those foods which are proven to be rich in naturally occuring nutrients free of pollutants which have, as proven by our mere existence, kept man alive and healthy these past 10-12 thousand years.  We wouldn't be here if most of our ancestors didn't eat some meat, eat some fresh veggies, eat some grains.  What man has been eating these past 100-150 years is NOT that kind of food.

I'd be curious to hear the responses to the science discussed in this TED presentation, in which this doctor claims to have treated/cured her progressive MS with a paleo-ish diet: http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=KLjgBLwH3Wc

 

I've found marksdailyapple.com and robbwolf.com to be invaluable resources in terms of learning about "paleolithic" health, nutrition, exercise, lifestyle etc. From a philosophical perspective, the Paleo approach makes sense to me. Basically, do what your body has evolved to do and don't do what your body didn't evolve to do. I've never felt that these websites pushed any kind of one-size-fits all approach to diet (or anything else); they just lay out the information and let you decide what to do with it. Interestingly, Tom Woods from the Mises institute recently filled in as host on the Peter Schiff Radio show and conducted an interview with Mark Sisson of marksdailyapple.com on this very topic. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r0yyYUn2X5Q

I've been following a Paleolithic diet for about a year now and I can honestly say that I've never felt healthier