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Category Archives: The Insiders
Omega-3 and Body Composition
Omega-3 and Body Composition Excerpt Evidence suggests that the omega-3 long-chain fatty acids EPA and DHA influence body composition. Animal studies dating back twenty years have shown that EPA and DHA reduce fat accumulation in rats, and preliminary evidence in humans also suggests EPA and DHA could be valuable in fat-loss programs. In 2004, Huffman, Michaelson, and Thomas have shown that a chronic low dose of 1.2 g/d EPA plus DHA increases fat oxidation during exercise. This has potential benefits for athletes, and for those with cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and weight control issues. Back to The Paleo Diet Store If…
Ancestral Health
Ancestral Health Excerpt It is generally accepted that hunter-gatherer societies, and other less “Westernised” populations, exhibited superior health markers, such as body composition and physical fitness, when compared to Western populations. Consider the following 12 comparative study findings regarding health markers: 1. Lower total blood cholesterol in primitive populations versus average American populations. 2. Lower blood pressure among hunter-gatherers. Optimal blood pressure values are less than 120/80,5 and the average blood pressure among huntergathers is 100-110 mmHg / 70-75 mmHg. 3. Lack of association between blood pressure and age in Yanomamo Indians6 compared to North Americans. Back to The Paleo…
Genetic Changes and Modern Diet
Genetic Changes and Modern Diet Excerpt Exercise, sleep, sun exposure and dietary needs of every living organism are genetically determined. This is why it is becoming increasingly recognized that the profound changes in diet and lifestyle that occurred in the last 10,000 years are too recent for the human genome to have adapted. There certainly have been some genetic changes since the Agricultural Revolution that can affect certain dietary needs. These include an increase in the number of copies of the gene AMY1, which codes for salivary amylase (the enzyme responsible for starch digestion), various hemoglobinopathies, Adult Lactase Persistence –…
Hormones in Milk
Hormones in Milk Excerpt Because people co-evolved with their environmental food sources, the human genetic make-up was shaped throughout millions of years of relying on relatively homogenous nutrition. Many foods, new to the human genome, were rapidly introduced following the Agricultural Revolution. So many, in fact, that approximately 70% of the typical Western diet now comes from food sources that were rarely, if ever, consumed by our Stone-Age or Paleolithic ancestors. One of the many problems that have been seen to arise along with our change in diet is acne. By focusing on the foods our Paleolithic ancestors ate for…
Insulin, Betacellulin, and Estrogens
Insulin, Betacellulin, and Estrogens Excerpt We discovered that bovine insulin (BI) is present in commercially pasteurized milk and infant formulas. We also learned that BI has good oral bioavailability since antibodies to BI are a common phenomenon among children who have consumed infant formula containing cow’s milk. This is very important information for children who have a genetic predisposition for T1D because BI differs from human insulin by only three amino acids. The immune response induced by BI in these children may react with human insulin and lead to ß-cell destruction, especially if children are exposed to infant formula containing…
How to be Acne Free
How to be Acne Free Excerpt Most people think that acne is a disease of adolescence that just disappears after the teen years. Not so! In the United States, acne affects between 40 and 50 million people from children to adults. In young adults, some degree of facial acne is found in 54% of women and 40% of men. Those suffering from acne are estimated to spend millions collectively each year on over-the counter acne treatments. Surprisingly, the causes of acne have been known for more than 40 years. Acne develops from four processes: 1. Blockage of the follicle opening…
Paradigm Shifts and Historical Sciences
Paradigm Shifts, Historical Sciences and The Paleo Diet Most readers know that the word, “Paleo” is short for “Paleolithic”. As a prehistoric time, the Paleolithic is important because it covers over 99% of human history. It began approximately 2.5 million years ago,1 with our first stone tool using ancestors, and ended approximately 10,000 years ago (exact time varied with culture and geography) with the advent of mass agriculture and its foodstuffs. So, across the globe, our ancestors lived more than 2.4 million of the last 2.5 million years as huntergatherers. Hunter-gatherer type diets (like the Paleo Diet) are defined by…
Pregnancy, Infants, and The Paleo Diet
Pregnancy, Infants, and The Paleo Diet With the growing popularity of the Paleo Diet, we’ve received questions about adapting this diet for pregnancy, particularly with regard to the low fat aspect of the diet. Others are also asking for more information about adapting the Paleo Diet to the growth and nutritional needs of infants and young children. With a little modification, the Paleo Diet can meet these needs, help children escape the growing childhood obesity problem, build life-long eating habits to lower the risk of disease, and generate healthful, vital longevity. Here are some recommendations for using the Paleo Diet…
Prader-Willi Syndrome Beaten by Paleo
Prader-Willi Syndrome Beaten by Paleo One of the symptoms of Prader-Willi Syndrome (PWS) is a chronic feeling of hunger that can lead to excessive eating and life-threatening obesity, according to the USA Prader-Willi Syndrome Association. The association reports that one in 12,000 to 15,000 people are estimated to have PWS, and it is the most common identified genetic cause of obesity. Long-term consumption of high glycemic-load foods has been associated with increased risk of obesity. By emphasizing low glycemic-load foods, the Paleo Diet helps to optimize body weight. The correct balance of carbohydrate, protein and fat that the diet provides…
Keratoconus Eye Disorder
Keratoconus Eye Disorder Excerpt Keratoconus is a degenerative eye disorder involving structural changes within the cornea that can cause visual distortions, such as multiple images, streaking and light sensitivity. I believe that keratoconus would have been rare or non-existent among our pre-agricultural ancestors simply because if it were entirely a genetic maladaptation, it would have been rapidly eliminated by natural selection. Given the incidence of keratoconus in Western populations, it seems likely that environmental factors introduced since the advent of agriculture may trigger this disease. Clearly diet and sunlight exposure (vitamin D) have to be implicated. Back to The Paleo…
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