Crappy Carbs Can Kill

When you switch to Paleo you'll be cutting out a lot of carbohydrates from grains (cereals, bread, pasta, rice, oats, corn etc), legumes (beans, peas, peanuts) and processed foods (chips, snack bars, baked goods, soda, flavored yoghurt and all other things in colorful packages which are nearly always laden with sugar). 

While you can find adequate carbohydrates in vegetables and fruits, given that you aren't eating ridiculous amounts of fruit or starchy vegetables (which is not advised on a Paleo diet) it is unlikely that you will come even close to consuming as many carbohydrates as you were on a more standard Western diet - where people typically eat 60% or more of total calories as carbohydrates. 

Eat More Fat!

In my last post, 'Crappy Carbs can Kill', I explained that the chronic overconsumption of nutrient-poor refined carbohydrates is at the root of metabolic diseases such as obesity, diabetes and heart disease and also a contributing factor to many other modern diseases. 

Well that was all a bit heavy, but the good news is that if you are willing to take control of your health it is relatively simple to eschew these crappy carbs and instead eat healthy real foods that our bodies have evolved to thrive on over millions of years. 

Eating a healthy, whole foods diet that is in line with our evolution enables us to live the healthy, happy and disease-free lives we are entitled to.  

Barry's Bootcamp

A smart brand

Well I had to see for myself what all the fuss was about regarding Barry's Bootcamp - "The Best Workout in the World" according to their moniker and registered trademark.

Barry's has several locations throughout the States and has just recently opened a location in London. Judging by the popularity and exclusivity of this place, it wouldn't surprise me if they expand rapidly. Look out Australia! Barry sure has nailed his marketing and brand management. Just look at the attached ad with the trainers!

Now I am cynical at best about these so called 'Bootcamp' style group fitness classes. Maybe it is because I did a stint in the Army Reserves, maybe because I find it slightly cringe-worthy to pay some dude in cargo pants and sunglasses with no real Armed Forces cred a lot of money to yell at middle-aged women in LuLu Lemon pants, or maybe CrossFit made me biased. Nevertheless, cynical as I may be I also think that anything that motivates people to get fit is by default a wonderful thing.

Does The Paleo Model Eat... Agave Nectar?

Agave nectar (Pronounced "a-gah-vay"), also called agave syrup, is another one of those products that has been snapped up by marketers, health nuts and people who love jumping on the next "healthy" alternative without really looking into the actual properties of the stuff. 

Agave nectar, while it has a sexy name and comes from the same plant that makes tequila - which is actually my alcoholic drink of choice - is certainly not the healthy sweetener it is claimed to be.

The claimed health benefits include being low on the glycemic index (13-19) and that you require less of it than other sweeteners making it a lower calorie alternative to sugar without being "artificial". And, wow, it is all natural, gluten free and vegan friendly… no cruelty to bees. Namaste. 

My skeptical self would like to add that it is relatively new on the scene, sounds exotic and unfortunately hasn't been condemned yet like good old cane sugar, which all add to it's current popularity. 

So how healthy / unhealthy is this stuff, really? Let's look at the facts...

My Response to 'Debunking the Paleo Diet'

When a friend posted a TED talk 'Debunking the Paleo Diet' on my facebook page I was immediately skeptical that this woman, Christina Warinner, probably had some hidden vegan agenda. I was surprised to find the talk interesting, informative, and not at all 'debunking' of the Paleo Diet. If anything her talk supports Paleo.

Here is the link to the talk, followed by my comments:

http://youtu.be/BMOjVYgYaG8