Re: Paleo Diet. Could this be true? Peas, beans, whole grains...

[Jumping In Puddles]

are "anti-nutrients" and are actually bad for you?

 

:lurk5:

[TravelingChris]

No, it's bunk. Recent (like a few weeks ago:001_smile:) discoveries in Europe found that unlike what they thought, Neanderthals cooked their food and did eat cooked grains.

[Moxie]

I don't know but my BIL has been on a paleo diet for a few years and he looks great and his blood tests are all fine.

[Mom in High Heels]

I'm actually reading the book right now. A lot of what he says makes sense, but the whole thing about peas, bean and whole grains really bothers me. I can't believe that stone age man never ate peas or beans or any kind of grain.

[Jumping In Puddles]

Even if the early humans did eat legumes and grain, do you think it is true that peas/lentils/grains actually contain anti-nutrients? Can it be proven that having green beans is detrimental to our health? :eek:

 

I doubt it's true but I'm wondering if anyone has any proof that it is bunk. :)

[Soror]

Even a lot of the veg sites acknowledge that beans, nuts, and grains have anti-nutrients- phytic acid. That is why it is advised to soak them. That is why traditional people did that before preparation. Traditional preparation of corn has involved soaking in lime. It is pretty easily found that this was a common practice shared by traditional peoples.

[Sputterduck]

Well. Those are not good for me, but I am an unusual case. Maybe I just suck more at metabolizing new foods.

[sbgrace]

Even a lot of the veg sites acknowledge that beans, nuts, and grains have anti-nutrients- phytic acid. That is why it is advised to soak them. That is why traditional people did that before preparation. Traditional preparation of corn has involved soaking in lime. It is pretty easily found that this was a common practice shared by traditional peoples.

This. I think we would be much better off if we prepared foods (sourdough, soaked, fermented, etc.) the way they were traditionally (and still are in some cultures).

 

Studies show the phytates block mineral absorption. You can look at iron studies with beans and nuts for example (or zinc, etc.). I'm not familiar with paleo diet but, yes, those foods contain what I would call anti-nutrients in that they contain things that block nutrient absorption. Whomever is not making that part up.

[Rosie_0801]

Even a lot of the veg sites acknowledge that beans, nuts, and grains have anti-nutrients- phytic acid. That is why it is advised to soak them. That is why traditional people did that before preparation. Traditional preparation of corn has involved soaking in lime. It is pretty easily found that this was a common practice shared by traditional peoples.

 

Yeah, the blame shouldn't be on the food when it is us not preparing it properly.

 

But then, different bodies work in different ways, so those foods, even properly prepared may still disagree with us. Some here have sworn off grains completely. I develop what I call "food psychosis" if I can't have grains. It does not make for a healthier Rosie. It makes for a very, very miserable Rosie. Consider comparing this info to the Blood type diet. I'm getting to think there is something to that. Not that it 100% applies to everyone, but there does seem to be a useful thing to consider. None of us are going to find the perfect diet from reading one book only, I wouldn't think.

 

Rosie

[Jumping In Puddles]

This. I think we would be much better off if we prepared foods (sourdough, soaked, fermented, etc.) the way they were traditionally (and still are in some cultures).

 

Studies show the phytates block mineral absorption. You can look at iron studies with beans and nuts for example (or zinc, etc.). I'm not familiar with paleo diet but, yes, those foods contain what I would call anti-nutrients in that they contain things that block nutrient absorption. Whomever is not making that part up.

 

I just googled phyates in veg. and the first link that came up said that phytates do block nutrient absorption but those foods also seem to protect against cancer. :confused:

 

Phytates are generally found in foods high in fiber. Since fiber-rich foods protect against colon and breast cancers, it is now thought that they are the protective agent in the fiber. It appears that, by binding minerals in the intestines, phytates inhibit the cancer process, especially when it comes to iron. Iron generates free radicals, and phytates may be keeping the mineral balance at a safe level within the body. Phytates act as an antioxidant. Scientists are beginning to express concern over excess iron in the body for this reason. Excessive iron is also known to increase the risk of heart disease. Even a small amount of phytates in food can reduce iron absorption by half, but the effect is less marked if a meal is supplemented with ascorbic acid, which can also help the absorption of zinc and calcium.

 

Phytates are also known to help prevent cancer by enhancing the immune system. Phytates may increase the activity of natural killer cells which attack and destroy cancer cells and tumors. By working directly to control cell growth, phytates may be an ideal protective agent against a wide range of cancers, carrying excess minerals out of the body, thereby protecting it from a potential overload. Fiber, along with its associated phytates, also provides benefits by regulating the absorption of glucose from starch.

[RahRah]

Legumes, which includes peas, should be soaked (at least 24-hours) then drained, with new water or fluid used in the cooking.

 

[green beans and wax beans are not legumes - they can be eaten raw]

 

Special handling of some legumes - peanuts should be boiled, not dry roasted.....or roated in oil, specifically peanut oil.

 

Grains should be sprouted, fermented or soaked before cooking - with whole grain used instead of processed or instant varieties.

 

Starchy roots should be cooked to tender and have fewer anti-nutrient properties than grains or legumes.

[mcconnellboys]

... and vegis, too....

[Jumping In Puddles]

Legumes, which includes peas, should be soaked (at least 24-hours) then drained, with new water or fluid used in the cooking.

 

[green beans and wax beans are not legumes - they can be eaten raw]

 

Special handling of some legumes - peanuts should be boiled, not dry roasted.....or roated in oil, specifically peanut oil.

 

Grains should be sprouted, fermented or soaked before cooking - with whole grain used instead of processed or instant varieties.

 

Starchy roots should be cooked to tender and have fewer anti-nutrient properties than grains or legumes.

 

Thank you for that information, that makes more sense than avoiding those foods. :)

 

In the studies where people are shown to be healthier for consuming whole grains and beans, do you think their grains and legumes were properly prepared?

[Ravin]

I'm going to ditto what others have said about traditional preparation of foods. Also, a paleo diet would have included SOME grains, legumes, etc. But the gathering of these before they were domesticated was very intensive work, would only have been done seasonally, etc. So they would have made up a smaller percentage of the overall diet, and likely a wider variety of them for a given climate zone, including many we don't eat much of in the modern world, would have been consumed. Anthropologists theorize that early grain domestication was due to people gathering it and probably dropping seeds in the same place every year, though not deliberately. They'd come back to the same places to find more the next season, and in many places probably burned fields/meadows at times that would facilitate fresh growth.

 

Humans are omnivores. We can, and in some time/place probably have, eaten just about anything that can be rendered edible. Just how much nutrition can be gained from any given food is going to vary, and whether it's worth eating depends on what else is available, how much work it is to prepare, and what cultural value is placed on the food.

 

Thanks to global access, I think sometimes we in the developed world really, really overthink our food. Almost as much as we overeat it.:tongue_smilie:

[Joyofsixreboot]

Phytates can block some mineral absorption BUT you'd have to eat tons and have a poor diet to start with for it to really be significant. I also think that though their may be some truth to the paleo thing much of it is conjecture designed to sell books.