The Problem with Paleo: Taking a Deeper Look at the Popular Myths and Fallacies of Eating Like a Caveman

by Joey Lott

So, you’ve given up grains, sugar, and dairy—the evil white foods—in the name of health and weight loss. Seems like a pretty good plan, right? After all, the world is abuzz right now with paleo diet plans and low-carb lifestyle tips. It seems everyone has gotten on the paleo bandwagon, but is it really all it’s cracked up to be?


The industry experts—the Wolfs, the Sissons, the Kressers—claim that a paleo or “primal” diet can cure all that ails you. Diabetes will disappear. Digestion will run like clockwork. Your excess weight will melt right off, and your muscles will be the envy of bodybuilders everywhere. The trouble is that most people don’t question if any of it is really true. Worse yet, some people start to experience negative side effects—fatigue, weakness, anxiety—and go to greater dietary extremes, still sucked into the paleo ideology.
The trouble with most diets is that they claim to work for everyone all the time. And the truth is that that is simply not true! Paleo is no different. So if paleo doesn’t work the way it says it does, what is the truth?


Is insulin really the “fat-storing” hormone? Is sugar really the devil? If ketones are the preferred fuel source for the body, why will the body resort to eating its own muscle tissue if it’s deprived of carbohydrates? Author Joey Lott explores these, and other vital questions in The Problem with Paleo , a must-read for anyone hooked on the paleo propaganda but wondering if it’s really too good to be true. If you thought the paleo diet was going to be your cure all, but instead you feel weak and anxious, then maybe it's time to ask some important questions and get a balanced view on this diet craze. The Problem with Paleo could be your solution.

62 pages, Kindle Edition

First published February 8, 2015

Reviews

[Lynn G. Hammond · Rating 3 out of 5]

Moderation in all things

This is a short and worthwhile read in consideration of looking at both sides of the paleo coin. While I am a low-carber turned paleo-ish, I do eat small amounts of dairy and natural sugars as well as sweet potatoes and the occasional legume. I try to follow an 85/15 rule, in general, and consider myself much better off without grains. We focus on unprocessed, organic food whenever possible. I also think dairy aggravates my arthritis, but I have a weakness for cheese. My husband, on the same diet, has been able to eliminate blood pressure, diabetes, and cholesterol meds after many years. My goal was to reduce inflammation, but I received an unexpected benefit of eliminating asthma meds after 20 yrs. It seems to be the right compromise for us.
The author seems to have tried lots of strategies through several difficult times, and I hope he has found his magic formula, as do I, but I'd enjoy his book a lot more if he focused on the issues alone rather naming respected people he wishes to discredit. I'd also like to know more about his credentials. I find very few health professionals who advocate consuming much sugar and not setting limits on high glycemic foods for a majority of the population. He does, however promote "to each own".

[Eerika · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found this book interesting and it made good points that got me thinking some of the aspect of paleo more closely. I'm getting familiar with paleo and the version I'm studying is quite flexible and lenient and bases on listening your body. I didn't know paleo is almost religion like for some people and I hadn't heard most of the paleo arguments against this book gave reasonable doubts. I would recommend this book to people who have doubts or symptoms that indicate that their version of paleo diet is not working ideally or people who consider starting the paleo diet. It is not a bad thing to have a healthy dose of skepticism instead of blind faith I think.

[Yessi Young · Rating 3 out of 5]

It makes you think about the flaws in low-carb paleo, which can be great for those on paleo who are not noticing health improvements. This book definitely made me re-evaluate low-carb and be less fearful of carbs.

But information is lacking. I think Joey's intent was to guide people in the right direction, but for very impressionable people this book can do some harm if they don't do further research.

Another problem is that it generalizes. Maybe most people need high-carb diets, but maybe sedentary people do not. He doesn't discuss the factors that affect basal metabolic rate.

I am grateful that this book exists, but more research could have been put into it.

[Chantelle Streete · Rating 5 out of 5]

common sense look at Paleo

Love this... Joey breaks things down into simple, easy to understand logic. This new paleo, low carb, kerogen ic ideology reminds me of the war on fats a few years ago. I believe that this movement will also too go the same way. Take the good from Paleo and trust in your own instinct about what is good for you. Hard to imagine our Paleo ancestors eliminated whole food groups... I'd bet they ate what was available :-). Thanks for the dose of common sense Joey!

[Kristin · Rating 2 out of 5]

Most of the criticisms are apt, but there is not much to this book. He names a few criticisms, discusses them very briefly, and moves on. Also, the author repeatedly states his belief that highly processed junk foods can be good for some people in some circumstances. That's a pretty bold claim to make with absolutely no supporting documentation whatsoever.

[Jitka Egressy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well, I'm not fan of STRICT Paleo. I eat about 400 calories a day from white rice or potatoes...

I feel that strict Paleo is not good of us at all, but in the same time I don't like this book. I don't feel that author's explanation are ver vague.

Also - this book is poorly formated :(

[Michael Garner · Rating 2 out of 5]

The author raises some interesting points, however, he comes off as a big jerk and is a big turn off. Fortunately, it was a quick read.

[Count-daniel Fogarty · Rating 5 out of 5]

Yep just another fad, to do what Ray Peat does and accelerate your metabolism...