Todd - As we all know, there is no one diet or eating plan that works 100% for everyone, but Paleo eating eliminates many of the harmful grain components that can be offenders in many individuals... due to the hybridizing and manipulating of various grains and the sensitivity to the gliaden protein especially in wheat... in addition to gluten sensitivity as well as dairy proteins that can be detrimental as well. And of course, eliminating grains also means no bakery products that typically contain sugar, dairy products and bad fats, etc.so that's a definite plus for optimizing a healthy lifestyle.
John McDougall's eating plan became the new diet craze over 20 years ago and I remember it well. Three of us decided it made a lot of sense to follow his plan. We each were different different blood types. We bought the tapes, the books and were totally convinced this was the way to go. We had gatherings to demonstrate various recipes following the plan. We were avid McDougall groupies.
One person had such hypoglycemic attacks she called 911 and went to the hospital thinking she was having a heart attack. The other person who was undoubtedly on his way to being insulin resistant...developed symptoms of diabetes and was eventually diagnosed as a Type 2 diabetic. I was the third and was also in my first round of medications for afib... the prescribed beta blocker helped propel me to insulin resistance and the diet helped promote hypoglycemic events which were triggers for afib events during sleep.
We all stopped McDougall and assumed a modified Paleo style eating plan and did very well at stabilizing blood glucose levels once again.
As the insulin expert, Ron Rosedale, MD, points out, it's dangerous to eat a diet that continually promotes that much of an insulin response. I can attest that for the three of us, that was definitely true.
I don't think Dr. McDougall does anyone any favors by promoting that type of hype and criticism over a diet called Paleo which is grossly misunderstood as to principle and the biophysiological effects on the body. Not the least of which would be the Advanced Glycation End Product (AGEs) results from eating too much carbohydrates...in which the body just carmelizes as a result.
However, there are undoubtedly individuals who do well and don't have a glucose handling problem or he wouldn't still be promoting his plan so vigorously.
With my experience, I say be very cautious with the McDougall plan.
Jackie
Reminder: Be sure to read the report,
Insulin and Its Metabolic Effects by Ron Rosedale, MD.
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www.mercola.com]