Just wanted to drag up this old thread I'd never read.
Getting back to the subject of the thread - what is the consensus of Cordain's views about the importance of the acid/alkali balance?
I'm skeptical of its importance and I suspect that it is overly simplified and doesn't take some factors into consideration, else how explain Lex's
increased bone density on a largely-raw carnivorous diet and my partial firming, rather than loosening, of teeth and the resolution of my chronic kidney stones, instead of exacerbation?
it probably doesn't I haven't read any of his work....
You can get his free newsletter here:
http://www.thepaleodiet.com/newsletter/. He is the leader of an international network of respected scientists who share an interest in evolutionary nutrition, medicine and lifestyle. You can find the blog of his core team here:
http://thepaleodiet.blogspot.com/.
so may be completely wrong (wouldn't be the first time!!) but a (very!) quick look at this website gives me the impression that he recommends a diet largely based on fruit/veg including cooked tubers, along with lean meats.
His view on tubers is mixed. What specifically are you referencing with regard to tubers? My understanding is that he generally discourages eating them except as an energy aid for athletes like runners (for example, Usain Bolt and other Jamaican sprinters eat lots of yams, especially a "yellow" variety of African yams that grow abundantly in Trelawny, Jamaica
http://www.stea.net/tyfaboutyam.html). What I'm curious about is what food(s) did African yams replace in the diets of African hominids who adopted cooking?
His emphasis seems to be on eating mainly so-called alkaline producing foods to avoid Ca excretion leading to osteoporosis and other problems.
That's just one part of his voluminous published research, which you can find here:
http://www.thepaleodiet.com/published_research/. He also has accumulated what I believe is probably the largest library of Paleolithic nutrition research in the world.
Hasn't this acid/alkali theory being thoroughly debunked?!
I wouldn't rule out that there could be some elements of truth in it. For example, maybe it has some effect in the context of a SAD that includes lots of wheat. As far as applicability to other diets, like RPD, I believe it has been debunked, yes.
Clearly, he seems to have no problems with cooked food either.
IIRC, he warns against certain forms of cooking that are widely regarded as unhealthy (such as deep frying).
But, he seems to be revered here more than others.
Tyler, particularly, but also other long-standing respected members - what are your views of Cordain and his diet with regard to Acid/Alkali balance, cooked veg, low fat etc?
I like and respect Dr. Cordain, but I don't revere anyone. I abhor and condemn guru worship and I try to be more a fan of ideas and facts than of gurus. That said, my favorite things about Dr. Cordain are...
> the open-mindedness, curiosity and honesty that enable him to acknowledge where even his harshest critics are right and that enabled him to consider and recognize the value of Dr. Boyd Eaton's theory of Paleolithic nutrition to begin with
> the objectivity and humility that enable him to change his mind and publicly admit error (rare qualities among diet experts and gurus)
> his diligence and thoroughness in citing sources to support his hypotheses and points (I wouldn't be surprised if he holds the world's record for most references cited)
> the fact that he is in the trenches doing scientific research and thus doing more than most to advance the fields of evolutionary nutrition, medicine and athletic performance, not just acting the critic or proselytizer
> and his politeness and reasonableness even with people who strongly disagree with him.
Unfortunately, his early excessive exuberance regarding certain plant foods like fruits, winter squashes and certain nightshades (he now warns against nightshades--even tomatoes--for people with autoimmune disorders, which includes most moderners, IMHO), and his early warnings against saturated fats (since moderated) and promotion of flaxseed and canola oils as cooking oils (since retracted) partly influenced me to include too much of those plant foods and not enough animal fats in my diet and I suffered a relapse of symptoms as a result (luckily this influence was moderated some by the writings of Ray Audette, Dr. Eades, PaleoFood forum members and others, plus my own experience and instincts), but it was an honest and understandable mistake. Some low carbers and zero carbers, such as William, still haven't forgiven him for these early mistakes. But who among us is perfect? If even someone who suffered from some of his advice, such as me, can recognize his contributions, then surely he can't be all bad.
I try to give kudos where it is due, even to those I disagree with on some important points, and to not hold grudges. I view grudges as generally unproductive and irrational and I've noticed that the people most prone to them tend to be guided more by emotion and zealotry than reason and open-mindedness and I have found it pointless to argue with them (unless I think I can wring some drips of value out of the exchange, such as putting my own hypotheses to the test), which is why I early on gave up debating William on most matters, not just Dr. Cordain.
I disagree with Cordain when he pushes CANOLA oil. That's just crap.
He now warns
against using CANOLA oil, including in his newsletter and latest book (
http://www.amazon.com/Paleo-Diet-Cookbook-Loren-Cordain/dp/0470913045/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1284078278&sr=8-1).
Unfortunately he is apparently still not fully aware of the hazards of cooking, such as the importance of negative effects from resulting Advanced Glycation End products, but his open-mindedness suggests to me that he will move further in the right direction in the future. Leading experts who share some of Dr. Cordain's views, such Prof. Stephen Guyenet and Dr. William Davis, already have already bravely started moving in our direction (of rawness) by acknowledging the importance of the damaging products of cooking like AGEs.
In my experience I have found that it pays to be "hearty in my approbation, and lavish in my praise" and stingy with criticism. Where I have ignored this advice from industrialist Charles M. Schwab and author Dale Carnegie, and Stephen Covey's advice to "seek first to understand," I have tended to regret it. As long as someone lives there is the chance they may change their mind. Even current enemies may be future allies.