Is quinoa and sweet freedom paleo?

Whiplashy

I'm trying to get my head round the paleo diet. I've always been pretty dismissive of it but I'm going to try it for 30 days because it's been recommended to me for health reasons. I think I've got most of it straight in my head, but I keep coming across conflicting opinions both on line and in books, in relation to quinoa and sweet freedom (sweetner like syrup made from 100% fruit) Some people say they're absolutely fine and others say they're a complete no. Anyone know which is right?

Dotcomdolly

Quinoa is a grain, so no it's not paleo. I would avoid using alternative sweeteners and making "paleo treats", better to break the sweet tooth habit.

Whiplashy

Dotcomdolly wrote: »

Quinoa is a grain, so no it's not paleo. I would avoid using alternative sweeteners and making "paleo treats", better to break the sweet tooth habit.

But quinoa isn't a grain, it's a seed, and seeds are paleo. Which is why some people are saying it's fine. Others are saying even though it's a seed it's still not paleo. It's very confusing!

I totally get your point on the sweet tooth habit though. I certainly don't plan on being one of those people who just replace the sweet treats with paleo versions. A little treat occassionally though would make it more sustainable.

Carlos Orange

Whiplashy wrote: »

But quinoa isn't a grain, it's a seed, and seeds are paleo. Which is why some people are saying it's fine. Others are saying even though it's a seed it's still not paleo. It's very confusing!

If paleo is about eating like our ancestors 100s of thousands of years ago wouldn't something have to be native to where our ancestors were to be paleo?

Whiplashy

psinno wrote: »

If paleo is about eating like our ancestors 100s of thousands of years ago wouldn't something have to be native to where our ancestors were to be paleo?

Using that logic chia seeds wouldn't be paleo for a lot of people, and I haven't seen anyone suggest that they're not paleo.

Carlos Orange

Whiplashy wrote: »

Using that logic chia seeds wouldn't be paleo for a lot of people, and I haven't seen anyone suggest that they're not paleo.

I think humans arrive in Mexico about 25 thousand years ago.

This guy doesn't seem to think much of them and I gather it was his book that popularised the diet.

http://thepaleodiet.com/seed-fatty-acid-composition/

"As you can see, the nutritional problems with chia seeds involve similar issues as with cereals grains – they simply are second-rate foods compared to meats, fish and fresh fruits and vegetables."

El_Dangeroso

I think you'll drive yourself nuts wondering if this or that thing is paleo.

Quinoa is healthy, unprocessed and nutritious. I really don't see an issue with it.

That sweet freedoms stuff is just sugar, dressed up in a fancy package. Nothing wrong with sugar in moderation but there's no point paying more money for it just because they have health-washed it. It's just sugar. Use honey or molasses, it's cheaper and a little more nutritious.

Whiplashy

El_Dangeroso wrote: »

I think you'll drive yourself nuts wondering if this or that thing is paleo.

Quinoa is healthy, unprocessed and nutritious. I really don't see an issue with it.

That sweet freedoms stuff is just sugar, dressed up in a fancy package. Nothing wrong with sugar in moderation but there's no point paying more money for it just because they have health-washed it. It's just sugar. Use honey or molasses, it's cheaper and a little more nutritious.

As a long term calorie counter I'm really going to struggle to adjust to paleo! Obviously honey is the perfect sweetner to use but I'd never have touched it before because of the calories! I just have to get it into my head that I'm doing this for possible health benefits not weight loss!

With regards to the quinoa, I think you're right. I love quinoa and it certainly has way more nutritional benefits than grains. I'm going to keep using it

voodoopigeon

I love the nutritional value of quinoa but find it difficult to incorporate it into tasty meals

Slydice

Whiplashy wrote: »

Obviously honey is the perfect sweetner to use

Some interesting discussions out there about honey and maple syrup on paleo discussion websites. Tend to revolve around them being paleo but having a lot of sugar.

I could literally drink maple syrup from the bottle :-)

Mellor

Whiplashy wrote: »

I keep coming across conflicting opinions both on line and in books,

Paleo as a concept isn't as black and white as something like vegetarian or vegan. The definition of paleo is quite loose, and depending on how strict you apply the definition different foods get a pass.
And the stricter you apply the rules, the more contradictions you fond.

For example,
Dairy isn't paleo as we didn't have dairy until we had farming.
Yet most paleo advocates are happy to promote butter as a healthy fat.

Another is potatoes verses sweet potatos.
Sweet potato is the hero carb of paleo followers everywhere. And the white potato is the devil. But I'm yet to see any logically reason for that.
Neither were really eaten in the paleo era. They both became widespread crops around the same time post-paleo. But sweet-spuds get a pass, but not the regular ones.
The only reason I can think of this is because sweet-potato are seen as more healthy (they actually aren't) and they are trendy, where the humble spud has been a staple of great unwashed forever.

Subcomandante Marcos

The normal vs sweet spud thing is because of steamed and boiled sweet potatoes being low gi I thought?

Mellor

Subcomandante Marcos wrote: »

The normal vs sweet spud thing is because of steamed and boiled sweet potatoes being low gi I thought?

That's one reason that's often mentioned, but it' doesn't hold up. The concept of paleo itself has nothing to do with GI really. If high GI foods were availible, they would have been eaten. And sweet potatos are only slightly lower than boiled white potatoes (45 vrs 50 or so). I've never heard anyone suggest that bananas or raisins aren't paleo.
And, as you suggest, baked sweet potatos have a very high GI. Close to 100 iirc.

Subcomandante Marcos

Mellor wrote: »

That's one reason that's often mentioned, but it' doesn't hold up. The concept of paleo itself has nothing to do with GI really. If high GI foods were availible, they would have been eaten. And sweet potatos are only slightly lower than boiled white potatoes (45 vrs 50 or so). I've never heard anyone suggest that bananas or raisins aren't paleo.
And, as you suggest, baked sweet potatos have a very high GI. Close to 100 iirc.

I'm not talking about paleo, I'm talking about why people push sweet potato as being "better" than normal spuds.

Paleo is a load of bunkum anyway.

Mellor

Subcomandante Marcos wrote: »

I'm not talking about paleo, I'm talking about why people push sweet potato as being "better" than normal spuds.

Paleo is a load of bunkum anyway.

Well my initial rant was about how it's stupid to present one as paleo over the other.
But in "general" it's stil stupid to push one over the other. Small GI differences, both ways. Similar carbs and calories.
The only real difference is that sweet potatos are high in vitamen A. That's good, but not remotely enough to justify the way they each are treated.

Tar.Aldarion

What about white sweet potatoes? :pac:

Paleo diet promotes eating things they did not eat, and prohibits eating things they did, and nothing now is the same as it was then anyway.
Nothing wrong with quinoa and it's delicious. Try some kamut, amaranth, teff etc also.

Mellor

Tar.Aldarion wrote: »

What about white sweet potatoes? :pac:

Paleo diet promotes eating things they did not eat, and prohibits eating things they did, and nothing now is the same as it was then anyway.
Nothing wrong with quinoa and it's delicious. Try some kamut, amaranth, teff etc also.

Ultimately I think a lot of the issues come down to a strict application of "the paleo era", instead of looking at the fundamentals underneath.

dancrowley

voodoopigeon wrote: »

I love the nutritional value of quinoa but find it difficult to incorporate it into tasty meals

My missus made us a quinoa-based meal last night, and the quinoa was cooked in a French onion stock. nice change to having it au natural.