by Deborah Hanyon, MPH, RDN, ACE-CHC | Aug 24, 2020 | Creation Education Resources
Is the Paleo Diet Biblical?
I have always scratched my head every time I meet a Christian who claims to follow the paleo diet. My reasoning is based on the fact that the paleo diet has evolutionary pre-suppositions. Let me explain.
(Post may contain affiliate links).
Is the paleo diet biblical? Strictly speaking, the answer is “no.”
First, let's discover together the original basis of the paleo diet.
The paleo diet is also known as the stone-age or caveman diet. “Paleo” is short for Paleolithic.
This is defined as
“A very long period of human prehistory, extending from the first tool-using hominids at least 2.6 million years ago, all the way up until around 10,000 BP.”
This diet assumes what people during this time period ate. For example, it is assumed that the food “paleolithic era” people ate was raw, because they hadn't discovered fire yet. Thus, it is assumed that their diet consisted of raw animal meat, fruits, and vegetables.
From the evolutionary perspective, people living during the paleolithic time period were “primitive.” In fact, according to the theory people hadn't discovered fire and thus were eating everything raw.
According to the paleolithic theory, everything eaten was raw and unprocessed. Thus, it is assumed that grains, refined sugars, table salt, and dairy weren’t part of the diet.
You should take note of the time periods mentioned. The “10,000 BP” refers to “Before Present.” It is also supposedly the time when the “agricultural period” began.
I want to be clear when I say that before “10,000 BP” NO HISTORY was written. Hence, the term “pre-history” or “prehistoric.”
This is an especially crucial point because this is when the scientist, archaeologist, or anthropologist has to start speculating because history wasn't written down before “10,000 BP.”
Fossils that are dug up don't have ages written on them, for example. And neither do most archaeological artifacts. So, it's important to remember that this is when the true speculation begins regarding how much time has passed and how much “primitive” humans actually knew.
From a biblical creationist point of view, we need to eliminate the “primitive” aspect and the “millions of years ago,” when we discuss the Bible, because we know that humans were created in the image of God less than 10,000 years ago.
Now, let's look at what the Bible says about diet. For example,
In Genesis 1, God said:
“Behold, I have given you every plant yielding seed that is on the surface of all the earth, and every tree which has fruit yielding seed; it shall be food for you; and to every beast of the earth and to every bird of the sky and to everything that moves on the earth which has life, I have given every green plant for food”; and it was so. (Gen. 1:29–30)
The paleo diet does not allow any beans or peas (legumes), or cereal grains. I'm thinking they were included in the original mandate since they come from plants that yield seeds.
Then after the flood, when Noah and his family came off the ark, God gave further direction:
“The fear and dread of you will fall on all the beasts of the earth, and on all the birds in the sky, on every creature that moves along the ground, and on all the fish in the sea; they are given into your hands. Everything that lives and moves about will be food for you. Just as I gave you the green plants, I now give you everything.” (Genesis 9:2-3)
We can also evaluate what people during Bible days ate based on actual accounts. For example,
Prior to Sodom and Gomorrah being destroyed, Abraham was visited by three angels. Genesis 18:8 tells us what he served the men:
“Meanwhile, Abraham ran to the herd, selected a tender, choice calf, and gave it to a servant, who hurried to prepare it. Then Abraham brought curds and milk and the calf that had been prepared, and he set them before the men and stood by them under the tree as they ate.” (Genesis 18:8)
The paleo diet does not allow dairy products.
The Song of Moses (Deuteronomy 32:1-43) states:
“He made him ride on the heights of the land and fed him the produce of the field. He nourished him with honey from the rock and oil from the flinty crag, curds of cows, and milk of the flock, with fat of lambs, and rams, the breed of Bashan, and goats, With the finest of the wheat– And of the blood of grapes you drank wine.” (Deuteronomy 32:13-14)
Every food I can think of is mentioned somewhere in the Bible. Below are just a few examples:
Spices:
- Anise
- Coriander
- Cinnamon
- Dill
Fruits:
- Apples
- Dates
- Figs
- Grapes
- Melons
- Pomegranates
Vegetables and Legumes:
Grains:
- Barley
- Bread (Miraculous fish and bread provision–mentioned SEVEN times in bible)?
- Corn
- Millet
- Spelt
- Wheat
Click here for an exhaustive list of foods mentioned in the Bible.
Of course, many foods today are quite different, due to various human “improvements.” For example, genetic engineering (GMO) and hybridization.
It is interesting that God warns people in the Old Testament not to mix seeds of two different plants.
“Do not plant two kinds of seed in your vineyard; if you do, not only the crops you plant but also the fruit of the vineyard will be defiled.” (Deuteronomy 22:9)
In Leviticus 19:19, the warning is repeated and includes forbidding the mating of two distinct kinds of animals:
“‘Keep my decrees. “‘Do not mate distinct kinds of animals. Do not plant your field with two kinds of seed…'”
Mankind in his attempts to “improve” upon nature is creating known and unknown problems. I believe modern day processing, which involves pesticides, pest control methods, hybridization, irradiation, GMO, and the like, is a big part of the reason for the health problems of so many.
For example,
Evidence suggests that the increase in gluten intolerance and wheat sensitivity is related to the hybridization of wheat.
https://www.verywellhealth.com/is-gmo-wheat-causing-increases-in-gluten-issues-562530
This may help to explain why many people feel better when they remove grains from the diet. It's not necessarily the gluten, though gluten can cause problems.
Another potential key to the puzzle is that we eat a far less variety of grains than we did 100 years ago. And of course, people are much less likely to consume whole grains in sufficient amounts than they were 100 years ago as well.
So, to sum it up. The Bible clearly shows that a variety of foods were eaten. As Christians, we know that mankind was not “primitive” in the early stages of life on earth. We also know that many things are being done to the foods in our current supply and that these things are causing a large percentage of the problems we are seeing today.
So, is the “Paleo diet” biblical?
Can a diet that is based on evolutionary suppositions improve the health of people when it is diametrically opposed to the very things the Bible teaches? I think not.
Instead, what we should do, if we are concerned about the foods we eat, is try to eat organic and non-GMO as much as possible. And of course, avoid any foods that are known to be intolerable.
When we start limiting the variety of foods we are eating, however, we are in effect limiting our access to the potential nutrients those foods contain. God created Vegetables, fruits, beans, seeds, and grains for us to enjoy from the beginning of time. These foods contain important nutrients that are often low in people's diets, including iron and folate.
https://foodinsight.org/whole-grains-fact-sheet/
The reasoning behind the paleo diet ignores this fact. And when you start with a faulty foundation, you are likely to come to faulty conclusions.
Below are a few popular articles I've written recently.
Eugenics and Dog Breeding
4 Things the Bible Does NOT Say About Race
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Gluten-Free Cheat Sheet Bundle
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by Deborah Hanyon, MPH, RDN, ACE-CHC | Aug 17, 2020 | Food Allergies and Special Diets
One of the dilemmas I’m faced with is that my son will not drink water. As a result, I worry about him being dehydrated. I have tried in the past to force him to drink an ounce or two at a time, in hopes of getting him used to it. However, it has never worked! As he has gotten older and a bit more reasonable about making healthy food choices, I have attempted to explain to him why water is so important. But he is not convinced. As a result of my concerns over dehydration, I have allowed him to drink more juice than the recommended maximum of four ounces per day. (This post contains affiliate links).
He typically drinks about 12 ounces of juice and 8 ounces of milk every day. And THAT IS IT. This is still a lot of juice, but it’s not as much fluid as the recommended amount of 6-8 8-oz cups of water. Plus, it’s not water, it’s juice! As a result, he has issues with dry skin. These issues have been particularly troublesome the past couple of weeks.
So, how to increase fluids in his diet so that he won't be dehydrated?
I know, I know! I’ll make him soup!
Yes, soup is an AWESOME way to increase fluids in your kids’ diets. This is also a great way to increase other nutrients as well. Especially if it is homemade soup. Any vegetable you put into the soup, even if your kids pick it out, will still have “left its mark,” by leaving some of its nutrients in the broth.
Right now, Nathan is having a particularly “dry skin season.” So, I have been busy making different soups the past couple of days to increase his fluid intake. Yesterday, I made pot sticker soup. The day before that I made bean and sausage soup.
I was only able to get him to eat the bean soup once because he doesn’t like to eat beans. I persuaded him by allowing him to add cheese. (Thank goodness he is not allergic to dairy!) He has been willing to eat the pot sticker soup several times, though he initially griped about all the broth.
I will admit that I am not a lover of cooking.
When I’m in the mood, I can produce some delicious recipes, but I’m a bit lazy when it comes to preparing foods. Fortunately, I have Costco to help me. Costco sells frozen foods that tend to be much more wholesome than the average brand. So, we bought some frozen pot stickers at Costco this week, and I made a simple soup with just two ingredients: pot stickers and chicken broth. The beauty of this kind of soup is that you can simply make chicken broth out of a high-quality chicken base, add the pot stickers (I used chicken and veggie), and voila, you’ve got soup!
Even better is if you add carrots, onions, and celery. Now my son was having a bit of a fit over the vegetables being put in, and since my primary goal right now is to get more fluids into his little body, I didn’t add the veggies THIS time. Instead, I served his favorite vegetable, broccoli, on the side.
Speaking of broccoli…
Nathan loves broccoli, and he also likes my homemade cream of broccoli soup. I use a basic pureed soup vegetable recipe from an older Better Homes and Gardens cookbook that I have had since 1989. This cookbook has a section on fresh vegetable soups, with suggestions on which herbs/spices to use based on the type of vegetable. This is an extremely easy recipe.
And so delicious! We have tried the potato, tomato, mushroom, and broccoli, and they are all delicious! You can find my tweaked version of the recipes here.
Plus, it’s inexpensive, doesn’t call for any fancy, costly ingredients, and is not too high in fat.
In case you’re wondering, the reason I like to give Nathan pureed soups is because he has texture issues and oftentimes will reject a multi-texture food.
Soup is a TERRIFIC way to make sure your child gets enough fluids AND veggies in his diet.
So, does your child drink enough water and eat his vegetables? If not, then this is what I recommend helping prevent dehydration:
A vegetable soup is a fantastic way to start feeding his or her body what it needs.
And if there your child has any kid of sensory and texture issues with food, then pureed soup are perfect for this.
Hopefully, most of my readers will be able to find at least one vegetable soup that will match their kid’s preferences. Notice that corn is not on the chart. Corn chowder is another yummy possibility.
Other things you might like:
12 Early Signs of Dehydration
Broccoli Soup and Other Free Veggie Soup Recipes
Broccoli Dot-to-Dot Activity Pack
6 Reasons You Need More Fruit in Your Diet
Healthy Alternatives for Picky Eaters
Also, here's a post I wrote with ten additional healthy soup recipes
by Deborah Hanyon, MPH, RDN, ACE-CHC | Sep 30, 2019 | Nutrition and Health
10 Facts About Vitamin B12 (Post may contain affiliate links).
Vitamin B12 was first “discovered” in the 1850s.
Thomas Addison, one of the earliest researchers of vitamin B12, discovered a lethal form of anemia he named pernicious anemia. Symptoms of this disease included:
- Glossitis – (inflammation of the tongue)
- Macrocytic – (too large) red blood cells
- Numbness and abnormal gait.
There was no treatment and so patients afflicted would die.
In the 1920s, Georges Richard Minot, a practicing MD at Harvard, came up with the idea that something in food might help patients. Minot teamed up with two other MDs and they did research on dogs 🙁 to discover a treatment.
The research involved bleeding dogs and then feeding them various types of food until they determined that meats, especially raw liver, were the best treatment. Unfortunately, they did not discover what was in the raw liver and meat. They did however, earn a Nobel Prize in Medicine for their efforts in 1934.
It has taken well over 100 years to understand vitamin B12. And research continues to this day.
During the period 1934 and 1948, Intrinsic factor was discovered. This was seen as a substance in the body that was necessary for absorption of this mysterious food element, that became known as “Extrinsic Factor.”
Intrinsic factor in the stomach is necessary for absorption
Intrinsic factor is most effective when the acid level is higher. As a result, older people and persons taking antacids are at an increased risk for vitamin B12 deficiency.
Animal Products are the only Natural Way to obtain vitamin B12
Spirulina has been cited as a source of vitamin B12, and Spirulina has been shown to have numerous health benefits. However, the “B12” in Spirulina is an Analog or “Pseudo-vitamin.”
To make matters worse, this B12 analog in Spirulina also interferes with the absorption of the real vitamin B12.
Thus Spirulina is NOT a source of real vitamin B12.
Non-animal products are often fortified. For example:
- Soy, Rice, and Almond Milk
- Breakfast Cereals
Vitamin B12 is one of the water soluble vitamins.
As a result, it is easily lost when cooked in water.
Deficiency can result in psychosis
as well as spinal cord demyelination, neuropathy, and death.
Vitamin B12 is more readily absorbed when the stomach is acidic. As a result, antacids lower the absorption, and chronic antacid use can result in deficiency, especially in older persons.
B12 and Folate (Folic Acid) work together to prevent Megaloblastic anemia. As a result, it can be hard for healthcare providers to determine whether the cause is folic acid deficiency or B12 deficiency. Thus, it is important that you don't take excessive amounts of either folic acid or vitamin B12.
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US RDA of B12
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.9 micrograms – 1-3 years
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1.2 micrograms – 4-8 years
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1.8 micrograms – 9-13 years
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2.4 micrograms – 14+ years
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2.6 micrograms – Pregnancy
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2.8 micrograms – Lactation
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Seven Surprising Symptoms of Iron Deficiency
Diet and ADHD in Children
Lactose Intolerance or Protein Allergy?
6 Reasons You Need More Vegetables in Your Diet
What Interferes With Iron Absorption?
Is the Paleo Diet Biblical?
For Further Study
https://www.vegansociety.com/resources/nutrition-and-health/nutrients/vitamin-b12/what-every-vegan-should-know-about-vitamin-b12+
https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/10-proven-benefits-of-spirulina#section1
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by Deborah Hanyon, MPH, RDN, ACE-CHC | Aug 22, 2019 | Food Allergies and Special Diets
Best Food for Psoriasis: How Diet May Improve Your Psoriasis
(post may contain affiliate links)
In 2017, a team of researchers from the San Francisco School of Medicine’s Department of Dermatology, University of California found that reduced alcohol consumption and a gluten and nightshades free diet improved the symptoms of Psoriasis. Additionally, a diet that contained fish oil, Vitamin D, and vegetables also proved effective in the treatment for this skin condition.
More than 1200 individuals from the National Psoriasis Foundation were surveyed with 61 questions on their food habits and dietary practices. The researchers published the findings in Dermatologic Therapy May 2017 issue. People with psoriasis consumed less sugar, dairy products, and fiber to reduce their symptoms.
Along with it, a reduced quantity of alcohol, members of the nightshade family, such as peppers, tomatoes, potatoes, and eggplant also helped them to curb down the skin shedding process effectively.
Furthermore, the survey also revealed that people with psoriasis alleviated their symptoms by including fish oil, vegetables, and vitamin D in their regular meals. These foods acted like natural cures for psoriasis.
Does Food Trigger Psoriasis Symptoms?
Nutrition is one of the biggest players in fighting against several health problems, including Psoriasis. Although food is not the only trigger that boosts the symptoms of Psoriasis (stress and bad weather can also be one of them), certain foods do flare up the condition.
While medical treatments often reduce the rapid skin cell production in order to curb the symptoms down, psoriasis is a lifelong condition and has no cure. Therefore, lifestyle changes and shifts in dietary habits are the only home remedies of psoriasis that you can include without worrying about the side effects of modern medications.
Choosing anti-inflammatory foods, eliminating gluten, and choosing low-calorie ingredients showed signs of improvement in the surveyed members.
High anti-oxidant foods, along with weight loss and remedies to reduce inflammation can also help relieve the symptoms effectively.
TCM or Traditional Chinese Medicines are herb-based treatments that can help you reduce inflammation naturally. Chinese herbs like Indica Naturalis and Aloe Vera are widely used in China to treat various skin conditions, including psoriasis.
Foods to Avoid for Psoriasis
You must avoid foods that trigger inflammation and weaken the immune system, such as:
Processed Foods
Processed foods are high in calories, trans fat and saturated fats. Consuming processed foods can lead to weight gain, low metabolism, metabolic syndrome, and other health conditions, including inflammation. Foods you must avoid to processed food intake include pre-packaged foods, canned foods, processed meats, packaged bakery products, and foods high in salt, sugar, and fat.
Nightshades
Nightshade plants and veggies are rich in solanine. Solanine is a compound that causes indigestion and promotes inflammation in persons with psoriasis. The National Psoriasis Foundation states that Nightshades can trigger the symptoms of psoriasis. Examples of foods classified as nightshades are tomatoes, peppers, potatoes, and eggplant.
Gluten Rich Food
People with psoriasis could also become gluten sensitive. There are certain health conditions that are characterized by autoimmunity to gluten. So, you must avoid all foods that have gluten, such as wheat, rye, barley, and malt-based foods. You should also avoid foods that contain wheat, barley, and malts, such as pasta, vermicelli, semolina, baked goods, and noodles, sauces and condiments, and malt beverage like beer. These foods all contain gluten.
Alcohol
Psoriasis is an auto-immune health condition, which means it is directly linked to the immune system. Alcohol has the potential to disrupt your immune system and therefore, you must restrict alcohol every day.
Foods that People with Psoriasis Can Consume Every day
A diet high in anti-inflammatory foods can act as a natural cure for psoriasis, and such foods include:
Fruits and Vegetables
Most fruits and veggies are rich in antioxidants and are anti-inflammatory. Both are essential compounds to decrease stress and inflammation. anti-inflammatory, omega 3 fatty acids. contain a high amount of anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidants include broccoli, cauliflower, and Brussels sprouts, cherries, strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, grapes, and other dark fruits, and leafy greens, such as spinach, kale, and arugula.
Fish
Among all meat-based products fish is the best for health. You must have those fishes that provide your body the necessary anti-inflammatory, omega 3 fatty acids. Omega 3 fatty acids promote good health and reduce both internal and external inflammation. You can have salmon, sardines, trout, and codfishes to treat your psoriasis naturally.
Healthy Oils
Certain vegetable oils also contain anti-inflammatory, omega 3 fatty acids, for example. Try including olive oil, coconut, flax seed, and safflower oils in your diet. However, do not have oils that contain a high amount of omega 6 fatty acids.
Dr. Pragno Diet
Dr. Pragno, in his book, Healing Psoriasis: The Natural Alternative describes how a healthy lifestyle and a good diet can improve the symptoms of psoriasis. His approach includes consuming fruits and vegetables in high quantities, having grains, meats, seafood, eggs, and dairy in moderate quantity, and avoiding red meat, nightshades, and processed foods completely.
Vegan and Mediterranean diets also seem to help in treating the skin problem.
Reach out to your nutritionist for more clarity on how you can control your condition through food habits.
Author Bio:
Emylee Modest is a wellness lifestyle writer. She loves sharing her thoughts and personal experiences related to natural remedies, yoga and fitness through her writing. Emylee currently writes for How To Cure. She can connect with others experiencing health concerns and help them through their recovery journeys through natural remedies.
Other articles from Homeschooling Dietitian Mom:
Why are Kids Picky Eaters?
Does Food Affect Autism?
High Protein Meals
6 Reasons You Need Vitamin B6
Lactose Intolerance or Cow's Milk Allergy?
by Deborah Hanyon, MPH, RDN, ACE-CHC | Mar 15, 2019 | Nutrition and Health
What exactly is vitamin B6 and why is it important? And if it is so important, how do I know which foods are high in B6? If you have asked or are asking any of these questions, you have come to the right place! Here are 6 reasons you need vitamin B6. (Post may contain affiliate links).
Vitamin B6, also known as “pyridoxine,” is an essential nutrient. Pyridoxal phosphate is the name for the active form of vitamin B6.
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Vitamin B6 acts as a “co-enzyme” in many reactions in the body.
In case you don't know what an enzyme is, it is a chemical in the body that gets things done. For example, lactase is the enzyme that breaks down lactose, the sugar in cow's milk. Other examples of enzymes are lipase, the enzyme that breaks down fat. (Lipids are the technical term for fats). And amylase, which is in your spit, breaks down starch. Most of the time, if the word ends with “ase,” and it's connected to the human body, it is an enzyme.
So, vitamin B6 is essential for enzymes, such as lactase, lipase, and amylase, to work properly.
- Vitamin B6 is also important in the synthesis of neurotransmitters (think transmission of nerves). Low amounts of certain neurotransmitters, including serotonin and dopamine, are implicated in various mental health issues, including depression and ADHD.
- B6 is necessary for hemoglobin synthesis. Hemoglobin is the molecule that carries oxygen through your blood. Low hemoglobin leads to anemia.
So, iron is not the only nutrient that is important for healthy red blood cells. Vitamin B6 is necessary as well.
- Vitamin B6 is an important co-factor in the body's production of other important nutrients, such as the essential mineral selenium. A co-factor is a “helper” for proteins in the body, and is similar to a co-enzyme.
- B6 is important for the conversion of tryptophan to niacin. Tryptophan is an essential amino acid found in turkey and other foods. Niacin is another important and essential B vitamin. (vitamin B3)
- Vitamin B6 is important for glucose metabolism.
- Gene expression requires sufficient vitamin B6 in order to work correctly. (Think sufficient B6, reduced mutations/problems in the gene).
This is 6 reasons why vitamin B6 is important.
Why is Vitamin B6 inadequacy so common today?
Vitamin B6 is low in the American diet. This is because of low intake of whole grains, fruits, and vegetables.
What Foods are High in Vitamin B6?
Vitamin B6 is found in whole grain breads and cereals as well as fruits, vegetables, and nuts.
Specific examples of foods high in vitamin B6 include:
Bananas, pistachios, chocolate, avocado, whole grain breads, whole grain pasta. (B6 is found in the highest amounts in the germ). Also, green leafy vegetables, milk, fortified cereals, red meat, eggs, and turmeric.
Click here to receive a FREE table on foods high in vitamin B6 as well as a table of foods high in Folate.
Read about other vitamins and minerals, including magnesium, potassium, and vitamin D.
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