No wonder it gets so confusing!!! page

[froggie]

Found this article by Trail Running: (definitely not primal!)
Zero Tolerance

It's the first time I read a "nutrition" article through the primal lense.

And when exactly do we address permanent health damage? At which point do we tell people -- hey, you can try a gluten-free lifestlyle and see how good it feels?

Maybe all newbies get a little mad at first... I am floored that 'some' manipulate health data and verbiage to make people believe whatever makes them more $$.

I don't understand; how come there aren't more people aware of the primal lifestyle? It makes sense, it works, everyone can try to see for themselves...

Is it just a matter of discipline? Or open-mindedness? Or what is it?

[clint2]

There is not money in primal. That is it. It all revolves around money. In an ideal "primal" world, we would buy our food from our neighbors, they would get what ever we were making. Everybody supports everybody. Nobody gets rich, and we all live happily ever after. When people buy grain products kraft, malto-meal, etc. get rich. These are the same companies that can afford to lobby our government. That is why "my plate" has 6-12 whole grains on it.

[Gydle]

People sure are trying to make money off of primal/paleo! Look at all the cookbooks, the "paleo" bars and stuff you can buy now, the supplement combos, the coconut water and etc etc etc in the stores. They'll try to make a buck off it, but every time they do, in my book it's not primal. I won't buy those things and I don't think anyone who's trying for a true primal lifestyle would.

[Betorq]

People sure are trying to make money off of primal/paleo! Look at all the cookbooks, the "paleo" bars and stuff you can buy now, the supplement combos, the coconut water and etc etc etc in the stores. They'll try to make a buck off it, but every time they do, in my book it's not primal. I won't buy those things and I don't think anyone who's trying for a true primal lifestyle would.

The commodification of paleo/primal is not necessarily a bad thing imo. There's a paleo restaurant here in Johns Creek, one of the most affluent neighborhoods in all of Atlanta. It exposes new people to gourmet paleo/primal foods set in a classy setting. Thus dispelling the idea that we are all hairy, raw-meat eating, aspiring cave dweller re-enactors(not that there's anything wrong with that...).

My point is, more exposure to foods that are more palatable to the mainstream may lead some people to paleo/primal that would not have come to it otherwise.

I have bought the canned coconut drinks at times, nothing else from the recent paleo marketplace. But again, there are many others who have & do buy those and other paleo products, & as I asserted, that's not categorically a bad thing.

[darylb]

People sure are trying to make money off of primal/paleo! Look at all the cookbooks, the "paleo" bars and stuff you can buy now, the supplement combos, the coconut water and etc etc etc in the stores. They'll try to make a buck off it, but every time they do, in my book it's not primal. I won't buy those things and I don't think anyone who's trying for a true primal lifestyle would.

I guess it all depends on what you perceive a "primal lifestyle" to be and what is physically possible. I think the idea of living in harmony with the environment and community are valid and worthy endeavors but the idea that we can trade all of our food with our neighbors and no one makes any money is really not physically possible for most. A move toward supporting local farmers is important and I'd love to see that happen but it may take some degree of commercialism for it gain enough popularity.

As it is now, if I mention Primal to anyone, they think it is a silly caveman diet. I have to follow up with it is about eating fresh, clean foods that agree with our genetic make up and moving or exercising in a natural way that keeps us fit. I have followed Mark mainly because he gives so much information away whereas some others make you buy the books to get the good stuff. But that doesnt mean I disagree with making a living from "primal" products or concepts. We all have to make a living and I'd rather see the people writing "paleo" cookbooks and making bars and suppliments etc. make the money. I think it further exposes and educates people in what is healthy. I'm sure it can be overdone and some will take advantage of the trend as it grows but anything that makes it easier and hopefully cheaper for me to find meat, poultry, and fish that is not full of hormones and antibiotics is ok with me.

I see the primal movement as a concept of learning to eat and exercise in a way that matches our genetic make up, and how to do it in the modern world. I dont really see it as reverting back to the past. Others take it much farther than I do and that is perfectly fine too. Whatever it takes to help us all live healthier and respect our natural resources is fine with me.