NeanderThin: Eat Like a Caveman to Achieve a Lean, Strong, Healthy Body

This looks just like a pre-contest diet to me.

I question the basic premise that we should eat like cave men because we basically are cave men. I kept thinking of the ‘Clan of the Cave Bear’ books. The series is very detailed about what they ate. I know it is fiction but I believe the author researched what was probable for cave men to eat. Such as wild grains. Ayla, the main character would gather the seed heads of wild grains to thicken her stews. Another book, ‘Desert Flower’ is modern day non-fiction but these are Somalia desert nomads who frequently live exclusively off camels milk. Neanderthin forbids dairy and grains.

In the same week as having someone recommend ‘Neanderthin’, one of my friends said she had just read, show more ‘The Blood Type Diet’. Now I think this high-carb vegetarian trendy non-sense. But realize as I have blood type “A” according to this diet, since type A people appeared after hunters & gatherers settled down to farm, type A people are supposed to get their protein almost exclusively from plant sources. So within the space of a week someone told to me to eat ONLY grains and another told me to eat NO grains!

Neanderthin covers a nice history of dieting. Banting’s ‘Letter on Corpulence’ is mentioned and then the Kellogg spa/sanitarium.

Audette claims that the cause of modern day diseases are due to consumption of alien protein. Such as those in beans, dairy and grains. I have had some experience with this. My son did not tolerate cow’s milk until he was three. I know that infant formula has to be processed (the protein made smaller-I think) in order for babies to digest it. The only time my son had an ear infection was when he was on cow’s milk formula. Goat’s milk, which is closer in composition to human milk, he could tolerate.

So Audette postulates that these ‘alien’ proteins irritate our immune system to cause auto-immune diseases. Endometriosis was named as one of these, to my surprise. As far as I know Western medicine claims to know no cause or cure for this. Audette adopted the diet to help with his arthritis, which is an auto-immune disease.

Many other books trace modern day diseases (high blood pressure, high cholesterol, heart disease, diabetes) to over consumption of carbohydrates. We know the drill.

I didn’t find his argument against beans very strong. He said there is no science saying that consumption of beans, which must be cooked, causes harm.

Okay, the guidelines:
If it requires technology forget it. If you could obtain it with a sharp stick while you are naked on the savannah, fine. –I find this similar to Schwarbein’s ‘If you could hunt, fish, milk or harvest it’ - it’s okay.

So all eggs, animal flesh, vegetables that don’t need cooked, fruit (especially berries), seeds & nuts are okay. Peanuts (legumes) and cashews (have to be cooked) are forbidden. You’re supposed to eat as much of the allowed food as you want. ‘Buffet’ style plans usually get me into trouble.

I dunno there is scuttlebut that Audette doesn’t follow the diet, it is kinda strict. And I feel like I can better tolerate wheat and dairy IF I stay away from white sugar.

Personally, I don’t know if I should adopt something that allows me unlimited macadamia nuts. And I’m not sure it is wise to try to commit to not drinking coffee (beans) or eating ANY chocolate (beans again). I haven’t craved any in awhile but they have given me problems in the past. I feel like I should reserve the option to have these if I feel self medication with them is warranted. show less