Fatty meats, such as bacon, T-bone steak, ground beef (15% fat), beef and pork ribs, chicken wings, certain cuts of lamb, and many processed meats, were not normal fare for paleolithic humans.
According to Cordain, in his book, "The Paleo Diet For Athletes," paleolithic people hunted wild (i.e., non-domesticated) animals whose body fat naturally waxed and waned with the seasons. For 7 months out of the year, wild animals' total body fat averaged less than 5%. Only in the fall and early winter were significant body fat stores present. And even then, those values were 1/2 to 2/3 less than modern feedlot produced steer. Indeed, almost all of the meat in the typical U.S. diet comes from grain-fattened animals that are slaughtered at peak body-fat percentage, regardless of the time of year.
But we all know paleolithic people favored the fattiest parts of animals, right? That's true, there is a lot of evidence for this. Stone-tool cut marks show us that they particularly relished the organs. However, the types of fat in these organs (e.g., tongue, brain, marrow) is healthful, whereas fatty domestic meats are high in "bad" (saturated) fat.
In light of this information, Cordain recommends eating only lean meats, such as sirloin steak, lean flank steak, skinless turkey and chicken breasts, lean pork, organ meats, seafood, and game meats.
Save the bacon, ribs, and other fatty meats for very special occasions, if you eat them at all.
this makes me sad... lol but i'm glad i know the truth. I will consider it a special occasion food.
ReplyDeleteIs duck a Paleo meat? I love duck and was thinking of making one next week. If yes, do you have a recipe? Best, Adel
ReplyDeleteGasp! It is! Do you have a favorite duck recipe you could share?
ReplyDeleteDuck is in general not a lean meat. Typically its fatty and greasy. Muscovy Duck is however a leaner meat and can be eaten on the paleo diet. Not sure where you can pick one up, maybe a health foods store? Whole Foods? I know you can order them through the link on the right "Mail Order Free Range and Grass Fed Meats". I'll look in to recipes!
ReplyDeletewhat about turkey bacon?
ReplyDeleteBacon is fine. There is nothing wrong with saturated fats,they are quite healthy.
ReplyDeleteI hate how there are so many conflicting articles on what is paleo and what isn't. I am a newbie and I am doing the best I can. Personally I can eat a lb of cooked bacon without blinking so I don't buy it. But if I do I just get the nitrate free kind
ReplyDeleteAimeeintx. Just eat natural food. Bacon is fine.
ReplyDeleteTell me why Saturated fat is bad again?
ReplyDeleteSo cave men would eat a pig but not the bacon part of the pig? They would eat a chicken, but not the wings and skin? And they would discard the fatty parts of lambs? I did not know that. What paleontologist made this brilliant discovery>
ReplyDeleteAccording to the Paleo Diet you are eating things that are only naturally occurring. All the food you mentioned as not paleo, is paleo. Just because a food is high in fat does not mean it is not paleo. By saying you want lean meat (reducing fat) you are going against paleo. Paleo diet is a no refined carb diet, NOT a low fat diet. Your body pulls energy from only 2 things; Carbs or fat. If you cut carbs, you need to keep fat. Animal fat, sat fat, is not bad. Trans fat, is. Eat the wings, eat the bacon BUT be aware of how your bacon was processed. Some bacon contains artificial flavoring. Get your bacon from a butcher and you should be fine.
ReplyDeleteThere is no bacon part of the pig, like a wing of a chicken. For bacon to be bacon it has to be cured using a salt mixture. As a result it also has a higher salt content than most foods. Not saying it can't be paleo or that you shouldn't eat it, but you can be pretty confident that cavemen didn't wait for the curing process to make bacon.
ReplyDeleteThis is kind of crazy. Heritage pigs and breeds closer to being wild and/or feral have an INCREASED amount of fat, especially in the belly. Yes, bacon has added sugar and salt but there are butchers who do very good recipes, including substituting sugar with honey and going low salt. Most farm fresh bacon is smoked but left uncured. There is nothing wrong with smoking meat, even if it happens to be fatty as hell. Not ideal or as nutrient dense but stay away from the nitrates and everyone will be ok...
ReplyDeleteRobb Wolf, who you say is THE MAN says that some of his favorite foods contain bacon. Im sorry but I'm giving up grains and bread and pasta. I will NOT give up bacon. :)
ReplyDelete