• Welcome to Crohn's Forum, a support group for people with all forms of IBD. While this community is not a substitute for doctor's advice and we cannot treat or diagnose, we find being able to communicate with others who have IBD is invaluable as we navigate our struggles and celebrate our successes. We invite you to join us.

Can someone explain why potatoes are not Paleo?

I have seen debate about whether potatoes are or aren't Paleo. I am not paleo myself but the logic behind the diet makes sense to me on some levels. I am just wondering what people's issues may be with potatoes and root vegetables as I personally rely on them for calories and feel good on them.
 

PsychoJane

Moderator
I have not paid a lot of attention to that part of the paleo diet even though I did favorise plantain and sweet potatoes rather than white potatoes when I was doing my adaptation of it.

What I've seen is something about the saponine (but they are not only present in potatoes...). Otherwise... I would believe it has to do with their glycemic index being high.
 
Ahh, the ol' paleo potato debate.

Firstly,
There is no 'Paleo diet'
our ancestors would have eaten whatever they could find in hard times, even if it was toxic.
Tubers were always a very important source of nutrition, we produce amylase in our saliva to begin breaking down starches.

A large portion of the paleo world are (or were) terrified of carbs, but our understanding has improved a bit since the eighties.
The idea that we went from living in the forest eating leaves and animals straight to agriculture leaves out a few million years wandering the plains grubbing for tubers.
Even Rob Wolf has put potatoes back on the menu (with a couple of caveats)
http://robbwolf.com/2011/11/03/meat-potatoes-back-on-the-menu/

http://blog.paleohacks.com/white-potatoes-permitted-paleo-diet/
Several other experts, though, have revised their statements and now say that white potatoes aren’t bad, as long as you don’t have problems with nightshades and/or are not trying to manage your blood sugar or lose weight.

Tubers are paleo but potatoes may cause problems
There are a couple of studies about glycoalcaloids and crohn's
so caution is recommended...
It doesn't matter if it is paleo if it causes you problems
http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1097/00054725-200209000-00005/full
http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10620-010-1158-9#page-1
 
Top