Low Carb diet vs Paleo diet

[fen]

Okay, this may seem nitpicky and silly, but after reading Mike's blog and how he gets annoyed that Protein Power doesn't get mentioned with other low carb diets.. well, I think this:

Calling a diet 'low-carb' 'low-fat' or w/e, while it may in fact contain a low amount of carbs, overall I think anything with 'low' produces a negative connotation because the diet itself basis off of a negative conotation (carbs are bad!) rather than a positive one (like PP makes a positive statement) which is why I think PP better represents a Paleo diet than a 'low carb' (because when I think of low carb I think of fad) and when I think of paleo, the way humans ate for 99% of our history and the time we had the best overall health before the onset of grain agriculture.. so I construe Paleo with a positive rather than a negative. Also, when one goes from simply 'low-carb diet' to 'Paleo diet' it opens a whole new world of looking at all the other lifestyle ways in which humans used to live and enjoy.

oh yeah, it also makes the basis of the diet go from a fad idea, to one based on human evolution, history, and anthropology, rather than todays correlation = causation fallacy diets. (People are overweight because they wear large belts--best analogy ever)

Just my two cents. Any thoughts?

[maxlharris]

Really, you're talking about framing.
If I told you there was a pre-agriculture diet, most people would be against. But paleo rings (even though it's generally a poor description... paleos probably didn't shop at the super market, didn't eat cheese, yogurt or much dairy, and ate organs first, muscles last... etc etc).

But, in terms of Low-X vs X is good: High Fat diet is not a good framing. High Protein diet has generally lost the framing battle as well.

But, this is all marketing and psychology. Paleo, Ketogenic, low carb, high fat, controlled carb, high protein, adequate protein, pre agriculture. It's all the same stuff. Just different brands.

[Belfrybat]

I understood Dr. Mike was talking about the fact that when ANY low carb diet is mentioned positively, PP isn't listed. However, the Zone is, which is definitely not low carb. But when low carb diets are mentioned negatively, PP makes the list. The only way I can see PP as the same as Paleo is if someone is a Purist, and most of us are not in that we do consume dairy, even the Eades.

[fen]

I guess I was talking of more the basis and structure behind it than what people actually do. The diet 'does' have that in there though.

[laughingW]

Does have "what" in there? I'm getting confused.

Brigit I do believe Zone can legitimately be called low carb just because it's lower than the Pyramid.

I have such sympathy for Dr. Eades. Speaking of Max and marketing, I also think PP doesn't have as good an "elevator story." You know, the one where you give the gist of a thing in the time you share an elevator with someone.

Oh! Atkins! meat and fat and no carbs!

Oh! South Beach! that's the one with good fats and smart carbs (blech)

Oh! Paleo! no grains or dairy

Oh! Protein Power! protein for your size and activity, carbs 10 per meal, you choose your food sources among dilettante, hedonist, and paleo (dislike the negativity of "purist")

[Omlette]

Does have "what" in there? I'm getting confused.

Brigit I do believe Zone can legitimately be called low carb just because it's lower than the Pyramid.

I have such sympathy for Dr. Eades. Speaking of Max and marketing, I also think PP doesn't have as good an "elevator story." You know, the one where you give the gist of a thing in the time you share an elevator with someone.

Oh! Atkins! meat and fat and no carbs!

Oh! South Beach! that's the one with good fats and smart carbs (blech)

Oh! Paleo! no grains or dairy

Oh! Protein Power! protein for your size and activity, carbs 10 per meal, you choose your food sources among dilettante, hedonist, and paleo (dislike the negativity of "purist")

I tell people - adequate protein, wholesome fibrous veggies, and fats. Get the book and go to the website.

[maxlharris]

So, ten second handshake on PP.
Basically Atkins with fewer restrictions.

It's not the most brilliant marketing in the history of marketing.