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I absolutely love helping people find answers to their food and health questions. The only problem is that there are so many of you I can’t keep up.
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Cheers,
Darya
1,842 responses so far
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I’m curious how often you eat non-intact grains (couscous, bulgur, etc) and how often do you eat refined grains?
Couscous is really just pasta, and I don’t eat it too often. I eat muesli (rolled oats, barley, etc.) almost daily. I eat a small piece of real bread maybe once or twice a week. I occasionally eat rice (brown or white) and farro as well.
Darya,
What’s your opinion and recommendation on diversity of diet.
I read that people should eat 23 different foods per day (no basis). I also heard that one should never eat the same things every so as to confuse the body….
How much different foods one should eat per day or per week.
I think the more diversity the better, but I don’t think there is a solid scientific number to aim for. I’ve found it’s a lot easier to eat diversely in the summer. Try to eats lots of different colors, and always something green.
A really quick question, I hope. Livestrong.com is telling me to eat ~1700 calories to lose weight (6″ male, 235 pounds down from 267.) Since I’ve lost 32 pounds following their advice, I sort of trust it, but lots of places online say men need a minimum of 1800 calories a day?
You will definitely lose weight eating that little. Just to give you a rough idea I am 5’5″ (small, active female) and I eat about 2200 a day to maintain my weight. 1700 is my basal metabolic rate (how much I burn if sitting all day—I had this measured in a lab).
Honestly I’m not a big fan of calorie counting, but watching your portions is a good idea for weight loss. My guess though is you could eat a lot more and still lose weight. Try to eat lots of vegetables and whole foods.
http://summertomato.com/why-i-dont-post-calorie-counts-on-my-recipes/
How can nutrient timing and exercise be tailored or persons who wish to lose weight?
This article had me pondering:
http://www.unm.edu/~lkravitz/Article%20folder/nutrientUNM.html
Probably, but it sounds to me like a lot of unnecessary extra work.
Hi Darya 🙂
Firstly, I love your site and what you do. Very inspirational! I’m 19 and just starting to live a healthier lifestyle. I want to cut out wheat and sugar from my diet, but since they seem to be so normalized in society today, I fear that I will be criticized by my friends and other people, especially in social situations in general. Has this ever crossed your mind? Do you ever get criticized? I was just wondering how I can handle this?
This is a very common issue. Start here: http://summertomato.com/how-to-eat-healthy-without-being-a-buzzkill/
This is not a question so much as a comment that I don’t know where else to put: I recently found this article which is a tour of a Frito Lay factory. The amount of food-BS in this is appalling… trying to frame Lay’s potato chips and Funyuns as “Healthier than you think!”
http://gothamist.com/2012/08/21/photos_inside_frito-lays_connecticu.php#photo-7
Amazing!
Thanks a lot for all the useful information blog! I was wondering what are some foods that you would recommend to someone with acid reflux problems.
This is good advice: http://nutritiondiva.quickanddirtytips.com/reflux.aspx
Hi Darya!
I’ve been reading up on how occasionally going on a fast of only water and green tea for 24 hrs can help detox your system. Any thoughts on this?
Thanks,
Caitlin
Detox isn’t the reason this might be healthful. Calorie restriction and intermittent fasting may be, however: http://summertomato.com/can-you-live-longer-by-cutting-calories/
Thanks for the info. I’ve also heard about eating only raw fruits and veggies for a day to give your system a break. Does that have any health merits?
Hi Darya I moved away from healthy eating and gained 10 pounds. I was wondering if you could refer to any of your posts that will help me get back on track? I am really disappointed at my weight:(
Here you go: http://summertomato.com/health-recalibration/
Hi Darya,
Have you ever done a post where you tracked your eating for a day or a week? I think it would be really cool to see what you actually eat.
Just a thought.
For months I tweeted everything I ate via FoodFeed, but that was years ago. I am working on something closer to what you’re asking for now, but you guys won’t see it for awhile. In the meantime you can check out this:
http://summertomato.com/summer-tomato-live-episode-2-daryas-healthstyle/
Daria,
Do you have a recommendation for a good heart rate monitor? I was hoping the fitbit perhaps did that too but looks like no such luck.
Thanks,
Cecily
I don’t have any experience with them, sorry.
Hi Darya,
What do you think about the claim that eating taro leaves with foods with calcium causing kidney stones ?
I read on a site that:
Taro Leaves are large, elephant ear-shaped, and dark green. Primarily found in Filipino and Southeast Asian dishes. The leaves contain oxalic acid and should not be eaten with milk or other foods rich in calcium as this causes your body to produce calcium oxalate, which causes kidney stones. In the Philippines, taro leaves are stewed in coconut milk with fish to make a dish called laing. In Pakistan and North India, the leaves are rolled in batter, fried, and spiced. In South India, the leaves are steamed and pickled….
Why are your thoughts?
It’s something I eat at least once per month … Delicious with baked Mac and cheese….
I’ve heard about that possibility with oxalic acid, but I’m not sure how great the risk really is for taro leaves. It doesn’t sound like you’re eating that much though. Generally you need to eat a lot (multiple times a day) for real food to cause serious problems like that. If you’re prone to kidney stones, you may want to be more careful.
Thnx!
I’ve read a number of conflicting reports about whether drinking tea (particularly green tea) is harmful or beneficial to those with hypothyroidism. What is your opinion?
Hi, Darya! I’m curious to hear your thoughts on the report on rice and arsenic, as published in Consumer Reports. (Sad face, I love brown rice.)
Hello i am a college student attending the university of alabama and am trying to eat as healthy as possible. I was wonder what your best tips for college students were…. lE such as what foods to eat and simple easy things to prepare bc i am in college and don’t have the most time to cook. I am a golfer so also foods conducive to athletes would be helpful!! and tell kevin to do some more diggnations, all the fans are mising him and alex!
thanks!
Most of the tips here are geared toward college students, since I was one for so long. Basically I recommend cooking bulk foods (beans, grains, etc.) in large batches to use over the week to save time and money. Supplement with fresh veggies, fruits, nuts, eggs, fish and meat to make healthy, filling meals.
Hi,
I read your diet history and it resonated alot with me. Right now, im still going through diets n diets even after abt 10 years. I used to have issues with binge eating and still does it on and off. Recently, i read alot abt the dukan diet and was tempted to start, but was never able to do it becoz i love veg too much. Also, in order to eat cheaply and cook conveniently, i turned to asian vegetarian supplies which are made of wheat gluten and soy products. Although i love them im not sure how healthy are they. What’s your take?
Cheers,
I’m not a big fan of the highly processed Asian foods, mainly because they’re so processed. Look at the ingredients to tell what’s in them.
I’ve seen you mention several times that whole grains are hard to come by. I’m not sure why you think that? I realize I live in a diverse area, but I’ve never had any problems finding whole grains, except maybe decent bread. Can you explain?
Love your website. I’m new to it and am still exploring.
I mean in restaurants and such. If you buy them and cook them yourself it’s not so difficult.
I’m asked to vote on the genetically modified food issue this election, but don’t feel I’m informed enough to make a logical choice. Any advise on where to start?
I’m planning a post regarding Prop 37 on Monday. Stay tuned 🙂
Do you still have your online live classroom?
I haven’t done it for awhile but may pick it up again when I’m less busy. Maybe at the beginning of the year.
How are you getting calcium in your diet other than dairy products ? Apparently tahini paste has calcium but it also has oxalate content which inhibits calcium absorption. [1] I know about vitamin D but since I follow a vegan diet I don’t know where can I get calcium which gets absorbed properly in the diet.
[1] http://www.ohf.org/docs/Oxalate2008.pdf
If you’re eating a varied diet with lots of leafy greens and legumes, you should be able to get adequate calcium. They usually test for it when you get your blood work done, so you can check then. If it’s low, supplements are reasonable given your dietary constraints.
Hi, Darya! Here’s one idea for a future post: In anticipation of periods of time when there is a power outage, how to prepare and stock up your kitchen and still eat healthy meals. =] Hope everyone affected by Sandy is doing okay..!
Darya,
Do you ever bake or eat casserole type dishes? (Mac&cheese, scalloped potatoes etc. ).
Is once per week too often to eat that type of food? Or should I leave it for once a year like thanksgiving or Christmas.
I don’t eat them, but that’s largely because I don’t like them. How often you can eat them depends on your goals. Trying to lose weight? Having trouble losing weight? Cut back. At your goal weight and maintaining fine without issue? Once a week is totally fine, but I’d be sure to use very good ingredients in that case (i.e. no fake cheese).
My indulgence of choice is usually a burger, which I have once a month or so without a problem.
🙂
Hi Darya,
I’m a vegetarian but I’ve also reduced my intake of wheat, dairy and sugar significantly. I’m going away with friends for about three days soon and I know those three days are going to be filled with wheat, sugar and heaps of dairy products which the others eat regularly.
(Also a bit nervous that if I tell them what I’ve reduced they’ll judge me and think I have an eating disorder or something).
Any suggestions?
A few things to remember:
1) A little indulgence for a few days won’t kill you. Don’t feel you have to be strict unless you want to.
2) Most people won’t notice what you are/aren’t eating unless you point it out yourself. If everyone is eating the same thing, serve yourself some and eat how much/little you want.
3) Browse my “psychology” tag for more tips 🙂
I read your Tips To Keep Produce Fresh. I agree with your approach. Just want to let you know that there are innovative bags available that can keep vegetable fresh for 2+ weeks and fruits fresh for 3+ weeks. Since your are a scientist, you can take advantage of it. No need to shop every week. Keep the veggie fresh! Thanks
Hi, Darya! I have never cooked/eaten the following grains: millet, amaranth, or buckwheat. Before I explore such things, I thought I would ask if you have any thoughts on these grains, in terms of taste and/or nutritional value.
Embarrassingly, I haven’t tried them either. But in general, diversity is good and natural, unprocessed foods are also good. Don’t fall victim to nutritionism.
I’m not going to lie: I am totally a victim of nutritionism! Not the worst vice in the world, but I’m working on trying to be healthy in happy, relaxed and peaceful way. =]
From what I have read on your website, you agree with the GAPS diet, why don’t you, and every scientist, promote it?
Haven’t heard of it.
I never hear of it either but did a little google and got turned off right away. To complex and gimmicky for my taste. I like the simple eat healthy whole foods (farmer market and organic if I can) approach, exercise, and moderation in all else. Not trying to speaking for Darya here but I go to her sites daily and she is right on for me!
Hi Darya,
I know you’re a big advocate for breakfast, but apart from possibly making you more susceptible to cravings later, is there anything truly detrimental about not eating breakfast?
I usually have a cup of decaf coffee or tea with a fair amount of skim milk and a teaspoon or so of sugar because I’m not hungry in the mornings and don’t really like the idea of forcing myself to eat if I’m not hungry. Should I be really trying to eat something instead?
Thanks!
Caitlin
No one can tell you what works for you. If weight isn’t a problem there’s no inherent danger of skipping breakfast. Curious why you aren’t hungry in the morning though, eating too large dinner? Too late at night? Dehydration? If all else is perfect, don’t worry about it. If you’re struggling with other things that seem unrelated, it might be worth reexamining.
So thanks to Darya, I’m making turkey soup in my brand new pressure cooker. I really liked your review over at Joyus, and am thrilled that the Fagor isn’t like my grandma’s old rickety one. Hoping you’ll post some bean cooking instructions as I have some from Rancho Gordo I’d like to try!
It’s super easy. Just soak the beans until the skins become smooth (they wrinkle first), about 6 hrs or overnight. Then just rinse them and add to pressure cooker with at least 3x water and some bouillon (I like beef). Start timer after steam starts coming out fast (lower heat so stream is steady and not spurting), 12 min is usually the money ticket for Rancho Gordo. Then remove from heat and wait until it depressurizes. Enjoy!
http://summertomato.com/beans-under-pressure/
Thanks! I’ll probably make a batch for next week.
Pressure cooker worked great for making soup from thanksgiving leftovers!
Beans are cooking away (scarlet runner)! Another quick question- do you store your bean in the cooked liquid or strain them before refrigerating? Thanks again!
Store in the cooking liquid, enough to cover.
You mention something in your “10 things I never buy in the grocery store” about not being convinced that classic, plain yogurt is very good for your health. Could you please explain what you mean? Yogurt is the basis for some of the most healthy diets on the planet – Armenian, Georgian, Balkan, South Indian. Thank you.
My problem is with industrial dairy cows. I make my own plain yogurt at home from non-homogenized grass-fed milk.
Hi Darya,
I stumbled across your website recently and just love it! 🙂 It has been timely for me with recent lifestyle changes. I began working out a year ago, quit smoking 7 months ago, and now I’m working on healthier food habits. On that note …
What info did you keep in your food journals when you kept them? I’d like to start keeping one myself and wondered if I should take the time to measure my food or not. (“1 cup yogurt, 1/2 cup blueberries, 5 walnuts” vs. “bowl of yogurt w/ blueberries & walnuts”) Also, did you put the time each meal was eaten, how hungry you felt, or any other information? Basically, how detailed do I need to be?
I’m very grateful to have found your site, because it has been so inspirational and informative. Thanks so much! 🙂
If you’re new to volumes and portions, I do recommend measuring for a few weeks. Most people have no idea how much food they eat, or what a single portion is supposed to look like. Eventually it will come naturally, but recording helps at first. As much info you write down the better, since it helps increase mindfulness. When you review your journal later, detailed notes help you recognize patterns and habits. I also think time is good to note, as well as feelings of hunger, satisfaction, etc.
what are your thought on the program ” PrimalBurn”?
I don’t know that specific program, but in general I like primal/paleo, but think you can have just as good results while being less stringent.
http://summertomato.com/is-it-healthier-to-eat-like-a-caveman/
Hey Darya, two questions:
I have a (new) Nike FuelBand and a FitBit. Since you’ve used both as well, do you notice a serious difference in step count? The Nike had me at 884 this morning after getting to work, but the FitBit had me at 1073. I should also mention that I didn’t put the FitBit on until after I got dressed this morning, but wore the Nike to sleep (so there were a couple of bathroom trips on the Nike that the FitBit didn’t know about). Just trying to determine if my Nike isn’t performing up to snuff.
Secondly, with making your own yogurt- something I’m inclined to do to avoid all the sugars in most commercial yogurt- do you ever use raw milk? And do you have a tough time finding cultures? (Probably easier for you in SFO than me in PA)
In my experience the Fitbit was more accurate, but I haven’t used the Nike Fuelband in awhile so they may have fixed some bugs. I used a treadmill as a third distance check.
Personally I don’t trust raw milk, though I believe a lot of the arguments behind why it would be better if not contaminated. I use Straus milk, which is pasture-raised and non-homogenized, though flash pasteurized for safety.
What are your thoughts on Tim Ferris slow carb diet?
I talked about it for an hour once:
http://summertomato.com/summer-tomato-live-episode-1-the-four-hour-body-video/
Hi, Darya! Great site!!! 🙂
I have a question: what salt do you use? What kind do you consider healthiest, if there is a difference at all? (sea, kosher, iodised, celtic, anything esle)? Thank you very much!
I have a ton of salt. I usually just use sea salt for cooking (I like the thick stuff and grind it onto food), and sometimes Kosher. I have special salts for fancy dishes. I use plain iodized table salt that I use for soups, boiling things, etc. Iodine is important.
Hi Darya!
I hope that this is just a misprint. The contents on a package of strawberry licorice swirls lists: “Partially Hydrogenated Oils (Beeswax, Carnauba Wax)” Beeswax and carnauba wax are not partially hydrogenated oils, are they? I’m under the impression that they’re not harmful.
Michael Muccino
It’s sort of strange to think of strawberry licorice swirls as harmless, but regardless the waxes do appear to be produced by hydrogenation: http://www.globalwax.net/products.htm
I’m not sure if that means they act like Crisco in the body or not. The few studies that have been done don’t seem to point to any major harm in mammals:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/6681798
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/6681797
Personally I’d be more worried about the sugar. So long as you aren’t eating them by the handful, the damage is likely to be minimal in the context of an otherwise healthy diet.
Darya do you there is a sweet spot of macronutrient ratios for optimal body response e.g weight loss?
It’s different for everybody, and in my experience it depends more on the quality of food.
Hi Darya,
I was just wondering if alcohol (which I’ve heard gets broken down into sugars) has the same neurological impact on the brain as table sugar. I wouldn’t call a glass of wine sweet in the same way I would call a piece of cheesecake sweet. I’m trying to avoid sugar because I do believe it is fairly toxic and addictive, but with New Years fast approaching, I’m wondering whether having 2-5 beers or a few glasses of champagne will have me craving sweet things like cake, candy etc. I don’t care so much about what happens when alcohol is being digested…just about what’s going on in the brain w. dopamine, serotonin etc.
Thanks!
Caitlin
I’d have to do a bunch of research to answer this question well, but I know alcohol activates dopamine (aka addiction) pathways. I drink regularly and haven’t found that it makes me crave sweets. Sorry this isn’t a great answer :/
Hi Darya,
I’m just wondering what you would eat in place of bread if you’re having something like eggs. I prefer the savory breakfast foods, but can’t really think of a good carb that goes with them.
Thanks!
Caitlin
I do lentils with eggs all the time 🙂
Hi Darya,
I want to cook simple, healthy meals in my work studio, where there is no stove/ kitchen. Wondering if you can recommend a simple equipment setup to cook grains, beans etc? I’m considering pressure cooker plus induction cooktop or rice cooker (which I read you don’t recommend) or…?
Thanks,
Mel
Hmmm. The induction cooker sounds like a good call. I think I’d start with just a regular pot before going pressure cooker. Pressure cookers can be intense.
Hi Darya
Im Australian, and i was looking at your recommended book list. A lot of them seem america specific. Which do you think would be most relevant to me?
Im interested in reading about the science behind health, weightloss and food.
Thanks. Love your site.
In Defense of Food and Eat, Drink and Be Healthy are generalizable.
Hello, Darya. It’s been a year since I started eating a whole foods diet. I avoid all processed foods and gluten. I’m still playing around with the macronutrient ratio since I still have some weight to lose. Lately I’ve been eating less whole grains and beans, but more sweet potatoes and even small servings of white potatoes for carbs. I sometimes eat lentils on my salads and occassionally indulge in organic popcorn made on the stove with coconut oil. I eat lots of veggies, moderate protien from eggs, fish, or grass-fed/pastured animals, a small amount of dairy, mainly from raw milk hard cheeses, and a couple of servings of fruit per day. I try to incorporate bone broth and occassional servings of liver for vitamins and minerals, but lately I’ve been a little woried about deficiencies. Within the last couple of months I’ve experienced occassional constipation, chronic muscle pain in my upper arms, anxiety, and fatigue. When I looked up my symptoms online, they all pointed to a magnesium deficiency. I want to supplement with 250 mg of chelated magnesium, but am not sure if that is a safe therapuetic dose. Do you have any advice or recommendations?
I can’t give specific medical recommendations. That said, you might try incorporating more magnesium rich foods, like nuts and shell fish.
Oh, and moderate amounts of fat, from olive oil, coconut oil, and butter.
At my office we have “Training Fridays” in which the company brings in lunch so we can have an hour to train in our prospective fields.
I’m in charge of ordering lunch, which usually boils down to pizza with large side salads. We have both a peanut and a shellfish allergy in our office, and we live in a small city where restaurants are limited.
What do you suggest as a healthy alternative for ordering in?
I use grocery or health food stores often. Alternatively, smaller local delis can sometimes have people behind them who really care.
I watched the video on Fructose that you suggest on your sight. Not I’m confused. He mentions fructose and sucrose several times and usually it seems that he is talking about HFC. Is all sugar bad? Fruits too. He specifically mentions fruit juice as being bad.
Then he mentions glucose as being good. The one form of sugar you can’t get in a store.
?????
From my understanding, all sugar is something you want to watch, especially in a purified form (ie white sugar or processed food vs fruit) because there’s no/very little fiber to slow down the absorption of the sugar, which is bad for insulin sensitivity (and contributes to weight gain and a whole bunch of problems). Not to mention the chemicals from processing.
Fruit juice is also not great because you’re taking away the fiber (and some vitamins possibly) that are found in the fruit and that help prevent your blood sugar from spiking. And 8 oz of fruit juice is more than one or two pieces of fruit, and that’s a lot of calories (that are all sugar and contain no fiber).
Fructose vs glucose: I want to point you to this video. I’m not sure if it’s accurate, but it’s a talk by a physican.
Basically, what he says is fructose and glucose are processed differently by the body: glucose, as the universal sugar used by all living things, is used by every cell in the body. Fructose, on the other hand, has to be (or is mostly) processed by the liver, making the liver work harder and potentially activating signaling pathways (JNK for one) that can cause liver cell death. (He’s talking about lots of fructose consumption mind you, like a couple sodas a day.)
Wikipedia has an explanation of how the biochemistry works but it’s heavy for someone who isn’t familiar with sugar metabolism.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fructose#Fructose_metabolism
So, in summary, sugar is not bad per se, but should be eaten in moderation like everything else, and should be eaten in the form it naturally occurs (fruits and veggies) because that way you have automatic portion control, and the fiber (and possibly other properties of the fruit/veggie) helps your body utilize the sugar in the most efficient and productive way possible. Glucose and fructose are processed a little differently by the body, and importantly, fructose is not regulated by insulin, so it has a different effect on hunger.
Hi Patrick,
Glucose is technically a sugar, but it isn’t sweet like sucrose (half glucose, half fructose) or fructose alone (the sweetest). Glucose is what starches like rice and bread break down to in your body.
All sugars are bad in large doses (even glucose). Fruit juice isn’t ideal because it is a concentrated source of fructose (about 6-7 oranges per small glass of juice). We are adapted to eat much smaller doses. For instance, 200 years ago people ate about 6 pounds of added sugar a year. Now we eat around 200 pounds. That’s the problem.
So you don’t have to avoid sugar completely. But when possible keep concentrated doses (like desserts, juices, sodas, etc.) to small, infrequent occasions.
JM-
Thanks for your insight, but please refrain from answering questions for me on this thread. You posted the same video that made Patrick confused in the first place 🙂
oops, I didn’t realize that. I apologize!
Hi, where can I buy white pomegranate? Thanks
Hi Darya,
I stumbled onto your website last week and I am really enjoying it. I’m not sure if this is a quick question, if not then I understand. I have heard some (mostly anecdotal) things about microwaving food being harmful. I’ve heard it causes proteins to cross-link and denature (which cooking does anyway), degrade vitamins, etc. From what I understand all microwaving does is make the water molecules vibrate and generate heat, thereby warming up food, but I don’t have enough biochemistry, physics, or chemistry knowledge to really know. What do you think?
You’re in luck! I wrote this bad boy last year: https://blog.zocdoc.com/is-a-microwave-dangerous-fact-vs-myth/
Good to know! thank you!
Dear Darya:
Three months ago I had a Lipid Profile (Cholesterol) Test done. Yikes! I went Vegan (with some salmon, fish, turkey), plus exercise. My new results for Total, LDL, Triglicerides are about half (and “normal”) of the previous test. However my HDL didn’t move much. Partly, it is not exercising (I had an operation). I’m adding orange juice, cranberry juice, and cocoa to my diet. Any other suggestions?
Hi Craig,
I agree with Mary in that sugar is more likely to keep HDL low than raise it. I also agree that the reasons vegans have better blood numbers is because they eat less junk food, not because they don’t eat meat. In fact, low-fat diets are not healthier for the heart than diets with saturated fat in them. While saturated fat will raise LDL somewhat (how much depends on your genetics), it also raises HDL and doesn’t usually negatively impact the ratio.
Fat is necessary to raise HDL. To raise it without increasing LDL, focus on omega-3 fatty acids in fish, and things like olive oil, avocados, nuts and seeds. Coconut oil and grass fed meat fats are good too. Exercise and alcohol help as well.
Also, as a reference point, I eat meat regularly, consume lots of (pastured) eggs, exercise frequently, and eat very little sugar or refined grains. My HDL is in the 90s and LDL in 60s (tested last month).
Here’s some reading:
http://summertomato.com/how-to-raise-your-hdl-cholesterol/
http://summertomato.com/office-hours-sugar-toxicity-the-latest-on-saturated-fat-heart-disease-video/
Vegan, except with fish, turkey, etc.? That made me lol. Why do you think drinking sweet drinks will raise your HDL? I’ve read recently that increasing healthy saturated fats like coconut oil and grass-fed butter can help.
Dear Mary:
I will admit to being more “Vague” than Vegan, but the point is that Vegans do (usually) have “good” Lipid numbers.
I’ll check out coconut and grass fed butter. I do believe that eggs from chickens on the lose, are very different from “Industrial” chickens, so the grass fed butter may be likewise.
Oh, and I do mean “lose” because every time chickens are on the loose, they hide their nests, which means hidden eggs, which means; you lose!
🙂 I’ve been eating a paleo-esque diet for months now. My numbers have always been low (triglycerides, HDL and LDL), so I’m eager to see if there is a change. I’ll get a full work up in March and report back. I think anytime you cut the junk out of your diet–whether by going vegan or primal–your numbers are bound to improve. And yeah, I stay away from industrially raised animal foods, for health and ethical reasons.
WOW! Those are impressive numbers! Alcohol helps increase HDL? Awesome.