325: Dr. Kurt Harris Says PaNu Means Paleo Nutrition!

Written on January 14, 2010

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (27.2MB)

Hello and welcome back to The Livin’ La Vida Low-Carb Show with Jimmy Moore!

In today’s show, Jimmy speaks with MD, neuro radiologist and Paleo nutrition blogger, Dr. Kurt Harris.

Listen in to hear Jimmy and Dr. Harris discuss Gary Taubes, the PaNu diet and blog, the role of fruits and vegetables in a Paleolithic diet, the effects of remaining on a long-term Atkins Induction, veganism and much, MUCH more in today’s DON’T MISS episode!

ALSO: Please, if you have not already, make a cash donation in whatever amount you can afford to the International Red Cross for Haitian earthquake relief. The Red Cross can also accept $10 donations, charged to your cellphone bill, by texting HAITI to 90999.

LINKS MENTIONED IN EPISODE 325
- Dr. Kurt G. Harris bio
- PaNu blog
- What is PaNu?
- PaNu Twitter page

Advocacy, Atkins, Health Care Providers, Low-Carb Lifestyle, Paleo, Primal

25 Comments - Leave a comment!

April

Another fantastic interview! Dr. Harris probably comes off sounding harsh to some, but I appreciate a blunt approach.

I do agree with you, Jimmy, that those of us who had addictions to carbs just need substitutions for our favorites sometimes. But I also agree with Dr. Harris that people should not try to rely on these things- I know personally, I was starting to eat low-carb candies every night and then I realized I was just going back to the way I was! I have now since stopped eating them every day and maybe have one treat over the weekend. I found that my craving for something sweet every night started to diminish- something I never thought possible!
http://www.livinlavidalowcarb.com/blog Jimmy Moore

THANKS for your comments, April! Dr. Harris is certainly one of the good guys in this conversation.
John Speno

Great stuff. Thanks to Jimmy and Dr. Harris both.
Sue

Excellent. Thanks Dr Harris.
cust

Great stuff. Dr. Harris hits it out of the ballpark again. And also big thanks to you Jimmy, keep up the good work.
http://healthcorrelator.blogspot.com/ Ned Kock

Great interview, as usual. Thanks.

On a related note, I think that it is very healthy to eat fish whole, especially small fish.

You get all the nutrients you need, low carb., and small fish are pretty safe as far as toxic metals are concerned.

This post talks about smelts in particular, but sardines seem to be very good too:

http://healthcorrelator.blogspot.com/2010/01/eating-fish-whole-smelts.html
Peter Silverman

I wonder about pelican oil. I heard that that is the best
Peter Silverman

The research that I’ve read lately absolves saturated fat in causing heart disease but implicates it with breast cancer. Maybe it’s good for men and bad for women.
http://erikabell.com Erika

Great interview! I think his comment on trying to replicate high carb foodstuffs was good. I use to laugh at vegetarians buying fake meats but then found myself recreating desserts all the time. I didn’t gain any or much weight but once I stopped I started losing again.
I think low carb products such as sweeteners and flours should be used sparingly, for special occasions like birthdays and having company over.
I also like his insistance on eliminating plant oils.
I really like his approach to nutrition, it’s so undogmatic and practical.
Thanks Jimmy for having him on the show.
http://www.conditioningresearch.com Chris

Kurt is fantastic.

I haven’t been here for a while Jimmy. Hope you are doing Ok and best wishes to Christine for a speedy recovery. Kurt is saying I used to tell you – dump the imitations and just eat real food.
http://www.livinlavidalowcarb.com/blog Jimmy Moore

Great to hear from you, Chris! Sorry you’ve been away…have had some amazing interviews lately.
Florian

Fantastic Interview! I am waiting for more from Dr. Harris.
PWVEGAS

I would like to know if he includes Coconut Oil and Palm Oil in his list of plant oils to avoid. I personally experienced a dramatic beneficial impact on my health and general wellbeing after adding Coconut Oil to my nutrition program.
http://www.paleonu.com Kurt G Harris MD

I left an answer to your question on the blog comments.
Lisa Coker

Great interview. I love it when there’s too much fascinating info to cover in a time period.

The “candy cigarette” point really resonated with me. When my husband & I did South Beach & then Atkins about 6 years ago, I used all those substitutes – lots of whey protein for dessert-type things, Da Vinci oils, and alternative flour mixes.

Our eating just sort of evolved into having real food which turned out to be infinitely more satisfying and healthy than those substitutes. In our case, those “crutch” foods were a transitional part of our health journey.

Now, those things seem as unpalatable as Coke and Cheetos!

Thank you both for some stimulating food for thought.
http://castlegrok.com/ Grok

I agree with both Dr. Harris an Jimmy. I generally try and eat whole real foods and not bake/cook substitutes, but sometimes purely for psychological reasons I make paleo frankenfoods (pancakes & pizza ) to satisfy a craving. If i don’t, I’ll eat myself out of house and home trying to find satisfaction.

I’m a pretty strict lacto-paleo most of the time, so I don’t feel this is bad from time to time. However, this should be used with caution! I personally feel beginners should go straight for real food. It’s real easy to slip into the habit of eating substitutions or “paleo frankenfoods” as I like to call them. The next thing you know, you’ve completely slipped from your once healthy eating lifestyle.

My 10 helpful tips for those wanting to try a Panu or paleo diet.
http://castlegrok.com/becoming-a-caveperson/
Roger

Hi Jimmy,

Great interview. I was wondering, however, what you meant by your comment that 30-40% carbs isn’t the Atkins diet. (On the Atkins website, those are the exact numbers they suggest for maintenance, once weight loss has been achieved.)

http://www.atkins.com/Science/UnderstandingNutritionAndExercise/GoodCarbs.aspx

(Scroll to “how much do I need?”)

Back to the interview, I would love to have a dialogue between Harris and one of the more plant-based low-carbers like Dr. William Davis or Dr. Steven Gundry. Could be an interesting discussion. Keep up the great work.
Teri Fout

Great interview! I love Dr. Harris’ site. I’ve been a low carber for years but have been unable to lose weight eating 30-50 grams of carbs a day. I’m now staying 10-15 grams or less and the scale is moving again and I FEEL fantastic. Thanks for posting this interview and for all you do for the low carb community!
http://www.livinlavidalowcarb.com/blog Jimmy Moore

Hey Roger! 30-40% carbohydrates is NOT the written Atkins diet plan. Sure, for maintenance SOME people may be able to eat that many carb calories in a day, but most of us can’t. Around 10-15% of calories from carbohydrates maximum is where most of my fellow low-carbers fall and some even lower than that. I’d love to have a panel debate of sorts and have several ideas in mind. Making it happen will be another thing altogether.

THANK YOU for sharing Teri and for your support!
http://lovinitlowcarb.com Ramona Denton

Great interview, Jimmy!! I love the PaNu blog, and read it regularly. I really appreciate Kurt’s perspective on nutrition.
http://www.bthomson.com Brandon Thomson

Audio link to interview seems to be broken
Paul Lauren

Please fix the link! Thank you!
- http://www.livinlavidalowcarb.com/blog Jimmy Moore
  
  What’s wrong with this post, Paul?
Mathew

I think he’s referring to the mp3-file that’s missing when you click the link. The interview is also unavailable when you try to download it at itunes. Is there any chance of it getting added again?
Mary

Hey there Jimmy!

I found you again, via a new style of website! (I wrote to you several years ago with an “ode” to low carb called, “Awaken”.

-I just listend to this wonderful podcast and I truly think your recommendation that Dr. Harris should also share his research regarding the safety of saturated fat, because it does help to legitimize its safety further and further with more and more physicians saying it is “safe”.

While he realizes this fact and many others as “obvious”, I appreciate you pointing out the propeganda wheel for margarine within the mass media and how this can actually instill a total fear or at least, aversion to saturated fat. While it might be a “given” to many people who low carb, it is certainly not a given to the general public…we’re getting there, but certainly “Doctors United” by many voices will help. I truly hope he understood your point.

Keep on doing this Jimmy; you rock!

Your Canadian friend,
Mary Lee Fultz