Click for a slide set of a presentation by Alan Aragon given last month. The overall tone is anti-paleo. I file the link here for future reference.
One of his key points is that humans have been eating grains (and legumes) for much longer than many in the paleosphere think. That may indeed be true, but it’s difficult to imagine them eating them in the large and year-round quantities we do today. Same for industrial seed oils.
Also, Alan has no problem with our current high omega-6/omega-3 fatty acid ratio and overall omega-6 FA consumption. I think the jury’s still out on those.
Otherwise, Alan makes some good points and slays a few straw men.
I was surprised to see photos of Sisson and Wolf supplements.
h/t non-paleo Melissa McEwan
Paleo Diabetic 
I have downloaded Alan’s PDF as it summarises my own position on the Paleo Meme.
Industrial flours, industrial sugars, industrial 20th c. vegetable oils marketed via mass advertising are the culprits. It has arisen in the last 150 years. W A Price’s researches suggested that the problems of the Pima were replicated in other parts of the world and he was able to contrast “old foods” vs “new foods”.
Looks really well done, no?
Yes, it was pretty well done – just like Steve said: “makes some good points and slays a few straw men.” But I don’t know why he kept on about the deadly nightshade potatoes being forbidden on Paleo, especially since the big Paleo studies he cited by Lindeberg specifically included them in “his” Paleo diets (ie, http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17583796 & http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19604407). Also, somewhat of a nitpick, but Aragon’s n6/n3 ratio of coconut oil is entirely misleading (3923:1? really?).
all best,
Bill
Actually, Alan underestimated the ratio. It’s probably more like 10,000:1 because there’s no O3 in CO. From this source: http://nutritiondata.self.com/facts/fats-and-oils/508/2
Regarding nightshades and such, remember, these were slides for a presentation and there was probably some banter mixed in there. I’m sure you’ve encountered the faction of paleo that eschews nightshades.
Most people practicing paleo are not following the Lindeberg style paleo diet. There were no oils or butter used on those diets.
Many carb enthusiasts will change their tune as they age.
LOL @ the title of this post. “Jumps On the Anti-Paleo Bandwagon”? I’ve been openly criticizing Paleo since 2003 on forums, since 2007 in my book, and 2009 in my research review (& annually at the Fitness Summit since then). This PPT presentation just happens to be from a 2013 conference for the NSCA.
Hi, Alan. Thanks for commenting. I didn’t know your history with the paleo diet. I’ve spent several hours at your blog over the last few years, and remember it mostly for the great exercise information.
-Steve
Alan Aragon built the anti-paleo bandwagon.
Alan said it best. If you read his Research reviews you would have already know this. Faileo.
Stop building bandwagons and jumping on them Alan. Bandwagons should be ridden, not jumped on. And by the way. Cavemen did not have bandwagons.
You make it sound like this is something new for Alan Aragon. Not the case he has been challenging the assumptions and supposed science behind the paleo diet for a long time. Indeed, his research review article in December 2009 was a good and detailed critique of paleo. This is not a bandwagon for him.
Alan is anti-dogma. Paleo just happens to fit that.
Bandwagons are so not paleo.
I clicked on your link to the Alan Aragon presentation and I am shocked! So I’d like to say thank you very much. This presentation is very informative. I wasn’t sure if I was the only one who notices the dogma, food fears and misrepresentation so common within Paleo dieters, but this has clarified some very important points for me. Kudos Mr Aragon! This is a fantastic, science-based presentation exposing some of the wild nonsensical claims by Paleo dieters. Thank you so much for the link blogger guy!
Hello, Antonio. I try to keep an open mind and look at all sides of an issue.
-Steve
Please do not post my previous comment. Thanks.
Shao, I just approved and posted it, but will go back and delete. (I hope you’re referring to that novella, cuz that’s what’s now gone forever.)
-Steve