Primal vs. Low Fat Raw: Give Up the Grains?
I recently criticized Mark Sisson’s primal diet, the low carb, high fat diet that he defended during Kevin Gianni’s Great Health Debate. I thought that was everything I had to say, but it seems there’s one more point that I really want to address.
And it actually has to do with a similarity between the two diets that we promote.
Give Up the Grain
One of Mark’s major problems with the typical high carb diets is that they rely too heavily on grains. According to Mark, “there is absolutely no reason to eat grains”. This includes wheat, oats, rice, barley, and buckwheat, among others.
But this critique doesn’t apply at all to a low fat raw vegan diet. Why?
Because grains are not included as part of an optimal low fat raw vegan diet. As Mark has pointed out, grains are full of insoluble fiber, low in vitamins and minerals, and contain toxic anti-nutrients such as gluten and lectin.
Grains also must be processed in order to be consumed, are acid-forming in the body and many of them (as well as other complex carbs like sweet potato) rank medium to high on the glycemic load scale and contain addictive opioids.
Get on the Fruit Train
Instead, a low fat raw vegan diet is predominated by fruit, including but not limited to bananas, oranges, grapes, mangoes, pineapple, peaches, jakfruit, cantaloupe, and strawberries.
Fruit is full of soluble fiber, rich in vital vitamins and minerals, very low in toxins, can (and should) be eaten in its raw state, is alkaline-forming (even “acidic” citrus fruit), is not high-glycemic, and contains no addictive substances.
Okay, I’m not so sure about that last one. I have quite a hard time resisting (read: cannot ever say no to) a perfectly ripe peach or heirloom summer tomato. 
Go raw and be fit,
Swayze
P.S. Have you heard about my raw food friend and mentor Frederic Patenaude’s latest release, Raw Food Controversies? It’s a book all about Frederic’s own personal journey with raw foods over the past 10+ years.
I’ve learned a little bit over the years about Frederic’s experience with the mainstream raw food diet, but nothing as in-depth, personal, or eye-opening as the information he divulges in this book:
Raw Food Controversies
How to Avoid Common Mistakes That May Sabotage Your Health
You’ll learn exactly what happened to Frederic while he followed a high-fat raw food diet, what it took to turn his health around, and exactly why he promotes the low fat raw vegan diet today.
You can learn more about the book and bonuses and purchase your copy here:
I’ll have my own review out for Raw Food Controversies early next week so stay tuned for that! 
12 comments
Thanks for posting another comment about Mark’s dietary thoughts. I am only half way through the book and wanted to comment on your last post but wanted to get a bit further through the book before I did. I’m actually impressed by a lot of what Mark has to say. Sure, he may have it wrong about some points but I think there’s enough (for me anyway) where he has got it right. Mark refers to fruits and vegetables as the staples of the Blueprint and I can’t fault him on that!
I’ve temporarily abandoned Raw Vegan and have fallen back to almost the Primal Blueprint (I’ll know how close when I finish the book). It has worked before for me. I struggled in trying to be Raw Vegan for three years. I do hope to migrate back towards Raw Vegan after getting myself in order and away from grains (again).
Thanks for this update, keep up the good work
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Swayze Reply:
February 18th, 2011 at 9:23 AM
I agree with much of what Mark says too (I haven’t read his book, but I do skim his articles from time to time), such as his abhorrence of grains and refined sweets. However, his love of meat and fat just makes absolutely no sense. If he wants to eat like our ancestors, he needs to limit the meat, up the fruit and greens, and get rid of the salt.
That being said, he looks fantastic! But the low fat raw vegan master himself isn’t doing so bad either:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vzk-jh1eemI
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Hello Swayze,
All in all there does seem to be a lot of congruency with regards to what is healthy, what works and what does not, especially with the focus on fruits and vegetables. It just seems that many people cannot imagine just eating pounds and pounds of fruit and greens every day, even though much evidence points to the fact that high fruit and greens, and low fat is optimal. Personally, I can eat sweet mangoes and bananas all day! Lol! As people come across the evidence, and more importantly, experience, it becomes easier to decide what is works for optimal health.
By the way, I went through The Raw Food Controversies in few days and enjoyed it very much. The “personal journey” aspect of it as well as the informative sidebars was very appealing to me.
Good day,
Luis Medrano
[Reply]
Swayze Reply:
February 19th, 2011 at 12:45 PM
I think you’re right. People don’t see fruit as anything more than a snack and greens as much more than a vessel for fatty, salty dressings and condiments. It’s near impossible for most to imagine eating a meal of of nothing but mangoes or a pound of greens with an entire blender full of salt-free dressing.
[Reply]
Swayze,
How do you feel about unprocessed, gluten free, SPROUTED grains like Food For Life’s Ezekiel 4:9 products?
Regards,
Bill
[Reply]
Swayze Reply:
February 19th, 2011 at 12:30 PM
Sprouted grains are still grains. Even though they aren’t cooked, they are still acidic, low in vitamin c, and low in soluble fiber. Fresh fruit is simply a better source of carbohydrates.
[Reply]
Bill Reply:
February 19th, 2011 at 7:32 PM
Actually,
sprouted grains have a neutral to slightly alkaline PH.
The high fruit diet you live by is really extreme and the average person doesn’t want to live such a one dimensional lifestyle. Balance is the key to happiness. I don’t find much balance in the diet you propose.
[Reply]
Swayze Reply:
February 22nd, 2011 at 11:39 AM
A low fat raw vegan diet may be very different from the norm, but I certainly don’t view it was extreme. And if someone wants to eat sprouted grains, that’s his or her own decision.
Swayze
I am a particular fan of yours and the way you explain your views. You have also introduced me to Roger and Frederic who also talk a lot of sense.
One aspect of the LFRV diet that none of you stress (or even mention) is the need for a “High Alkaline Diet”. I have been taking Proton Pump Inhibitors for about 10 years. I am now able to stop taking them with no side effects. Anyone taking these prescribed drugs should get off them ASAP, they are evil!
Keep up the good work.
Kind regards
John
[Reply]
Swayze Reply:
February 19th, 2011 at 12:49 PM
You’re right. I don’t know about Fred and Roger, but I haven’t talked much about alkalinity in the diet. It’s definitely important to eat predominately alkaline foods, such as fruits and greens, and limit (or in many cases, eliminate) acid-forming foods such as meat, fish, dairy, grains, and nuts and seeds.
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The book “Going against the grain” (2002) by Melissa Diane Smith is an informative easy-to-read book about reducing or avoiding the excessive use of cereals and/or cereals that contain “gluten”
Undertitle of the book : ” how reducing and avoiding grains can revitalize your health”
see : http://www.melissadianesmith.com/Books/AgaintsTheGrain.html
has also another website : http://www.againstthegrainnutrition.com
( ps: not with complete vegetarian nutrition advices)
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sorry for the spelling mistake in the link , here is the correct one:
http://www.melissadianesmith.com/Books/AgainstTheGrain.html
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Leave a comment, beautiful.