136. How to eat like a human, with Bill Schindler PhD

Plant Defense Mechanisms

Bill Schindler explains that plants use chemical and physical defense mechanisms to protect themselves from predators. He emphasizes that different parts of plants have varying levels of toxicity, with seeds, nuts, and legumes being particularly high in antinutrients and lectins 1. Paul Saladino shares his personal experience with almonds, noting that even sprouted almonds caused him digestive discomfort due to their inherent toxins 2.

Not only did they used to be toxic, they still are toxic.

--- Bill Schindler

   

Detoxifying Techniques

Bill discusses the importance of detoxifying seeds, nuts, and legumes to make them safe for consumption. He compares the protective mechanisms of seeds to those of eggs, highlighting the need to trick seeds into thinking they are in the right environment to let down their defenses 3. Paul mentions the dangers of green smoothies, which can be a massive oxalate load, especially for those with predisposing factors 4.

The only way to begin to make those seeds, nuts, safe for human consumption is to trick it into thinking it's in the right environment.

--- Bill Schindler

   

Dietary Evolution

Paul and Bill explore the dietary shifts that occurred 2 million years ago, emphasizing the importance of meat in the evolution of our ancestors. Bill explains that the introduction of stone tools allowed early humans to access nutrient-dense parts of animals, such as blood, fat, and organs 5. He also discusses how modern food processing has distanced us from understanding the true nature of our food, using almonds and potatoes as examples of foods that can be harmful if not properly prepared 6.

When they start introducing meat into their diet, we don't see huge biological changes. We see a little bit, there's a little bit of body size growth, a little bit of brain size growth, but we don't see these massive changes.

--- Bill Schindler