Celebrity Chef Pete Evans Paleo Uproar

Celebrity chef, Pete Evans, – a judge on the reality cooking program My Kitchen Rules – has thrust the paleo diet back into the limelight after speaking out in favor of it on his Facebook page.

Responding to a comment left by a dietitian, Evans wrote a 2,100 word rant about the relationship between nutrition and health. Evans argued that the modern Australian diet is the reason that autism is on the rise in Australia, and suggested that the paleo diet could help to reduce this trend. 

The chef, who recently became a health coach through the Institute for Integrative Nutrition, also criticized the Heart Foundation and the Dietitians Association of Australia (DAA) and described the food we give to our children as “the greatest threat to humanity.”

What Has Evans Said?

Why is Australia fast becoming the most obese and unhealthy nations on earth?

Is this because we are a nation of self obsessed, weak minded people with no self control? No. Is it because we are a nation that for far too long has been told to steer clear of foods naturally high in fat, which naturally trigger our fullness hormone, and instead told to eat 6 – 8 servings of processed carbohydrate a day, and wonder why we are still hungry after eating 3 cups of rice or 6 slices of bread?

Why has our rate of autism jumped from 1 in 10000 children in 1974, to 1 in 50 in 2014, where do you think it will be in another 40 years if it is escalating at this rate? This has grown rapidly since the guidelines have been in place!

Why is the rate of mental illness including dementia and Alzheimer’s escalating at a frightening rate and we are told by the DAA and Heart Foundation to avoid Saturated fat when this is what our brains need to survived and function properly.

I am usually peaceful, however the warrior in me is now ready for what’s next. I am standing up for myself as I value WHO I AM and I refuse to have this type of hatred on my page. I am seeing things very clearly though my eyes now, and at times in my life I haven’t been focused or very clear of my life purpose, however I have a laser focus for what I want to achieve whilst I am on this journey in this body… I am not trying to convert people to a paleo lifestyle, however I do love sharing the recipes that we love to eat.

What Has The Response Been?

Once again, the world has shown that it does not yet understand proper nutrition. The Heart Foundation has said that it will not be getting involved with the Facebook debate, saying that it “does not endorse or recommend any fad, novelty or crash diets”. But, in the chef’s own words, “Paleo isn’t a fad diet. If it’s a fad, then it’s the oldest fad diet in the world due to the fact that it’s been around for over three million years.”

Autism organizations have disputed Evans’ statistics, saying that it autism affects one in one hundred children, not one in fifty. Autism expert, Professor Cheryl Dessanayake, has said that there is no evidence that diet and autism are linked. She went on to say that some children’s behavior does improve after a diet change, but that she believes this is due to their having other digestive issues. 

Evans has said that the anti-paleo backlash has “ignited a spark, now a raging fire in [his] belly”.

“I am usually peaceful, however the warrior in me is now ready for what’s next,”

Whether or not the paleo diet can prevent autism, one thing is sure: the modern Western diet is not healthy. Whether or not it causes autism, eating pizza and drinking soda is not doing anyone’s health any good.

Everyone knows that eating whole, natural foods like meats, vegetables, and fruit is good for you. Eating this way can help you lose weight, control autoimmune conditions, regulate your blood sugar levels, and simply feel better. Surely those are good enough reasons to eat paleo? And if scientists were to discover that eating paleo does prevent autism, well, wouldn’t that just be the icing on the paleo-friendly cake?

Further Reading

• Celebrity chef Pete Evans has been slammed for his 2,100 word rant on Facebook claiming the Paleo diet can prevent autism
• Celebrity chef Pete Evans is left boiling after his controversial Caveman diet cops a serve
• Celebrity chef claims Paleo Diet will prevent autism.
• Pete Evans paleo rant – he’s a ‘warrior’