The Paleo Challenge

This month a few of the Pura Vida Tribe (for more information contact Jared Maidenberg) decided to try the Paleo Diet.  For those of you who are asking, "What exactly is this diet?  Are you eating dinosaurs???"  Well, not exactly.  But we are eating as close to nature as possible.

 

There are many diets out there.  Some work, some don't, some are gimmicks, and some have great information.  The most famous (and doable) diets seem to be South Beach and The Zone.  So here's the deal:  Be careful of fad diets and dramatic detoxes, etc...if someone is telling you to try the "20 donuts a day diet", you probably have to wonder what the merit is.

 

A strict Paleo diet is great for one month as it can tell you what you are sensitive to...it may even help with allergies, immune, blood sugar and digestion.  We do live in an urban environment, so it may not be realistic to be strict ALL THE TIME. But for a month, it's pretty useful.  So what exactly DO you get to eat?  Everything in nature! If you haven't been to the Farmer's Market, now is the time to get to know your farmer...think local and seasonal.  You can eat nuts and seeds, meats, chicken, fish,  fruits, veggies, eggs, bone broth soups...you get it.  And yes, you can eat butter and coconut oil for fats.  The idea is to reduce processed foods, sugar, dairy (non strict means raw milk and fermented only) , and even grains.  Grains and Legumes are only 5-6000 years old and not considered a paleo life.  I recommend reducing grains as a way of life as it can be very hard to digest and turns to sugar.  The pancreas works overtime and this can lead to insulin resistance.

So what do I eat for breakfast when I always ate cereal?  You might want to try a green paleo shake (with quality protein powder), and eggs.  I do like a little Kefir as well with nuts b/c that is fermented.  Eat your leftovers.  Breakfast should consist of fats and proteins...long, sustainable energy.

Snacks are nuts, nut butters (not soy or peanut as they are legumes and soy is often GMO) with fruit or veggies.  Two books I recommend are Cordain's The Paleo Diet/Paleo Diet for Athletes. and Mark Sissan's Primal Blueprint.  Another great book is called Primal Body/Primal Mind by Nora Degaudus.  Look for cookbooks that feature information on the hunter/gatherer lifestyle...our true anscestors.   Sally Fallon wrote a great book and a wealth of information, called Nourishing Traditions. Eating from nature could greatly reduce the possibility of food related diseases like diabetes, autoimmune disorders and cancer.  

It doesn't mean that you can't have your occasional sweet or treat...just make it quality!  Eat dark chocolate, or cacao, which is rich in antioxidants.  Nor does it mean you can't have wine or coffee.  But pulling yourself off of addictive substances to "retest" later, can give you an indication of your sensitivities--something you can't really know if you are on them.  Our bodies adapt to foods and our environment but it doesn't necessarily mean we don't have a sensitivity or an irritation.  So I recommend one month of "do your best" paleo with one cheat day in the week.  The by products are great:  clear skin, more energy, positive attitude, you sleep better, and you may even lose weight.  If you are athletic, you may find yourself having longer and better workouts with more endurance.

A Votre Sante from Pura Vida!