What Does it Mean to Eat Paleo?
By now, most people have at least heard the term “Paleo.” Many may toss it up as the latest among fad diets that promise the same as its countless predecessors: get skinny fast with minimal effort. While Paleo has definitely been garnering attention lately, it is hardly a fad and it is anything but new. It is, in fact, a lifestyle change that is both mentally and physically healing – and yes, great for weight loss, too!
So what is Paleo? Sometimes referred to as the “caveman diet,” this form of eating brings the human body back to the time of our ancestors. And with that backward step of more simplistic, wholesome foods, our bodies take a huge step forward to better health. Our relatives long before us didn’t eat bags of Doritos as a snack or wash down their Big Macs with a super-sized Coke and fries. They ate locally grown, seasonal fruits and vegetables, grass-fed meats from animals that were raised humanely, freshly caught fish, and various seeds and nuts. They nourished their bodies with the foods of and from the earth. They farmed and raised animals in a sustainable way that we now have come to know as “organic.”When we eliminate things like cheese, milk (except raw goat or cow, for those who can tolerate it), gluten and other grains from our diet, and replace them with grass-fed animal products and fresh fruits and vegetables, we begin to heal our bodies from the inside out. The foods manufactured today are designed to make us addicts of sugar, carbs, and salt. And as addicts of these things, we become sick. Our gut flora is destroyed, thus leading to a host of other health problems, including diabetes, skin issues, cancers, and thyroid problems. When our bodies are not being nourished properly, we cannot properly nourish our brain. The rise of ADHD, anxiety, depression, etc. are not a coincidence. We are literally starving ourselves. And what’s worse, we are poisoning our bodies at the same time!
Paleo is the end of food slavery. It is the end of eating disorders. It is the beginning of great health. And for some, it can mean much more.
For Mary, the Paleo way of life is a necessity. Early on in life, she suffered from debilitating migraine headaches. She took very strong medications to combat them, but usually without any real relief. After struggling her way through most of her elementary and middle school in this manner, she began developing hives. At times they were so bad that she could barely breathe. At other times, her hands, feet, and face became painfully swollen. She had trouble keeping up with school. Doctors suggested and medicated for everything from stress and depression to just an “unknown” underlying factor, for which heavy doses of oral and topical steroids were prescribed. Again, these medications provided little relief from her suffering and instead caused harmful side effects.When her oldest sister went gluten and casein free to help her son’s autism symptoms, it was suggested to Mary that perhaps she might have a gluten sensitivity. Thus began her quest to find the real cause behind this life-long battle with her body.
While eliminating gluten did help a great deal, she still had flare-ups with her hives and occasional migraines. So there had to be something else… She did two rounds of ALCAT testing (a food, additive and mold panel that tests for food intolerances – not to be confused with food allergies). She cut out all the offending foods on the lists and found relief for awhile.
However, she soon found herself suffering again. She began seeing a naturopath doctor who discovered that she had polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), as well as chronic fatigue. He suggested a strict Paleo diet. He told her that her PCOS was fed by added sugars and that her chronic fatigue required more protein and vitamin-rich vegetables. From that point on, her health took a huge turn for the better. Her hives and migraines disappeared, she had energy during the day and stopped her unhealthy relationship with food. She found that by nourishing her body with grass-fed, quality meats, wild caught seafood, some fruits, and plenty of veggies, she felt great. When she slipped and had sugars or non-gluten grains such as corn and rice, her health deteriorated quickly.Since becoming Paleo over 2 years ago and feeling the life changing results first hand, she has coached others toward this way of eating also. She introduced her cousin to Paleo, and he was able to drop a stubborn 25 pounds that he had carried for the last twenty years. She has also found her passion in creating delicious Paleo meals for families wanting to eat better but unsure how to begin.
Mary and her husband, George, own a catering business in the beautiful Texas Hill Country. Together, they have developed a Paleo and Whole30 compliant side of their company, offering one-on-one health coaching, as well as pre-cooked meals.
