Eating Paleo

Eating paleo is a very healthy diet choice.  Did you know that many of the most readily available and common foods in the standard American diet cause inflammation in our bodies?  When we eat these foods every day, we are keeping our bodies in a constant state of fighting off the inflammation.  Our immune systems have to work all the time, with no rest.  It is no wonder then that autoimmune disease is on the rise.

According to Autoimmune Association Related Disease Association;

“The National Institutes of Health (NIH estimates up to 23.5* million Americans suffer from autoimmune disease and that the prevalence is rising…Researchers have identified 80-100 different autoimmune diseases and suspect at least 40 additional diseases of having an autoimmune basis. These diseases are chronic and can be life-threatening.”  (https://www.aarda.org/autoimmune-information/autoimmune-statistics/)

So, what is stopping us from adopting the paleo diet right away?  Let’s get healthy and live life to the fullest!  This is not rocket science.  Below are two lists to help…..paleo made easy;

FOODS TO EAT THAT ARE PALEO-FRIENDLY:

• Grass-produced meats
• Wild-caught fish/seafood
• Pasture-raised, non-GMO fed eggs
• Fresh vegetables and fruits
• Healthy oils (Coconut oil for cooking and olive oil for salad dressing)
• Nuts and seeds
• Fermented foods (raw apple cider vinegar, raw sauerkraut, etc.)

FOODS TO ELIMINATE AND/OR AVOID:

• Grains
• Legumes (including peanuts)
• Refined sugar (*Raw honey and stevia are OK)
• White potatoes (Sweet potatoes are OK)
• Processed foods
• Dairy
• Refined vegetable oils
• Salt

I will admit, if you haven’t ever avoided any foods, this list could make your eyes cross and have you wanting to ‘run for the hills.’   If this is you, then take it in stages.  You grew into the standard American diet.  Take some time and slowly grow into the paleo diet.  Eliminate the foods that you aren’t as fond of first, and then work up to the ‘biggies’ – the foods you think you cannot live without.

It may help you to know that the foods that you feel you cannot part with are sometimes the one’s that are leaving you feeling the worst.  There is a good article, Food Allergies and Food Addictions, that talks about this concept.  Truth is, food allergies can work kind of like a bug bite.  It itches, so you scratch it, which helps for just a minute, and then it itches more.  Eating foods you are allergic or sensitive to can give a brief surge of good feelings, which is then followed by even more powerful cravings.

In conclusion, you can make these changes for a better you.  What we have to work for in life often produce the most satisfying results.  Following a paleo diet can help eliminate inflammation in the body, as well as improve how you think, feel and look.  Ask your doctor…this may be the right choice for you.

Have a great day!