Unless you CrossFit, chances are you aren’t sure what Paleo/Primal means. I stumbled upon the Paleo/Primal Diet (which isn’t a diet so much as it is a lifestyle) while searching for gluten-free goodies to bake for Luis. Since researching it and trying it out, I jumped on board and wouldn’t look back.
The whole idea behind the Paleo/Primal movement is that we have severely harmed our bodies with our diets. Eating processed foods, pasteurized dairy, and grains (refined or whole-grains) is the root of many health problems: obesity, autoimmune diseases, thyroid problems, heart disease, osteoporosis, kidney stones, acne, stroke, hypertension, PCOS, IBS, Chrons disease, allergies, etc. By eliminating certain foods and eating Paleo/Primal you can reverse these health problems and live up to your gene’s full potential.
The Paleo Diet (Paleo short for Paleolithic) is essentially mimicking the diet of our pre-agricultural, hunter-gatherer ancestors. On the Paleo Diet the majority of the caloric intake is from proteins (eggs, pasture-raised meats, fish and seafood, etc), fresh vegetables (leafy greens, root vegetables, peppers, etc) and fats (avocado, omega 3s and 6s, coconut oil, flax, nuts, etc). Fresh fruits are limited as they contain sugar. On the Paleo Diet you cannot eat any grains, legumes (including peanuts), dairy, processed foods, or refined oils (canola, vegetable, corn, etc).
Though the Paleo Diet does not allow for dairy or potatoes to be eaten, many Paleo/Primal advocates allow for grass-fed butter, raw, full-fat dairy (if you can tolerate raw dairy) and sweet potatoes.
Paleo/Primal is more than just the foods you eat. It is about lowering your stress levels and lowering cortisol production, improving your sleep and your energy. It is about living according to your history and according to your own DNA.
Go ahead; try the Paleo diet. It might change your life.
Elizabeth Horn 