Our family began eating Paleo a couple of years ago when I was having all sorts of new allergies and digestive issues that included ulcers in my stomach and intestines, among other things. I was told to try going gluten free to see if it would help with my symptoms. While going gluten free did improve my symptoms, I was still having digestive problems and other symptoms like fatigue, weight loss alternating with weight gain, brain fog, body aches, etc. I discovered that I had even more symptom improvement when I didn’t eat any grains at all, and while searching for grain free recipes, I stumbled upon Paleo.
Wikipedia states that, “The Paleolithic diet, also popularly referred to as the caveman diet, Stone Age diet and hunter-gatherer diet, is a modern nutritional diet designed to emulate, insofar as possible using modern foods, the diet of wild plants and animals eaten by humans during the Paleolithic era.”
Paleo is much more than that, and though I do not necessarily identify with “being” Paleo, I do follow the Paleo diet because it is naturally fairly low carb, it is very nutrient dense, and most of all, it makes me feel better! I can also very easily avoid pesticides, preservatives, and other nasty additives by buying and growing unprocessed, organic food as much as possible.
Does this mean I never cheat? No! But I never, ever eat gluten, nuts, coconut, or shellfish because I am allergic, and I very rarely eat gluten free grains. I also try to avoid dairy and nightshades because they seem to give me just as much trouble as gluten (or maybe even more).
Below, you will find websites that give more information on the Paleo lifestyle. I am sure I will be adding more in the future, so you can always check back!
Websites for Grain Free or Paleo Information & Recipes
I love Dr. Ballantyne’s books (The Paleo Mom), The Paleo Approach, and The Paleo Approach Cookbook. Great for those with autoimmune disease.
http://www.robbwolf.com/what-is-the-paleo-diet/
http://www.chriskresser.com/beyond-paleo-moving-from-a-paleo-diet-to-a-paleo-template
Diane Sanfilippo from Balanced Bites has a great cookbook called, Practical Paleo that is an excellent resource for those who are starting out eating Paleo and want great, easy recipes in a physical book. There is also a great deal of info about Paleo and different meal plans based on what your needs are. For instance, she has sections that have food recommendations based on what chronic health problems you may be suffering from (I used the autoimmune section).
*Disclaimer: The information listed above is from my own personal experience, and is in no way meant to be a substitute for medical treatment. Before attempting any changes to diet and lifestyle, it should first be cleared with your primary physician. I am not receiving any monetary payment or gain from any of the statements made on this page.
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