Am I "Paleo"

The Paleo Diet has become very popular in the past few years and it is probably not a coincidence that the rise Paleo Lifestyle has coincided with the rise in popularity of CrossFit. What I call the Worshipers at the cult of Paleo can make it intimidating for the novice to adopt. The idea to eat like Grok (the name given to our paleo ancestor whose diet we are trying to mimic) is a noble idea. The science behind this movement can be found in many different places but should begin with the 'The Paleo Diet' by Loren Cordain. The question of whether you are Paleo, Primal or Paleo-ish should be the second question. The first question should always be "What are my end goals?". Those with Celiac should avoid gluten and grains as these foods trigger reactions. Naturally their diets would move towards the more strict Paleo. But that brings into another questions about strict Paleo. Neil Stephenson in the Aug/Sept 2013 Paleo Magazine titled 'True Paleo' argues that Pseudo Paleo foods, those created by substituting Paleo ingredients for the normal ingredients (paleo pancakes, rolls, brownies) are NOT paleo at all. Amy Kubal takes it a step further in her article 'Paleo - Reality vs. 'Rule Bending'' about how our ancestors did not have access to large amounts of nuts, nut butter, coconut milk and even juicers. So by that definition most of what you get a Whole Foods or Fresh Market or for that matter make with your Vitamix or Juicer is not strict Paleo. But back to our end goals. This should be the question that drives your health choices. And health is much more than diet it is also sleep, play, exercise, etc. Again back to our question about goals. If you goals are to lose weight and feel better a grain and gluten free diet is an excellent place to start. Furthermore removing processed foods, soda and refined sugars from your diet will help to achieve these goals. A good rule of thumb - if it comes in a plastic sealed package and has more than 4 ingredients it is probably not natural. It may take more time to cook and prepare food but it will be worth it. What to eat, organic eggs and organic meats (chicken, bison, beef, pork), lots of fresh veggies (never from a can), natural juices and raw nuts are options that allow for diversity. Spices are an excellent aid for diversity and most have no calories. The next step is to figure out what works for you and your goals. Personally I train hard 6 days a week so maintaining my weight on a clean diet requires a lot of eating. To aid in my goals I use a lot of fatty oils such as coconut and MCT oil. The Paleo Movement, as defined by Loren Cordain, eschews saturated fats. Mark Sisson is a large proponent of saturated fats with the argument that our ancestors would of eaten the entire animal including fatty organs such as the liver and kidneys. The oils work well for me and fit into my fitness goals so I do not worry about if they are strict Paleo and neither should you. Finding a balance is a key to a successful lifestyle change. I liked the response from Elana Amsterdam to the criticism that her recipes (found on her blog elanaspantry.com) are not strict Paleo, she said "I think everyone needs to eat foods they feel good eating". Eating clean should make you feel good inside and out. My wife has started juicing in the morning for breakfast and she has stated that the change has given her more mental clarity and energy. Therefore even though Grok did not have a juicer or an abundance of veggies/fruits it is a healthy choice, makes her feel good, which will help lead to her goals. If a once or twice a week dessert is needed as a reward making it with Paleo ingredients is the best option. Nutrition is the largest part of achieving your goals especially weight loss or reduction of inches. The initial goal should be removing grains, gluten, refined sugar and processed foods (this includes non-organic meats and canned veggies) from your diet. I am happy to answer any more questions. --rich