Foreword: I have been brainstorming a lot about different topics I want to cover on the blog, and one of the most important things about this space is that I want you to get quality information about all things health. There are so many different places you can get information and a lot of these sources are not reputable and they can be misleading. They want you to believe in quick fixes and magic pills and that is so they get traffic and sell inventory. I want to be the buffer, so that you can sort the good from the bad. One topic of conversation that seems to be overwhelming is diets. There are so many different kinds and some are good and some are bad and some can be both. So, I am going to have a different diet theme every week for the next few weeks in order to give you the best information I possibly can!

As most of my readers know, I have a lot of food allergies and therefore I have to be really creative when I am cooking and creating recipes. There are a few common denominators in all of the recipes I choose.

1. They obviously sound/look fantastic

2. I don’t have to make very many substitutions

3. They are healthy for my body and my soul

4. They won’t make me feel crummy after I eat it.

This has led me to following a paleo-ish diet without even realizing it. Now, after doing research I find that these are the principles I am following when I feel like my very best self. Lately, I have been consciously choosing paleo recipes and ingredients because that is what works for me and coincidently Logan as well. I understand that not everyone’s body works exactly the same, but giving you different options on different types of diets might shed some light and get you excited about trying something new!

1. The Paleo diet is a lifestyle and most people who follow this diet don’t do a 14 day cleanse or whatever else. They stick it out and make every day changes in order to accommodate. This diet was designed to mimic our ancestors and by ancestors I am talking about cavemen.

2. The diet is high in fat, moderate in protein, and moderate in carbs. This diet does not encourage counting calories. The idea is that the food you are eating is so nutritious and filling that it is nearly impossible to over eat.

3. It is encouraged to eat high amounts of saturated fats. These come from coconut oil, avocado, olive oil, beef tallow, butter, and duck fat.

4. Eating a lot of good quality animal proteins is important. High fat cuts of meat are no problem, and it is encouraged to eat from local sources that are grass fed and pasture raised. This includes eating wild caught seafood not farm raised. It is also important to learn how to cook with bones and to make your own stock and broth (it has a lot of wonderful health benefits).

5. Eat a small amount of fruits and nuts (1-2 servings of each per day). Choose fruit that is lower in sugar and high in antioxidants, such a berries. All nuts aren’t prohibited, they suggest finding nuts that are low in polyunsaturated fats. Organic produce is preferred.

6. Cut out all grains (this includes all things with gluten in them) and legumes (I do not cut these out completely).

7. Cut out all hydrogenated oils (this is a fancy term for industry made). This includes margarine, canola oil, safflower oil, sunflower oil, soybean oil, corn oil, and peanut oil.

8. Take out all added sugar. These are sodas, all packaged sweets, and juices; they simply don’t eat processed foods. Which means nothing from a box or a bag. Although for on the go snacks, I have found some great products and brands.

9. They eliminate dairy from their diet, with the exception of butter and sometimes heavy cream.

10. They believe that you should use food as fuel and that its important to exercise. Most believe in balance and do short intense workouts 3-5 days a week. The lifestyle also places emphasis on getting a good nights sleep and eliminating stressors from your life.

11. Consider supplementing with vitamin D and probiotics

That’s the short of the long. Each one of those bullet points could be a whole blog post on their own. The reason this diet works so well for me is that I cannot eat grain, dairy, soy, rice or corn because of allergies, which this lifestyle excludes anyway. Therefore I can’t eat much from a bag or box anyway and when I do, it is always a paleo product, which I am going to share with you in a different post! I also try to eat in a way that is good for my gut health, which is why I take probiotics. I have been taking them off and on since I had C.Diff in high school and now find them to be very important. My diet has also become rich in veggies lately, and not so much in fruit or any other sugar. Which has made my tummy and digestive system very happy. I feel more awake, less bloated, and more “regular” than I have in my whole life. I am contributing that to taking almost all of the sugar out of my diet in the last month or so.

I can’t wait to share recipes and tips and tricks with you about this diet!

With love and a happy life,

-B

How To: Paleo