Becoming What I Deeply Am

"Education should help man become the best he is capable of becoming, to become actually what he deeply is potentially." --Abraham Maslow in Religion, Values, and Peak Experiences.

The physical benefits of Paleo are well-lauded on this blog. There’s no question that Paleo is the reason my family enjoys better health and it’s worth every two-hour vegetable chopping session, despite my occasional murmuring.

But the real reason I live a Paleo lifestyle and feel it is crucial for my children lies in Maslow’s statement: to become actually what I deeply am potentially.

In the throes of PCOS and infertility (me), autism and therapy (my son), and the possibility of Crohn’s/ulcerative colitis (my baby), my physical trials blinded me. They were all-consuming. Constant survival mode. To imagine my greatest potential or any future at all was futile, because frankly, I didn’t know if I would reach tomorrow. The days were long, the nights were filled with crying babies and a crying mother, and every day was a new day…of just getting by.

With PCOS, the apex of my potential was Not Getting Sicker. Not exactly the childhood dreams of becoming the first woman president. But I couldn’t aspire to anything else; I was drowning in insulin resistance and weight retention and autoimmunity. Someone who is trapped underwater can only hope for air; anything more is irrelevant, and I needed air.

Paleo allowed me to emerge from the murky depths, eventually treading water, and finally leaving the sea of despair altogether. The cataracts obscuring my visions have been removed. I can look at the world with fresh eyes for the first time, seeing the opportunities for what they really are.

I have greater hope because I am no longer destined to a life of female cancers. My son can spend Wednesdays at playgroup instead of occupational/speech therapy. My daughter is still recovering and I can envision a life for her that is not defined solely by bowel distress.

There were more moments of happiness than sadness in my life prior to Paleo; that is my nature. But becoming more than a woman with PCOS wasn’t part of my joy.

Now that PCOS is behind me, there is a clarity about who I am that was never there before. I had glimpses of it my entire life, but I can finally embrace it and actually be who I deeply am inside. My children can, too. And that’s the real reason I eat Paleo.

Hirsutism: The Big Hairy Truth

One of the most frequently emailed questions I receive: How soon did your PCOS symptoms begin to disappear after going Paleo?

Everyone seems to want to know about the weight loss, the fatigue, the skin tags, the infertility, the amenhorrhea, the male-pattern baldness. But by far, the most inquiries are about hirsutism.

So I thought I’d lay it all on the line for you. You’re welcome.

Naturally, this isn’t my favorite topic to address publicly. Despite an overall healthy self-confidence, excessive hair growth is insanely embarrassing for me. There is nothing that makes me feel less feminine and less vibrant, sexy, or strong. If you get squeamish or grossed out about women with body and facial hair, I urge you to stop reading NOW

.

No, seriously. Turn away. This is not for the faint of heart.

Okay…don’t say I didn’t warn ya.

Scoring Hirsutism

First off, when determining a PCOS diagnosis, there needs to be evidence of elevated male hormone (testosterone), either visually or through blood tests. When assessing visually, medical doctors typically use the Ferriman-Gallwey score:

 

Source: women-health-info.com

For a second chart, visit ccjm.org.

My Own Case of Hirsutism

Being of Asian/Pacific Islander descent, my heritage precludes me from having excessive hair to begin with. And my father’s side (white) doesn’t seem to be too hairy either. So genetics appear to be in my favor for minimal hair growth, something I’ve never stopped being grateful for.

When I started Paleo in August of 2010, I had no expectations of improved health. I was just desperate for something to stall the weight gain. I had a 2-month-old baby and was on the extended breastfeeding plan (if she would nurse). As evidenced by my first child, I gain weight while nursing, so the thought of 18+ months of weight gain when I was already close to 200 pounds contributed greatly to my postpartum depression.

I wasn’t looking for my hirsutism to disappear and had no reason to believe it would. About 5 months in, I looked down at my belly and noticed the light “trail” that started from between my breasts, circled around my belly button, and continued it’s merry way downward….vanished. Where was it?

I started checking all the usual spots that remind me of my fallibility. Jawline, sideburns, breasts, corners of my lips, bottom of my chin, toes. If there was anything remaining, it was so faint it could hardly be constituted even as peach fuzz.

I don’t know when the hair fell away. One day, it was gone.

Hirsutism, 17 months post-Paleo

In general, my score is about a 1 now. As mentioned in my I no longer have PCOS post, when I stray for a few weeks from Paleo, the hair begins a gradual return (mostly on my belly and breasts) and I know it’s time to get back to eating right. As I’m sure you can imagine, that is a very compelling reason to back off the grains and sugar.

So there you have it. A Hirsutism Fairy Tale. It’s not an easy one to share, feeling a lot more like Grimm than Disney, but inquiring minds want to know and I have a habit of sharing way too much.

Farewell to PCOS: What an UNdiagnosis Really Means

Image Source

As noted in my last post, my doctor cleared me of PCOS. After blood tests and an ultrasound, I didn’t meet any of the three requirements.

It’s safe to say this was the best news I received in 2011.

When I first learned that my PCOS was no longer an official diagnosis, I went through some sort of strange near-grieving period. PCOS has been with me for so long–such an integral part of my identity–that my heart and mind were a jumbled mix of feelings and confusion.

Elated, absolutely. Thrilled. Delighted. Relieved. Overjoyed.

And also a bit empty. My mission was gone. The fight I’d been fighting so fervently, working just to manage and cope with the symptoms of this dang disease, was over. In a matter of seconds, unexpected news from my doctor opened a new world of non-PCOS thoughts.

I had flashes of what do I do now? Who am I?

And then I began to reflect: I wasn’t fighting as fervently, I wasn’t trying to get by, I was no longer in a state of constant efforting. For 5 years, I’d been so focused on the fact that I have PCOS and therefore must suffer that I failed to recognize my symptoms had indeed vanished. The blood tests were just confirming what I realized long ago: Paleo works for me.

I’m over the emptiness now. I am the same person with one less label. Losing my diagnosis doesn’t change what I do daily; only what I write on my insurance forms. And it adds yet another weapon in my Paleo arsenal.

Truly, I couldn’t be happier that Paleo worked for my body to reverse PCOS.

Am I cured?

That remains to be seen, but I imagine the answer is no. I don’t have symptoms, my blood work is clean, and my ovaries have so few cysts that I can hardly be called polycystic.

However, I still have the scars from metabolic derangement. I’m incredibly sugar-sensitive. If I merely entertain the idea of grains, I swear I gain weight (and my husband swears I do, too). When I eat poorly, my PCOS symptoms come back. When I eat poorly for several days, my PCOS symptoms come back with a vengeance, as if making up for lost time.

Diagnosis removal is a fantastic ego boost, but there isn’t any difference in my daily routine. I still identify deeply with the PCOS community and I still eat Paleo. My guess is I would go right back to PCOS if I return to my daily bowl of mac and cheese. I doubt I can ever remove the treatment (proper nutrition), but I can live a perfectly full life without being hindered by the side effects of PCOS. That’s what matters, right?

(Though I would be lying if I said I wasn’t holding on to the hope that I may one day eat nightshades again. Fingers crossed.)

I’m in a good place. No longer an emotional slave to a diagnosis AND I have a built-in accountability system that keeps me healthier because of my PCOS history.  The best of both worlds.

Paleo, you treat me real good. Thanks for a great 2011.

A Farewell to PCOS

No risk shooting the messenger during this visit

Routine well-woman visits are not very fun.

Imagine my surprise when I walked out of my doctor’s office with an uncontrollable smile on my face. Giddy beyond belief. Wanting to call all of my friends and family. Greeting strangers with overly enthusiastic salutations and even stopping to make friends with the lady in the hallway who traveled all the way from Waller to see the doctor because he was “the best OB/GYN this side of the Mississippi.”

Prior to my appointment, I’d requested blood work. My periods hadn’t resumed after the birth of my babe (10-months-old at the time). I was still nursing 4-5 times per day, but given my PCOS history, I wanted to play it safe and requested every single blood test I could think of. And my doctor, being the brilliant man that he is, requested about twice as many to add to the phlebotomist’s task list.

It was such a surreal appointment that I wrote a little one-act play to depict the events.

A Farewell to PCOS

Scene: Jennifer waits patiently in room 4. Infant rips paper on exam bed.

Dr. E: (opens door and enters room)

Jennifer: (looks up expectantly)

Dr. E: Well I’ve looked through your blood work and you don’t have PCOS anymore.

Jennifer: (smiling broadly and crying)

End scene.

I would quit Paleo if it weren’t *my* bare minimum

"Sometimes the road less traveled is less traveled for a reason." --Jerry Seinfeld

That’s gotta be some sort of Paleo heresy.

I read countless blogs about how easy and manageable and fun Paleo is. Sure, there’s an element to that, and as I read these posts lauding the glories of Paleo (which I also write), it’s really simple for me to forget the hard logistics of the lifestyle.

Until I get into the kitchen.

Or the grocery store.

Or the play group for my two Littles.

Or pre-school. Or the family birthday parties. Or the social gatherings.

Paleo was my last resort. Like many people, I appreciate efficiency. I see no problem with doing the bare minimum to get max results. That should not be confused with laziness; I work hard (much of the time). If I can get a job done in 3 hours or in 5 hours, unless the company is good or I’m trying to teach my kids a lesson, I’m likely going to choose the 3-hour option.

I have several friends who maintain the health, energy, and vigor they desire by doing significantly less than our family requires. I’ve tried what they do and it doesn’t work for me. Perhaps my body isn’t as strong as theirs, perhaps I have different goals. The reasons are irrelevant to me since it doesn’t change the outcome.

USDA Food Guide. I did that. I gained weight. I got sick.
Vegetarianism. I did that. I gained weight. I got sick.
Calories In/Calories Out. I did that. I gained weight. I got sick.

Weight Watchers. Running. Aerobics/pilates/yoga. Exercising more. Eating less. Eating disorder. South Beach. Turbo Jam. I did those. I gained weight. I got sick.

In the fall fitness challenge, someone on our facebook page mentioned her husband lost 25 pounds. Whitney, the one with the rockin’ bod, cited a 12-pound loss.

I’ve been following most of the guidelines for a long time and the challenge wasn’t nearly as strict as my regular life. I loosened my Paleo standards a bit during those 8 weeks, falling well within the limits of the challenge. I gained 2 pounds. For me, taking candy out of my diet 6 days per week simply isn’t enough.

Paleo doesn’t bother me. On most days, I am fine knowing I have no in-town Paleo friends, no Paleo family, no Paleo restaurants, and few Paleo convenience foods.

I don’t love missing parties because I get tired of assuming people will be uncomfortable if I don’t eat (if I actually make them uncomfortable remains to be seen). Play group at McDonald’s would be more convenient if we didn’t have to bring our own lunch. Special cultural days at pre-school would be easier if the potluck section were gone, and therefore the gluten removed. But it’s not that way and that’s totally okay.

If I could maintain the body and health standards I want by eating low-fat dairy, whole grains, and juice (all part of the healthy, standard American diet), I would. But I tried that. I gained weight. I got sick.

Paleo? I’m doing that. I lost weight. I regained my health.

So Paleo it is. The choice is pretty clear for me. I still think a Paleo variation is the solution for a great majority of people seeking optimal health. But optimal health is subjective and not everyone is striving for my same brand of optimal health.

For me, optimal health means no more PCOS symptoms. No more chronic fatigue, body hair, acne, floaters, male-pattern baldness, depression, infertility…. Paleo or PCOS. Not everyone has to make that choice, but for me, this lifestyle is the bare minimum. If I could get by on less, I probably would.

Paleo is wonderful to me and makes me feel like a million bucks.

But it sure wasn’t my first choice.

When Paleo Isn’t Enough

Paleo is just the beginning for this girl

Blogging has taken a backseat lately as I’ve been immersed in research. When I attended the Ancestral Health Symposium, one of the most eye-opening presentations was by Dr. BG and Dr. Tim Gerstmar regarding gut health.

If you haven’t seen it and are interested in some heavier science, give yourself 45 minutes to view The Rainforest in your Gut with the accompanying slide show. A major point was that while Paleo makes huge improvements and even heals a large population, for some people it just isn’t enough.

I am some people. So are my kids.

For me. The PCOS is in check, but I still know there are other aspects where I could use a little boost, particularly in the food sensitivity area. Every single item on the autoimmune protocol makes my stomach churn.

For my 3-year-old. My son is another case. Professionals cannot agree whether he is on the high-functioning side of the autism spectrum or is afflicted with a condition that often accompanies autism; regardless, he has symptoms that affect his everyday life. These symptoms reduced right around 75% with Paleo, but he was still having a lot of challenges with a variety of sensory issues. We started neurofeedback therapy in August and his symptoms are so much more manageable, I’ve been lauding neurofeedback ever since. And yet, we’re not quite there yet.

For my 16-month-old. And then there’s my baby, oh my sweet baby. She is allergic or sensitive to seemingly everything. If I eat dairy, soy, gluten, or corn, there is a range of responses from big time crying and the inability to sleep to rashes and eczema. As far as her own consumption, she has broken out in hives after eating eggs and nuts, and gotten consistent rashes from sweet potatoes, strawberries, and peaches. We maintain a strict Paleo diet for her, but she is still having some health problems.

Sounds a whole lot like leaky gut to me. I’ve been exploring the GAPS diet to start doing a gut-healing protocol since she sure appears to be suffering from leaky gut. But being allergic/intolerant to several items in the introduction diet poses an issue that requires a lot of research on Mommy’s part.

So that’s where we’re at right now. I heart Paleo. It has been a lifesaver and was the absolute right place for us to start. Now we are ready to expand. This journey is a long one. Posts, responses to comments, and emails will be sparse and I thank you already for your patience as I embark on a quest to have the best-looking intestines this side of the Mississippi.

I’m Not Skinny Like You

I was talking with a few women when the topic came to bodies, as it often does amongst women. One of the ladies was complaining about her weight. I wasn’t offering anything but a listening ear to the conversation when I was surprised to hear her say: “Not that you would understand. I’m not skinny like you.”

Rewind.

Since transitioning into a Paleo lifestyle a year ago, I have lived in 4 different homes. Each move required meeting new people and making new friends. While my body composition is rapidly changing, those who are meeting me for the first time have no idea the journey I’ve been on. This woman doesn’t know that I’ve lost 60 pounds in the past year.

Rather than explain how really, I actually do know what it’s like to be fat, her comment brought me face-to-face with my own body image issues.

In high school and my freshman year of college, I was teeny tiny. Skinny fat, yes, but still tiny. I had a 23″ waist and weighed right around 105 pounds (sometimes less). Being such a late bloomer, I still didn’t have hips and struggled to find size 0 jeans that weren’t too big. Goodness, I didn’t even need to wear a bra.

I didn’t really have much concept of how small I was. Because I didn’t stare at my reflection all day in the mirror, I kind of just assumed I was the same size as everyone else, despite being rather on the extra-extra-small side.  I remember hearing that the average woman was a size 10 and I was astonished. I was dissatisfied with my body, but I couldn’t even fathom wearing a size 10 or imagine all of these women around me wearing a 10 either (though they were probably in the 8-range).

During my second year of college, I was still shopping for size 0 jeans. I gained 24 pounds my freshman year, but somehow it always took me by surprise that I couldn’t squeeze into a size 0 (or size 1 for that matter). For the better part of 2 years, I was  putting the smaller jeans back and reaching for the 3s and 4s. I realized I was getting bigger, but only after several confusing trips to Abercrombie & Fitch.

Fast forward 8 years. I weighed 197 pounds when I checked into the hospital to have my second baby and was heavier when I was discharged. I was hoping for extended breastfeeding with this baby, but terrified because I gained tremendous amounts of weight while breastfeeding. As my nutritionist explained, “Unfortunately, you are one of the few women that will actually gain weight while nursing.” I wasn’t having a difficult time choosing between being fat and nourishing my baby; I just didn’t like the seemingly inevitable side effects of giving my daughter nature’s best nutrition.

I had already been made painfully aware of my inability to lose weight after my first son and recognized that much of it was due to PCOS. My self-image at this point was F-A-T-fat. And only getting fatter.

Paleo of course saved my bacon and allowed me to eat it too. My body comp has changed, but I’m still a little slow in the brain department.

The woman who said I was skinny caught me completely off-guard. I hadn’t been described as skinny in years, nor had I thought of myself that way. I weigh less now than when I got married over 8 years ago, but my brain hasn’t processed that I’m a much smaller version of myself.

And therein lies one of my biggest challenges. On my quest for optimal health, will I even recognize it when I obtain it? Am I just another woman that is unrealistically seeking to lose one more inch here, firm up a little there? Even when I have the “perfect” body (whatever that means), will I try to make it more perfect?

"More" perfect?

I still don’t view myself as skinny. However, I am happy with my body, which is a major accomplishment in itself. It’s not perfect, but it’s mine. It does amazing things for me and allows me to do amazing things for others, most specifically my husband and children.

Seeing myself properly is a work-in-progress and I am getting more adept at it everyday. I don’t dwell on my weight, but I often forget that I’m not that 200-pound woman of 2010. I have yet to embrace that I am a 129-pound woman and a good 50 inches smaller; I’m hoping that will come soon. I don’t have a goal–one of the first times in my entire life–and that continues to propel me toward a healthier body image. Perhaps in two years, I will have attained more clarity; maybe going so far as to try on the right jean size the first time.

Did Diet Cause My PCOS? Does It Matter?

I have food issues. It’s true.

While I believe my relationship with food is generally healthy (now), it’s still a work in progress.

I think about food way too much: what I’m putting into my body, why I’m putting it into my body, how each food makes me feel after I eat it, how meat makes me gag but my body craves it like nobody’s business, what I’m going to eat at my next meal, what my kids are going to eat, how much time I will need to allocate for food prep, what I’m going to do if we happen to be spontaneous and need something to bring for my bottomless pits I affectionately call my children.

Okay, perhaps my relationship is not as healthy as I would like to think. But it’s getting there, and it’s getting easier.

I have a long history of disordered eating. Food has not been very good to me, and in turn, I have not been very good to myself.

A recent email from a reader reminded me of this history. Paleo is much easier for me now, but it hasn’t always been.

[A] reason that I stopped Paleo for a while is because I started blaming myself for PCOS. Seriously. I got it in my head that my eating caused my PCOS. I would look at every morsel of food and worry so much that every little ounce would cause me to ruin my fertility. I kind of got obsessive and had to stop.

And you know what I say to this reader? Good for her for stopping. Sure, Paleo is likely going to bring her better physical health, but there comes a point where you have to put a stop to the crazy and revamp yourself.

I’ve gone through this phase. Several times.

I would never have all these problems and wouldn’t have passed on all of these health issues to my two innocent children if I hadn’t eaten all those _____ (fill in the blank; if it’s unhealthy and not illegal, I’m sure I ate it).

Is it true? Would I have been PCOS-free my entire life had I been on a strict Paleo diet from the beginning?

Maybe, maybe not. Who’s to know? Besides the nutritional problems of modern society, there are a whole host of other environmental factors that are out there beating up our bodies in several ways: stress, overworking, the sedentary lifestyle that is a true challenge to avoid, chemicals in our food/plastics/medicines/vaccinations/cleaning products/everything, food industry practices, the endless glow of electricity that messes up our internal clocks, etc etc etc etc etc.

Oh, and genetics. That’s sort of a big deal too.

And while I would love to know the why of PCOS, it’s so speculative right now. Some think it is solely diet; some believe it is purely genetic; some believe it is genetic and triggered by lifestyle factors; some don’t care and just want to pump as much Metformin in you as possible.

Chris Kresser recently posted a fantastic article that re-opened my eyes to the possibility that I didn’t cause my own disease (and even if I did, let’s put our energies elsewhere). In Reframing the obesity debate: cause/effect, genetics & robot clones, Kresser reminds us that “it’s essential to separate the causes and treatment of obesity.”

He goes on to say:

We know without a doubt that statins lower cholesterol. But does that mean high cholesterol is caused by a statin deficiency? If you break your arm, your doctor will probably put a cast on to help it heal. Does that mean we should all wear casts on our arms to make sure they don’t break?

I love this. Just because Paleo alleviates my PCOS symptoms does not implicate the Standard American Diet as the sole cause of my disease in the first place.

So did I cause my PCOS? Perhaps. And perhaps not. Right now all of the causes are unclear. I suppose all I can worry myself about right now is treating it. Which I am when I’m able to step back for a moment and stop blaming myself.

“Fast” Paleo Snacks

Fast snacks aren’t exactly the paragon of Paleo. Especially with two little ones, every outing feels like a camping trip. To make things a little easier throughout the day, is is generally how we snack.

My children (ages 3 and 1) also eat these as their snacks as opposed to having separate “kid” snacks lying around the house. There aren’t a lot of fruit options on here because as it turns out, any more than 2 servings in a day for my son = terrible tantrums and major difficulty sleeping. And sometimes 2 servings is too much.

1. Leftovers. This is our big go-to every day, whether it is Mel’s Cottage-Flower Pie or a batch of curry.

2. Raw.

• Cucumber
• Jicama
• Bell peppers
• Avocado
• Sugar snap peas
• Trail Mix (when I’m in a bind) of macs, almonds, walnuts, raisins, apricots, coconut flakes

3. A little more effort.

• Smoothie (frozen strawberries, coconut milk, spinach, cinnamon, etc)
• Guacamole
• Cashew hummus
• Kale salad with whatever protein I have left in the fridge

4. Cook up a batch and store in the fridge.

• Steamed broccoli and cauliflower. Dress with a little olive oil and pepper.
• Sauteed carrots. Sauteed in coconut oil with onions.
• Sauteed green beans. These are pretty frequent right now since my mom’s garden is producing a huge batch every day. Coconut or olive oil, garlic powder, and a little salt and pepper
• Meatballs
• Homemade jerky
• Hard-boiled eggs
• Sausage patties

5. Pre-Made.

• Olives
• Tuna or salmon
• SeaSnax (I prefer Toasty Onion)
• Coconut butter (Artisana is my favorite)
• PaleoKits (usually for traveling)
• Larabars (emergency only)

Any other tips? What do you do for snacks? Can you get out of the house without feeling like it’s a camping trip?

—–

Photo Courtesy

“Fast” Paleo Snacks

Fast snacks aren’t exactly the paragon of Paleo. Especially with two little ones, every outing feels like a camping trip. To make things a little easier throughout the day, is is generally how we snack.

My children (ages 3 and 1) also eat these as their snacks as opposed to having separate “kid” snacks lying around the house. There aren’t a lot of fruit options on here because as it turns out, any more than 2 servings in a day for my son = terrible tantrums and major difficulty sleeping. And sometimes 2 servings is too much.

1. Leftovers. This is our big go-to every day, whether it is Mel’s Cottage-Flower Pie or a batch of curry.

2. Raw.

• Cucumber
• Jicama
• Bell peppers
• Avocado
• Sugar snap peas
• Trail Mix (when I’m in a bind) of macs, almonds, walnuts, raisins, apricots, coconut flakes

3. A little more effort.

• Smoothie (frozen strawberries, coconut milk, spinach, cinnamon, etc)
• Guacamole
• Cashew hummus
• Kale salad with whatever protein I have left in the fridge

4. Cook up a batch and store in the fridge.

• Steamed broccoli and cauliflower. Dress with a little olive oil and pepper.
• Sauteed carrots. Sauteed in coconut oil with onions.
• Sauteed green beans. These are pretty frequent right now since my mom’s garden is producing a huge batch every day. Coconut or olive oil, garlic powder, and a little salt and pepper
• Meatballs
• Homemade jerky
• Hard-boiled eggs
• Sausage patties

5. Pre-Made.

• Olives
• Tuna or salmon
• SeaSnax (I prefer Toasty Onion)
• Coconut butter (Artisana is my favorite)
• PaleoKits (usually for traveling)
• Larabars (emergency only)

Any other tips? What do you do for snacks? Can you get out of the house without feeling like it’s a camping trip?

—–

Photo Courtesy

PCOS Study: Calling All Volunteers

*UPDATE at bottom

As mentioned last week, the PCOS study is ON!

This is not a medical study. Paleo works wonders for me in alleviating/eliminating my PCOS symptoms and I would like to see if others are getting comparable results.

Who can participate? Anyone with PCOS who would like to complete a 30-day Paleo program in the company of other women with PCOS. It doesn’t matter if you have already started eating Paleo or if this is your first step into the Paleo lifestyle.

* Disclaimer: I am not a doctor or medical professional in any way, shape, or form. All participation is completely voluntary and you should consult your doctor before starting a new dietary program or changing your medications. (Does that cover my backside?)

Purpose: To see the effects of a 30-day Paleo diet on the symptoms of PCOS including, but not limited to: weight gain/loss, fatigue, hair loss, excessive hair growth, anxiety, depression, brain fog, acne, acanthosis nigricans, sleep quality, etc.

The Details. Here are the details for anyone who would like to participate:

• Tuesday, September 6. This is our start date–the day after Labor Day. End date is Wednesday, October 5.  The study is 30 days.
  
• Whole3o. Following the Whole30 program is the bulk of the study. All dietary guidelines are included in the link.
• Pre-start questionnaire. Complete a questionnaire prior to beginning. All information will be confidential and will not be shared unless given express permission.
• Before and after photos. Please take these on your own. Further guidelines will be provided.
• Body measurements. I will give you a list of measurements to take before beginning your Whole30 on Tuesday.
• Email Questions. On occasion, I will email a couple of questions to you throughout the 30 days.
• Post-challenge Questionnaire. This will look similar to the first questionnaire.

Any individual information will be kept completely confidential unless given express permission to share it. I will however, publish any collective results here on the blog.

If you would like to participate, please email me so I can give you further details: vibrantsexystrong (at) gmail (dot) com

I look forward to working with all of you! Let’s get a handle on this PCOS crap and start feeling vibrant, sexy, and strong.

UPDATE: Body measurements and photos are also kept completely confidential. Any identifying information will not be seen by anyone but me unless permission is granted prior.

Chapter 6: The Signs

The sixth chapter in my continuing PCOS story. Find all published posts here.

You should have seen it coming.

But how could I have seen it coming? I’d never even heard of PCOS.

There was obviously something wrong with you.

But that was my normal. I didn’t know something was wrong with me.

Oh come off it. It’s your fault it got this far. Look at the signs.

And I did look at the signs.

This monologue was on repeat in my mind for weeks. The self-deprecating, guilt-inducing segment of my brain was right. There were signs.

I didn’t start my period until I was 16.
I’d only had seven periods in my entire life that were not medically-induced. That’s less than one a year.
The pain was so tremendous, I felt like ripping out my own uterus each time I had one of those seven periods.
I was skinny fat first and then just fat.
I was hungry all the time. Nothing satisfied me.
I gained weight no matter how few calories I took in and how much I exercised.
I went in for weekly allergy shots in high school.
Chunks of my hair were always falling out.
Acne only stopped when I was on birth control.
I was exhausted all the time.
I went through four different birth controls, none of them making me feel normal.
I woke up nauseous every morning. For years.
Skin tags. Skin tags everywhere.
Hair on my face and belly and toes and elsewhere.
I had bad sugar crashes in the early morning and again in the late afternoon.
I gained 40 pounds in a year. Unexplained.

But seeing as I only had one body, I didn’t know this was abnormal. A doctor always had a reason why, and none of it pointed to PCOS. I was too skinny for that.

—–

Chapter 6: The Signs

The sixth chapter in my continuing PCOS story. Find all published posts here.

You should have seen it coming.

But how could I have seen it coming? I’d never even heard of PCOS.

There was obviously something wrong with you.

But that was my normal. I didn’t know something was wrong with me.

Oh come off it. It’s your fault it got this far. Look at the signs.

And I did look at the signs.

This monologue was on repeat in my mind for weeks. The self-deprecating, guilt-inducing segment of my brain was right. There were signs.

I didn’t start my period until I was 16.
I’d only had seven periods in my entire life that were not medically-induced. That’s less than one a year.
The pain was so tremendous, I felt like ripping out my own uterus each time I had one of those seven periods.
I was skinny fat first and then just fat.
I was hungry all the time. Nothing satisfied me.
I gained weight no matter how few calories I took in and how much I exercised.
I went in for weekly allergy shots in high school.
Chunks of my hair were always falling out.
Acne only stopped when I was on birth control.
I was exhausted all the time.
I went through four different birth controls, none of them making me feel normal.
I woke up nauseous every morning. For years.
Skin tags. Skin tags everywhere.
Hair on my face and belly and toes and elsewhere.
I had bad sugar crashes in the early morning and again in the late afternoon.
I gained 40 pounds in a year. Unexplained.

But seeing as I only had one body, I didn’t know this was abnormal. A doctor always had a reason why, and none of it pointed to PCOS. I was too skinny for that.

—–

There is No Paleo Diet

Experimenting with Greens

Dr. Cordain spoke about how there is no single Paleo diet because our hunter-gatherer ancestors ate according to their ecological niche.

Further, Chris Kresser of The Healthy Skeptic talks about how he would rather see things referred to as a Paleo template.

I love love love this. I feel like it begins to take into account the differences between each person’s biochemistry and history. Within my own family, we have some pretty distinct differences, so the wide range of food tolerances and optimal food choices would be much greater over a large population.

My son is McCranky Pants if he has fruit before his afternoon nap.

Percentage-wise, my husband needs more carbs than the rest of the family.

I need meat first thing in the morning and greens every single day.

My baby can’t tolerate eggs (hives everywhere…sigh).

While I believe our whole family has gluten problems, my sister-in-law gets severe stomach aches and seems to be the most intolerant of us all.

Robb Wolf even gave an insightful interview (with a shocking revelation about dairy) on these differences in his recent interview with Mark Sisson.

Again, it all comes down to figuring out what works for you. Getting rid of all the potential offenders for 30 days and then slowly reintroducing them to see what kind of reaction – good or bad – you may have.

Admittedly though, I sometimes tire of all this self-experimentation. It’s exhausting and it would be much easier if there was one Paleo diet for the whole world. Then I wouldn’t have to go through the trouble of eliminating macadamia nuts and reintroducing them to come closer to discovering the source of my itchy nose. But that’s all part of the fun, right?

Have you discovered anything in your own experimentation? Is it as tiring for you as it is for me?

2011 PCOS Symposium

The PCOS Symposium.

I attended last year but have put off writing about this year’s event for two months now. Try as I might, I cannot seem to find my notes anywhere. I’m sure they are lost somewhere in the move abyss and will turn up in that box that seems to get unpacked a year later.

No matter. The science part was interesting, but I can find that information on the internet.

The thing that struck me most was the common thread amongst the women–the desire to feel sexy, to feel happy, to feel normal.

Amen to that. It’s amazing what sitting in a room of like-minded people does for the psyche. PCOS was/is a huge focus for all of us. That’s why we went to the symposium in the first place.

With a disorder as unflattering as PCOS, it’s nice to have a little bit of rah-rah. Yes, there’s the clinical stuff. Yes, there’s the management stuff. But sometimes, you just need a pick-me-up. And that’s just what the symposium did. Katie Humphreys spoke about her story, which felt just like my story. And by the nodding heads in the crowd, it was their story too.

Kristine Mills seemed to be in a funk about her PCOS; she was still charming and witty and funny, but just listening to her speak, I could feel her pain. The constant efforting of dealing with PCOS.

When you feel different (and are exhausted from being different), just having that support system can change your outlook. Every day can’t be rah-rah, but once in a while is rejuvenating. I felt an immediate bond with the women I met. PCOS is very isolating, but there’s something very unifying about sitting in a room with a couple hundred women going through the same thing.

Definitely looking forward to next year.

 

Paleo and Mental Health (per Nora Gedgaudas)

I mentioned Nora Gedgaudas briefly in the last post, but her presentation really deserves a post all on its own. Of the phenomenal talks given, Nora’s gave me the biggest kick in the pants to get moving (and that’s saying a lot, since I felt a swift kick after every single presenter).

POINTS FROM Nora Gedgaudas’ Primal Mind: Nutrition and Mental Health: Improving the Way You Feel and Function and Cultivating an Ageless Mind (slideshow linked, will switch to video when it is ready) THAT GOT ME OFF MY DUFF:

1. “Being “mostly” gluten-free is like saying ‘I’m just a little bit pregnant.’ You either are or you’re not. ONLY total and permanent abstinence from gluten can lead to restored health in a person that is gluten sensitive.”

This is quite possibly the statement that impacted me most. We have struggled eating optimally the last couple of months with very evident consequences. During the 5-day road/moving trip that I ate whatever-the-heck-I-wanted-to-eat, I gained 10 pounds. TEN! My PCOS symptoms haven’t returned to the same magnitude, but my ability to handle stress waned greatly and my overall happiness level dropped.

In terms of my son, I have been a little more lax in social situations with family, church, and friends. There is no question in my mind that my little guy is gluten sensitive and the Mama-Bear in me realized it’s more important to protect my son’s health rather than his fun. Too bad our whole culture seems to revolve around gluten. Sigh.

(Note: The baby had her first direct gluten exposure by accident–4 pieces of rotini pasta. Crankiness, runny nose, trouble sleeping, and red eyes. Looks like we’ve got two kiddos with gluten sensitivity)

2. “Nothing is more destabilizing to the brain and nervous system than blood sugar surges (and food sensitivity reactions). Nothing is more stabilizing to the brain than natural dietary fat.”

We’re not just talking gut health. We’re talking brain function. Scary stuff when you’re a mama making choices for your kids.

3. “The same sort of damage that is done to the brain in alcoholism occurs at a slow, but steady rate when consuming any form of a carbohydrate- (sugar- and/or starch-) rich diet.”

Nora mentioned how those suffering from Alzheimer’s have a severe sweet tooth and my own personal schema confirms this. When my son was just a baby, we moved in with an elderly woman for 18 months. She had dementia and an insatiable sweet tooth. I limited her sugar intake because i had a gut feeling that it was contributing to her illness and health. Sometimes I wish I knew then what I know now…

How come we don’t know more about this? Degenerating brains is a big deal.

4. “Both the brain and body need certain raw materials to function. Without this, no amount of therapy will have optimal or lasting results.”

I recently wrote about working with the cards I’ve been handed. But if you aren’t giving your brains and bodies the nutrients they need, you’re limiting the cards you can be handed. Likewise, our brains and bodies can’t just get rid of things that are harming us if we keep putting it there.

5. “Emotions are merely biochemical storms in your body and brain….The healthier your biochemistry, the better the emotional ‘forecast.’ “

My PCOS-, food-guide-following lifestyle made me quite a stormy woman. Amazing how those mood swings lessen or stop altogether when I’m eating awesome.

6. “Your body IS your subconscious mind –Candice Pert, PhD– (and anyone who thinks their conscious mind is running the show is seriously mistaken)”

Amen to that. My body rules my life. My feelings, my emotions, my desires. The same goes with my children. If someone in the house doesn’t get enough sleep, proper nutrition, exercise, etc., the whole household is a hurricane. Personally, I found that I’m generally unfit to make any rational decisions whatsoever under these circumstances because my thought patterns look something like this:

Sleepy…zzz…zzz…

Mmmm…doughnuts…crepes…kettle corn…more please…

The mind and body are not separate entities. They work together or they don’t work together, depending on your health. One isn’t working well without the other.

7. Primal Body, Primal Mind: Beyond the Paleo Diet for Total Health and a Longer Life

Nora just released a revised edition of her book. I haven’t read it yet, but it’s in the mail now and I can hardly wait to pick her brain and hopefully participate in Melicious’ online book group if she gets that going.

Side note: I actually did get a chance to pick her brain at the symposium. She is a woman full of grace and empathy. Also, she’s scary-smart.

Dinner At My Place

* Recipes included: Chicken with Rosemary and Mushroom Glaze, Sauteed Cabbage, Roasted Green Beans

First off, a little math problem:

Disneyland > Every other place on the planet

Ancestral Health Symposium > Disneyland

Therefore…

Ancestral Health Symposium = Awesome

I have a million things synthesizing in my mind about the Ancestral Health Symposium and my mind is totally blown. A lot of my thoughts were confirmed, and even more topics were brought up that I never considered.

But since my brain is fried from a science-heavy weekend, I thought I’d treat myself to an easy post. Dinner.

Here is a typical meal at our house (avocado not pictured). My family scarfs this down like it’s the last meal they will ever have. It’s Paleo-friendly, PCOS-friendly, and scrumptious.

Protein: Chicken with Rosemary and Mushroom Glaze (courtesy Paleo Plan)

We adore this meal. I don’t even care for mushrooms, but I enjoy them immensely in this dish. Probably because Paleo has forced me to stop being so picky. The only issue we have is that the rosemary is a little hard for my 3-year-old to eat.

Carbohydrate: Sauteed Cabbage

Usually, we throw in a handful of pepitas and currants to liven up this dish, but I must have been out.

Ingredients: cabbage, olive oil, salt, pepper

Directions: Saute cabbage over medium heat with olive oil, salt, and pepper to desired tenderness.

Carbohydrate (part 2): Roasted Green Beans

Another family fave. The baby has a harder time with this one, but I just learned from Dr. Michael Mew that she needs to work on chewing hard veggies anyway for her jaw development.

Ingredients: green beans, olive oil, salt, pepper

Directions: Combine ingredients. Bake 350 for 25-30 mins.

Fat: Avocado, Olive Oil, Nuts

Not pictured. Sorry.

If you try any of these, let me know how they turned out. Happy eating!

A Little Piece of Medical History

As a woman with PCOS, I felt misunderstood more often than not. My diagnosis was lonely (what the heck is PCOS?!). As I discovered my support system, it was extremely liberating to meet other women who got it, but they still couldn’t understand my whole situation because mine was different.

Don’t get me wrong, I love connecting with women with PCOS (and with their spouses). So much of their stories resonate with me and I get it. But I’m still a different person. As are they.

I’m sure I’m not the only woman who feels this way. As women with PCOS, we have a desire to connect to one another because of our shared affliction. To feel normal. To feel understood. This is a basic human trait.

But ultimately, the journey is our own because our backgrounds, family histories, genetic make-up, environmental factors, life choices, etc. are highly individual. Some of our symptoms may be the same, but they manifest themselves at varying degrees of severity. We cope with them differently. Hair loss may be the most devastating for one woman while hair growth may be the factor that pushes someone else over the edge.

We are each an Experiment of One. I have seen tremendous success in treating my PCOS through nutrition, even more than I’ve reported here on the blog. I have spent years gathering information, comparing stories and remedies, trying everything under the sun, tweaking until I find something that works. And tweaking more to find something that works even better.

I am working with the hand I’ve been dealt. I have learned so much from other people’s Experiment of One, and finding what works for me. It’s not a quick fix, but it took 24 years for me to develop PCOS (more if we take genetics and family history into account), so I can’t really expect to figure it all out in one fell swoop.

In communicating with other women, I find our shared and different histories intriguing. So will Paleo work for you? I believe it will. You may not have the same results that I have, but that’s because we’re different and need different things.

After a full year of living a Paleo lifestyle (nutrition-wise), I recognize there are a number of things in my past working for and against me. The following list is certainly not comprehensive, but I think it allows me to reflect more accurately on my success.

Things I Was Doing Before Paleo That Made Me Healthier

• No smoking, drinking, drugs, energy drinks. Ever. Twenty-nine years old and these things still haven’t touched my lips.
• No coffee or tea after age 14. Stopped cold turkey.
• No soda or carbonated beverages after age 16. Thirteen years ago, I made a New Year’s Resolution to give up soda for a year and I liked it so much, I never went back.
• Limited sweets and candy before age 18. I just didn’t like it until college, where easy access and fierce hunger made sweet treats much more appealing.
• Exercised for 2 years straight. My bestie was a phenomenal workout partner, and we exercised nearly every day in some capacity for a full two years before I started Paleo.
• Limited sugar for a year. For a year (about 4 months pre-Paleo), I was having a dessert once a week or so, if that. I had also given up chocolate for a year before that.
• Homemade everything. In an effort to eliminate all the unnecessary Franken-sugars in my everyday foods, I cooked and baked everything from scratch. Bread, hamburger buns, yogurt, sauces, anything I could think of.

Things I was Doing Before Paleo That Made Me Less Healthy

• Doing nothing about my periods. I was nearly 16 before my period started and I’ve only had 11 periods on my own without birth control or doctor inducement. I knew this was not normal, but never realized it was not good. After all, I was told how lucky I was whenever it came up.
• The Costco diet. Processed foods ruled my life.
• Rice and potatoes at every meal. When I wasn’t eating a frozen burrito or pizza, I was eating rice or potatoes. I am half Filipino, and a meal is not complete without a serving of rice. Not even Thanksgiving dinner.
• Vegetarian. I’m recovering, slowly but surely. I always counted chicken broth as my meat source and figured that was enough. Which means beans and cheese were a daily occurrence when I was concerned about my protein intake.
• Environmental factors. Mom smoked in the home, car, and worked in a casino. There was a lot of smoke in my life.
• Homemade all of the wrong stuff. Unfortunately, in removing the sugar, I also added a lot of whole wheat.
• Chronic dieting. Also included not eating at all.
• Chronic cardio. Two hours a day, six days a week.
• Food Guide Pyramid Checklist. Yes, I had one of these. I followed it to a T.

For me, knowing where I come from helps me make decisions about where I’m headed next (and where my children are headed). A year of Paleo, and I’m finally starting to see myself. It’s challenging and not that fun to confront my medical history, but once the right changes are made, oh, it hurts so good.

Paleo v. World (Part 3)

From Dr. Cordain's site

My favorite part of this whole battle is Dr. Loren Cordain’s rebuttal. He cites 5 studies regarding the Paleo diet and then broke apart the inaccuracies within the U.S. News report. Enjoy here.

I like the science and new research coming out on the Paleo lifestyle, but do not purport to be a scientist of any type. However, having an opinion seems to be right up my alley, and I’ve taken the liberty to share with you what I think about these studies. So without further adieu, allow me to present Most Convincing, Most Fascinating, and Most Thought-Provoking:

Most Convincing. Paleo Diet vs. Generally-Prescribed Diabetes Diet

The details. 2009. 13 diabetics. Two diets-Paleo and one generally prescribed for people with diabetes. All patients eat one diet for 3 months, then switch to the other for 3 months. Paleo better in: weight loss, waist size, blood pressure, HDL cholesterol, trigylcerides, blood glucose, hemoglobin A1c.

The commentary. As Dr. Cordain says, “The strength of this experiment was its cross over design in which all 13 diabetes patients first ate one diet for three months and then crossed over and ate the other diet for three months….represents the most powerful example to date of the Paleo diet’s effectiveness in treating people with serious health problems.”

All of the patients did both diets, with Paleo winning out for all 13 patients. These are the kind of results that skeptics may refute forever, nitpicking at research design or meal plans. But the lives of those 13 patients are changed forever. Even if they don’t continue with a Paleo diet, they know it works and can choose to take greater charge of their health and follow the Paleo lifestyle.

The source. Jönsson T, Granfeldt Y, Ahrén B, Branell UC, Pålsson G, Hansson A, Söderström M, Lindeberg S. Beneficial effects of a Paleolithic diet on cardiovascular risk factors in type 2 diabetes: a randomized cross-over pilot study. Cardiovasc Diabetol. 2009;8:35

Most Fascinating. The Aborigine Study

The details. 1984. 10 Aboriginal Australians grew up in outback until eventually forced to move into rural community with access to Western foods. All became overweight and diabetic. Returned to outback for 7 weeks. Avg weight loss = 16.7 pounds. Cholesterol down 12%. Triglycerides down 72%. Insulin and glucose metabolism = normal = no more diabetes.

The commentary. Honestly, I don’t really care about the anthropological reasons we eat Paleo. Sure, it’s nice to know, but my reason for eating Paleo is for optimal health and not to emulate cavemen. Of course, the fact that they align well makes for a nice marketing tool.

What I find supremely fascinating is that this study was done in the first place. Ten Aboriginal Australians returning to the Outback for seven weeks in 1984, presumably voluntarily, when diet trends were most un-Paleolithic in their low-fat, vegetable oil-pushing, pasta-promoting ways. Is it even possible to conduct this type of study today? Would we be able to find a population that is suffering as a whole from a modern diet, but were also raised to be hunter-gatherers? I wish we had more studies like this one, more for my nerdy reading pleasure than anything else. Or maybe I could at least convince Tom Naughton to make a movie about it.

The source. O’Dea K: Marked improvement in carbohydrate and lipid metabolism in diabetic Australian aborigines after temporary reversion to traditional lifestyle. Diabetes 1984, 33(6):596-603.

Most Thought-Provoking. Paleo vs. Mediterranean

The details. 2007. Twenty-nine diabetics placed on 12-week regimen of either Paleo or Mediterranean (whole grains, margarines, oils, fruits/veggies, low-fat dairy). Decreased risk for heart disease in both. Bigger decrease for Paleo. Follow-up study shows Paleo is more satisfying, calorie-for-calorie.

The commentary. This is actually a topic for a future post, so I’ll be brief. Basically, the Mediterranean diet worked in some ways. A good reminder that even if I personally believe Paleo is the way to optimal health, it doesn’t cancel out that other diets still result in improved health, even if not wholly improved.

The source. Lindeberg S, Jonsson T, Granfeldt Y, Borgstrand E, Soffman J, Sjostrom K, Ahren B: A Palaeolithic diet improves glucose tolerance more than a Mediterranean-like diet in individuals with ischaemic heart disease. Diabetologia 2007, 50(9):1795-1807.

—–

This ends my Paleo v. World series (catch Part 1 and Part 2 if you didn’t get a chance).

Is this whole Paleo battle just silly or is it necessary? Did anyone else read the report or rebuttals? What did you find interesting, annoying, validating, infuriating, etc.?

Paleo v. World (Part 2)

As mentioned in Paleo v. World (Part 1), the Paleo community was up in arms in June. U.S. News and World Report “evaluated 20 of the most popular diets and identified the best” which was most unfavorable for Paleo

followers. Of the five catgeories–Best Diets Overall, Best Weight Loss Diets, Best Diabetes Diets, Best Heart-Healthy Diets, Best Commercial Diets–Paleo ranked dead-last in three of them, tied for last in one category, and went unranked in the fifth since it didn’t meet the category qualifications (Commercial Diets).

Naturally, I totally disagree. Having tried half of those diets myself and having the very opposite of success culminating in an autoimmune disorder, I can’t really give them the glowing recommendation that US News finds appropriate.

Dr. Cordain made a pretty awesome science-based rebuttal and Robb Wolf commented briefly on it here and here. I recognize that all of this supporting evidence could be poorly-researched, fabricated, etc. Just like in any experiment. However, in my Experiment of One (+3 if you count the rest of my household), Paleo trounces all the rest of those “healthy” diets.

If you would like to read how Slim-Fast will make you healthier than Paleo, feel free to read the full report. Otherwise, here are a few of my own thoughts:

Regarding the Report:

1. The top diet is government-endorsed (read: Food Guide Pyramid/Plate). Incidentally, Big Ag and Big Pharma also have a vested interest in government-endorsed food.
2. Many of the highest ranked diets also have a lot of money tied to them through their corresponding product lines and advertising budgets.
3. It almost appears you would be healthiest following their suggestions from the bottom up.
4. Underneath each diet reads, “Did this diet work for you?” Paleo had a pretty strong positive response for some time, but is now looking overwhelmingly ineffective. When I tried to vote (twice), my yes response took away a vote for yes and added a vote for no. It may just be a flaw on the computers I was using, but who knows. Just recognize two of those No votes were actually my Yes votes.

Regarding the Paleo Section (italics are quotes from the report):

1. Will you lose weight? No way to tell. Hmmm. There sure could be a less biased way to say this. Perhaps something like, “More research needs to be conducted.” Or maybe just look at the research.
2. Can it prevent or control diabetes? Unknown. Again, look at the research. There isn’t a lot of it, but there’s enough to make note.
3. Carbohydrates. At 23 percent of daily calories from carbs, it’s far below the government’s 45 to 65 percent recommendation. I think that’s a pretty big plus sign.
4. Salt. The majority of Americans eat too much salt…. You won’t have trouble staying under… cavemen didn’t have table salt and high-sodium processed foods, and fresh produce is virtually sodium-free. Well, that’s fine news!
5. Diets that restrict entire food groups are difficult to follow. Can’t really argue with that. It probably explains why so many people are unhealthy.
6. You’ll have lots of sites and books for support. Amen to that. Thank you Everyday Paleo and Paleo Plan. You make dinnertime so much easier.
7. Timesavers. None, unless you hire somebody to plan your meals, shop for t hem, and prepare them. Sigh. Spot on with this one.
8. You shouldn’t feel hungry on this diet–protein and fiber are filling, and you’ll get plenty of both. That’s true. When I eat right, I’m never hungry. Even when I want to be.
9. The sample meal plan included 3 pork chops and 2 salads. (Perceived) Lack of variety + restriction of favorite foods. No wonder there aren’t more people chompin’ at the bit to get started.

Regarding Nutrients and a Balanced Diet

The report also broke down the diets into categories: low-carb, low-cal, low-fat, and balanced, implying that low(er) carbohydrate diets (such as Paleo) are not balanced.

In looking at the categories, I realized I had never questioned what a balanced diet was before. I suppose I just assumed it was eating healthy, without truly giving it a definition. I still don’t have a solid one to offer up, but I err on the side of picturing a plate that is balanced in nutrients rather than food groups.

Interestingly enough, the portion regarding “nutrients of concern” in the Best Diets report was shockingly positive considering how poor the overall review was. The 2010 Dietary Guidelines singled out 5 nutrients to look out for because many Americans get too little of them. Read what the report said regarding Paleo and these key nutrients:

• Fiber. With such a heavy emphasis on fruits and veggies, you’ll exceed your target.
• Potassium. It’s not that easy to get the recommended daily 4,700 mg from food….A sample Paleo diet was nearly double the government’s suggested goal–one of few diets that manages to do it.
• Calcium. Because you’re not allowed dairy or fortified cereals, you’ll likely only get about 700 mg from a Paleo menu (recommended: 1000-1300 mg)
• Vitamin B-12. You’ll have no trouble meeting the recommendation–fish and meat are B-12 powerhouses.
• Vitamin D. You’ll get very little or none, so you’ll either have to supplement (the non-caveman way) or just make sure you spend enough time in the sun to get the 15 mg recommended.

Interesting, no? Paleo is the worst diet on the list, and yet offers up an ample amount of  out of 5 nutrients of concern, i.e. the nutrients people following the standard diets are not getting enough of. Further, Vitamin D deficiencies are a problem no matter which diet you’re on and let’s save the calcium-magnesium confusion for another post.

So despite the terrible rating, there were some positive gems hidden within the Paleo explanation. And perhaps as a result of the Paleo community backlash, yahoo! published a not-totally-bad-kinda-good article this week. Already some good coming from the bad.

—–

On Monday’s Docket: Dr. Cordain rebuttal notes