Keys to the Paleo lifestyle
Diet is a word I hate to use, for
goodness sake, I am a chef, so why bite the hand that feeds you (pun intended).
No-body wants to be on a diet. Eating this way is a lifestyle change.
We try to eat well, and that means real food, not fake, processed food.
Eat lean meats, and vegetables, nuts and seeds, some fruit, little starch and
no sugar. Do we have cheat days? Of course we do, but better to view all food
as fuel and the cleaner the fuel, the better the burn.
I have been on a bit of a crusade
of late, brought about by a health crisis which was killing me. Fortunately, I
got a second chance at getting it right, when so many people don’t. So if I
appear to be on my soap box, I have a vested interest in my future well-being
and hopefully yours.
I hasten to add, that I “stumbled”
on the lifestyle known as Paleo whilst researching medical and nutritional sites
to help me combat my drastic health slump. I wasn't looking for a diet, I was
searching for an answer to deal with my health issues. I had noticed that the
choices I had already made, were reaping drastic results and I wanted to know
why? Was it chance?, was it temporal? or was my eating habits that were bringing
the results?
The term Paleo is an enigma
really and I prefer to refer to my changes as being reverting to “whole foods”
and refusing any foods which have gone through a processing plant.
I need to
qualify my expertise here. I am a trained and qualified chef with 40+ years of
practical experience, qualified in: food and meat technology, butchery, bakery,
meat inspection, small goods manufacturing, adult teaching, work place assessor
and life coach. I love food and it nearly killed me!
I think I am qualified to
make an informed observation with a vested interest in a positive outcome.
First of all, I had to
acknowledge the state I was in, despite medical intervention and following
their advice and medication, I was getting worse. The medications were having ongoing
effects on my body, from high blood pressure, protein in my urine, kidney
pains, stomach pain, cold sweats, ridiculously high sugar levels, dizziness,
abscesses, depression and general feeling of un-wellness. I couldn’t sleep or
focus. My weight (though I had lost 15 kg) was still in the obese BMI range. My
diet was sensible and I don’t drink, smoke or take drugs, so there was little
left for me to do, yet I was getting worse on a day by day basis.
My
inspiration came from a bible passage found in the book of Ephesians 6:13 “and having
done all, to stand”. The two keys are found in its verse:
- We need to do what is within our ability to do (eat the way we were intended to eat)
- Make it a habit by starting, continuing and sticking to the plan. Do and Stand.
Blame is useless and
unproductive. I can be consoled by professionals that call my state “a genetic
issue”, I can blame the pharmaceutical companies for their toxic blends, even
the scientists and medical professionals for not providing a cure, but the
truths are far more sinister than that. I believe it comes in the boxes,
packets and cans that we open on a daily basis, because we “trust” the labels.
We
have been conditioned by our governments to believe that the food manufacturing
regulations are safe and by following the latest scientific viewpoint we will
be fine? My question to them is this. Why do we have a worldwide diabetes
epidemic? Why is cancer so prevalent in the western world?, and why is natural
fat bad for us, but sugar isn't?
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Well let me answer that for you!
Because our food source is processed and adjusted in order to last longer, be
more addictive to our palette and bodies, thus making more profit for the
producers. We have swallowed the marketing hype for sugared drinks masquerading
as energy sources and consume bottled water @ $4-$6 a bottle as if to avoid some
pending onset of internal combustion.
No amount of water drinking will improve one’s
health if the food we consume is fueled with sugar, fats, antibiotics, (from
animal sources), pesticides (from crops) nitrates and nitrites, (carcinogenic), food extenders, gluten, stabilisers and anti-oxidants.
If it’s processed it isn't natural, and our bodies are not designed to deal
with such continual pollutants and carcinogenic materials.
Interestingly, a
German corpse will take several weeks longer to decompose (than elsewhere in Europe), due to the high
levels of nitrates consumed through their favourite food, sausage. Humans after
all are meat, and the same process used to cure meat, enters us via our food
sources.
And before anyone accuses me of
being a vegetarian and anti-meat eater? Forget it! I make my own sausages,
butcher my own meat and probably consume more meat than the average male. Ensuring
we know what’s in our food and trusts its source is key. Don’t trust the label; eat
food that doesn't have one where possible.
Here are some facts that helped
me take back control over my health decline.
Fact 1 Most diets today are
high in carbs, sugar, refined grains, and industrial vegetable oils, with very
little healthy animal fat. Yet every cell in our body is made from fat, and we
need a lot of the nutrient-rich kind in animal meat for hormone balance, immune
health, and optimal performance. Research also suggests that a high-fat diet
can also cause metabolic changes and speed weight loss.
Fact 2 Since the advent of
agriculture, we've slowly increased our grain consumption. Today, some of the
cheapest and most readily available foods are made from inexpensive, subsidized
grains such as corn and wheat. These foods, like cereal, bread, pasta, and pizza,
are also largely devoid of nutrients. They drive up insulin, putting our bodies
in fat-storing mode, and cause us to crave more of them by the use of chemical
additives. Try visiting your café and asking this question? “What can I
eat that hasn’t got starch, gluten or flour in it?”
Fact 3 The most nutrient-dense
foods – and one of the primary components of a paleo diet – are vegetables. Try
eating more of the healthiest: kale, seaweed, spinach, and arugula. The second
most nutrient-dense food is meat from wild or grass-fed animals, like fish,
cattle, buffalo, and boar. Animal meat is high in B vitamins, omega-3s, amino
acids, and other nutrients essential to good health.
Fact 4 Before refrigeration,
foods were preserved by fermentation, but today, we rarely eat fermented foods
– and that's not a good thing. Fermented foods contain probiotics, healthy gut
bacteria that increase digestion, nutrient delivery, and immune health.
Scientists believe probiotics in fermented foods like sauerkraut were crucial
to gut health thousands of years go.
Fact 5 Research suggests that
meat from industrially raised livestock fed growth hormones, antibiotics, and
unnatural grain feed contains harmful chemical residues and fewer nutrients.
Meat from cows that eat a high-grain diet, for example, is lower in omega-3s
and CLA, a fat thought to reduce stomach fat and help prevent cancer. For these
reasons, eating naturally raised or wild meat is important, as is consuming
organic or locally grown produce without fertilizers, pesticides, or genetic
modification.
Fact 6 One of the
quickest-growing nutrition trends is intermittent fasting (IF) – going
prolonged periods without eating – which research shows helps reduce the risk
of diabetes, cognitive decline, heart disease, and cancer. Some of IF's biggest
proponents are paleo followers, who believe our bodies were designed to go
without food for long stretches. Try fasting for up
to 16 hours several days a week to boost energy and
mood.
Fact 7 Without doctors, mass
media, and the Internet, cavemen had no choice but to listen to their bodies if
they didn't feel optimal. Everyone is different. Some people have trouble with
dairy, while others can't stomach wheat. One thing's certain: We can all
benefit from a little self-experimentation. The paleo movement believes in
learning the rhythms of your own body and eating and exercising in accordance
to how you as an individual thrive best.
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| More than 1 Billion people around the world are obese |
Post script:
My weight has stabilized with
a total loss of 30kg. Blood sugar is in the normal range, H1c’s within the normal
range. My blood pressure is excellent and all infections gone. I sleep well,
eat well and have a more positive outlook on life.
The miracle is found in the
having done all, stand. You may be faced with a similar challenge to myself,
and if that’s the case, then take back your life. Take responsibility away from
the marketers, and profiteers’ by making lifestyle choices now. Sadly, though we may correct our eating habits today, any long terms effects from a lifetime of eating wrongly, may have already taken their toll. For the sake of our children, grandchildren and future generations, lets not wait for another scientific review as the evidence is clear enough right now. We are what we eat!
In the weeks to
come, I will share with you some great recipes and tips, along with a support
structure to empower your progress. Follow me on twitter @coaching4lifeNZ or
facebook coaching-4-life-Ltd.
