I'm reading Dr. Loren Cordain's book, "The Paleo Diet" - he is considered one of the foremost experts on paleolithic nutrition, and the book is written in a way that I can understand.
I'm overwhelmed by the constant references to clinical trials, and all of the good and bad qualities of numerous oils, acids, etc. It's too much information, but he continually reinforces lean meats, veggies and fruits as the basis of the diet. The book has a ton of recipes, and resources for getting fresh game meats, etc delivered if you don't live in a hippie friendly city like I do. :-)
One of the most interesting tidbits I've learned from this book is the relationship between omega 6 polyunsaturated fats and omega 3 polyunsaturated fats. Omega 3's are found in fish, veggies, good oils, and walnuts (some other nuts are good, but walnuts are the best). Omega 6's are found in highly processed foods, and Omega 6 is contributed to the development of heart disease and certain forms of cancer - it also aggravates auto-immune and inflammatory diseases. The ratio for Omega 6 to Omega 3 fats should be about 2:1, but in the average American diet, that ratio is more like 10:1 or 15:1 - pathetic, huh? We wonder why we are so unhealthy...
I also thought that nuts, in general, were good for you. Not so - all nuts and seed, except for walnuts and possibly macadamia nuts have unacceptable levels of omega 6 to omega 3 fats. Pumpkin, sunflower seeds, almonds, and peanuts are the worst offenders - the ratio of sunflower seeds omega 6 to omega 3 is horrifying. Keep in mind that the desired ratio is 2:1; sunflower seeds boast a ratio of 472.9:1. Unbelievable. Does this mean that we should stop eating all of these nuts? Of course not; they do have healthful benefits for us as well. But it does mean that they should be eating sparingly, and used more as toppings for salads, etc, than eating plain by the handful.
One other statistic jumped out at me from the page while I was reading last night. The humane genome, according to carbon dating and DNA studies, has changed 0.02% in the last 40,000 years. Staggering. Even if you don't buy into evolution and carbon dating, etc - and think that the archeologists are 30,000 years off on the bodies that they are excavating and testing - fine. But you can't argue with the 0.02% change. It's amazing to see how in the last 300 years, most notably in the last 50 years, how much our diet has changed. It is making us sick? Are we betraying thousands of generations of wisdom?
For my health's sake, I hope that the answers to these questions are yes. I hope that by going through this crazy diet overhaul I'll eventually get better.
Tuesday, December 30, 2008
Monday, December 29, 2008
5 hours later, still at home.
I'm better. I had a nice lunch of broccoli, onion and carrots. I made an organic beef stew for dinner, basically with the same ingredients as the lamb stew I made last week. I have plenty left over; I'll have meals for the next few days! I'm drinking my all natural organic carrot-orange juice (actually not too bad, sort of tasty!). These organic juices are expensive, yes, but they are so thick that if you mix half water and half juice together, it's basically like drinking a normal glass of juice. So that little bottle that cost as much as a normal non-organic bottle of juice is really the same amount, provided a mixture with water.
I do have a little headache, but I managed to get a bit of strength training done at home with my yoga mat. It felt good - but every time I do any sort of strength training it is a painful reminder of how much I have lost in the last few months. Seriously. My 30 pound pack from my Europe adventure was nothing to me then - it would be too much to handle right now.
I have found a yummy snack that I do enjoy very much, though. An organic banana with organic honey. When I'm craving something sweet, I usually go for this. The banana fills me up; the honey satisfies my sweet craving. It's a perfect ending to my dinner.
The organic raw honey has grown on me. At first I didn't like the taste of it, and I didn't care for the pieces of honeycomb that were floating around the top of the jar. I have come to love the crunchy "surprises" in my honey, and I like the natural sweetness that the honey gives my food. Screw Splenda. I love this stuff.
I do have a little headache, but I managed to get a bit of strength training done at home with my yoga mat. It felt good - but every time I do any sort of strength training it is a painful reminder of how much I have lost in the last few months. Seriously. My 30 pound pack from my Europe adventure was nothing to me then - it would be too much to handle right now.
I have found a yummy snack that I do enjoy very much, though. An organic banana with organic honey. When I'm craving something sweet, I usually go for this. The banana fills me up; the honey satisfies my sweet craving. It's a perfect ending to my dinner.
The organic raw honey has grown on me. At first I didn't like the taste of it, and I didn't care for the pieces of honeycomb that were floating around the top of the jar. I have come to love the crunchy "surprises" in my honey, and I like the natural sweetness that the honey gives my food. Screw Splenda. I love this stuff.
Bad move, jeans.
Well, it's been two months. Two months since I was attached to multiple wires in the ICU of Beth Israel Hospital in Boston, and all things considered, I've had an almost miraculous recovery. I have some difficultly walking, but only rarely does it really interfere with whatever I am doing. I still get headaches, but they are less severe and shorter in duration all the time. I have felt pretty good in the last week, so I thought that I had more than enough energy to go to a "Total Body Workout" class at my gym just down the street.
Bad move, jeans.
Ten minutes into the class my legs started to feel incredibly weak - and not in the "wow this is a great workout" way of feeling week. I've run 20 mile training runs before - I know the "tired" feeling from the "holy crap stop right now before this gets too bad" feeling. This was most definitely not a good feeling. My head felt odd - not really a headache, but something was off. I put away my mat and dumbbells in the middle of the class and quietly slipped out the back.
I picked up an all natural orange and mango juice at the store adjacent to the gym (one of those fancy schmancy all organic and natural 3 dollar single serving juice drinks...) and ate a banana quickly - and I feel some better, but I'm staying in my room for the next few hours. I'll eat some soup and some veggies soon, and I'm keeping my natural sugar levels up with grapes and apples as best as I can. That was a bad move - I'm obviously not ready for rigorous exercise. I'll stick to my leisurely 30 minute stationary bike rides for now.
It's so frustrating. Four months ago, I was running upwards of 40 miles a week. A simple 45 minute workout would have been nothing. Absolutely nothing. And while I've made amazing progress in my recovery thus far, I hate that I've lost massive amounts of muscle and I seem to still need extra hours of sleep at night. I suppose I can't really do anything but keep giving my body good food, letting it sleep as much as it needs to, and taking it easy on the gym side of things.
I suppose I'll get there eventually....
Bad move, jeans.
Ten minutes into the class my legs started to feel incredibly weak - and not in the "wow this is a great workout" way of feeling week. I've run 20 mile training runs before - I know the "tired" feeling from the "holy crap stop right now before this gets too bad" feeling. This was most definitely not a good feeling. My head felt odd - not really a headache, but something was off. I put away my mat and dumbbells in the middle of the class and quietly slipped out the back.
I picked up an all natural orange and mango juice at the store adjacent to the gym (one of those fancy schmancy all organic and natural 3 dollar single serving juice drinks...) and ate a banana quickly - and I feel some better, but I'm staying in my room for the next few hours. I'll eat some soup and some veggies soon, and I'm keeping my natural sugar levels up with grapes and apples as best as I can. That was a bad move - I'm obviously not ready for rigorous exercise. I'll stick to my leisurely 30 minute stationary bike rides for now.
It's so frustrating. Four months ago, I was running upwards of 40 miles a week. A simple 45 minute workout would have been nothing. Absolutely nothing. And while I've made amazing progress in my recovery thus far, I hate that I've lost massive amounts of muscle and I seem to still need extra hours of sleep at night. I suppose I can't really do anything but keep giving my body good food, letting it sleep as much as it needs to, and taking it easy on the gym side of things.
I suppose I'll get there eventually....
Saturday, December 27, 2008
Difficultly in dining-ville.
So my food at home is definitely becoming more and more paleo-friendly. I'm officially out of butter, dairy milk, and I only have oatmeal left for carbs. I sadly ate the remainder of my fiber based cereal last week.
I'm making stews and salad for my meals, and I'm officially addicted to apple cider in the mornings. Such a good wake up - and so much better than coffee or tea. (Only if you get the all natural no sugar added apple cider, though!)
But what to do about dining out? I'm a single gal in a big city - I eat out with my friends. It's our social outlet - nobody has big kitchens or big apartments here, and everyone has rotating crazy schedules.
The bread course has become my biggest annoyance - why every restaurant seems to think that you want a chunk of butter with hot bread before every meal is beyond me. It's a crazy hard temptation to overcome - this bread. That darn bread. Granted, I am still eating carbs, but I am trying to limit my intake of them - especially certain kinds.
As of January 1st, I am going to give up all refined sugars. It will join the coffee/tea/soda list. This will mean no more cookies, no more sweets, etc. It will also mean that I will most likely be in the produce section of my co-op twice a week, looking for fruits to satisfy any sugar or sweets needs.
I'll also be trying out some paleo "cookie" recipes, with lots of almonds and raw honey. Stay tuned; I'll be posting pictures.
I'm making stews and salad for my meals, and I'm officially addicted to apple cider in the mornings. Such a good wake up - and so much better than coffee or tea. (Only if you get the all natural no sugar added apple cider, though!)
But what to do about dining out? I'm a single gal in a big city - I eat out with my friends. It's our social outlet - nobody has big kitchens or big apartments here, and everyone has rotating crazy schedules.
The bread course has become my biggest annoyance - why every restaurant seems to think that you want a chunk of butter with hot bread before every meal is beyond me. It's a crazy hard temptation to overcome - this bread. That darn bread. Granted, I am still eating carbs, but I am trying to limit my intake of them - especially certain kinds.
As of January 1st, I am going to give up all refined sugars. It will join the coffee/tea/soda list. This will mean no more cookies, no more sweets, etc. It will also mean that I will most likely be in the produce section of my co-op twice a week, looking for fruits to satisfy any sugar or sweets needs.
I'll also be trying out some paleo "cookie" recipes, with lots of almonds and raw honey. Stay tuned; I'll be posting pictures.
Wednesday, December 24, 2008
A relaxing few days...
I am pleased to report to my readers that I haven't taken any migraine medicine in almost a week!
I'm happily sitting in my living room with a hot cup of apple cider just past midnight, now on Christmas Day, and I have a slight twinge of a headache, but nothing that will warrant any medication. It is a glimmer of hope; perhaps one day soon I will be back to 100% of my prior activities.
Granted, I understand that I am off of a "normal" schedule. I'm sleeping as much as I want, reading for pleasure and taking the time to really prepare good meals for myself. I'm certainly not sitting for hours in a fluorescent glowing library, straining over textbooks and novels. I get it; this is not a normal week, and therefore any side effects can't be sustainable if they are wholly due to the circumstances.
But man, this sure feels great. I'm warm, I'm full, I'm headache free, and I'm moving my right toes more lately than I have been able to in the recent months. These damn right toes have sure been finicky - occasionally I will lose my balance because of them and have an embarrassing encounter with the wall or ground, and I would love to stop those rendezvous! For the most part, I have adjusted to walking... but every now and then... wham! :-) (For the record, I never out and out fall flat on my face.... it's more like an awkward Jenga game when you know that you'll fall over and can brace yourself adequately (but never gracefully).
Is it the new diet? I'm still eating complex carbs, but even the no coffee/tea/soda rule has made me feel infinitely better. I feel healthier, I feel calmer, happier, and less moody. I'm sleeping a million times better than I used to, and I'm dreaming more as well. (Isn't that supposed to mean that I'm having more restful sleep when I remember my dreams more?)
Let's just hope that these feel good days continue when I hit the books and the grueling schedule again in a few weeks.
I'm happily sitting in my living room with a hot cup of apple cider just past midnight, now on Christmas Day, and I have a slight twinge of a headache, but nothing that will warrant any medication. It is a glimmer of hope; perhaps one day soon I will be back to 100% of my prior activities.
Granted, I understand that I am off of a "normal" schedule. I'm sleeping as much as I want, reading for pleasure and taking the time to really prepare good meals for myself. I'm certainly not sitting for hours in a fluorescent glowing library, straining over textbooks and novels. I get it; this is not a normal week, and therefore any side effects can't be sustainable if they are wholly due to the circumstances.
But man, this sure feels great. I'm warm, I'm full, I'm headache free, and I'm moving my right toes more lately than I have been able to in the recent months. These damn right toes have sure been finicky - occasionally I will lose my balance because of them and have an embarrassing encounter with the wall or ground, and I would love to stop those rendezvous! For the most part, I have adjusted to walking... but every now and then... wham! :-) (For the record, I never out and out fall flat on my face.... it's more like an awkward Jenga game when you know that you'll fall over and can brace yourself adequately (but never gracefully).
Is it the new diet? I'm still eating complex carbs, but even the no coffee/tea/soda rule has made me feel infinitely better. I feel healthier, I feel calmer, happier, and less moody. I'm sleeping a million times better than I used to, and I'm dreaming more as well. (Isn't that supposed to mean that I'm having more restful sleep when I remember my dreams more?)
Let's just hope that these feel good days continue when I hit the books and the grueling schedule again in a few weeks.
Tuesday, December 23, 2008
In need of warmth - Part II
It's still freezing cold here, but I managed to make it out for a few hours in the afternoon for some errands. I stopped by the local co-op and picked up some fresh foods so I could come home and make a pot of stew.
Here's what I used:
2 cans chicken stock, some extra water
Three roma tomatoes
Couple of handfuls of fresh okra
Freshly chopped mushrooms
1 onion
2 garlic cloves
1 package of organic lamb stew meat
(All ingredients organic as could find....)
It was a fantastic stew! And I am full, and happy. :-)
Here's what I used:
2 cans chicken stock, some extra water
Three roma tomatoes
Couple of handfuls of fresh okra
Freshly chopped mushrooms
1 onion
2 garlic cloves
1 package of organic lamb stew meat
(All ingredients organic as could find....)
It was a fantastic stew! And I am full, and happy. :-)
Sunday, December 21, 2008
In need of warmth.
It's been snowing, literally, all weekend. And with all this snow, I have been wanting all the things that I need to be taking out of my diet: Hot cocoa, mashed potatoes, coffee, warm brownies.
I drank the rest of my apple cider this morning for a quick wake me up. Apple cider is totally the new coffee. It gives me a warm feeling in the cold morning, some natural sugar for waking up, and it's tasty but still sugary - which keeps me happy with one or two mugfuls. I always drank coffee and tea plain, so I could drink 4-6 cups easily. Obviously, this was not good for me.
I had picked up some small organic steaks from the local co-op before the storm, and defrosted and cooked them for dinner tonight. Because I had the time, I made a nice marinade with canola oil, red wine vinegar, fresh garlic, black pepper, a touch of rosemary and a hunk of raw honey. I threw it in the pan with the steaks and it gave a sweet, spicy edge to them. Yum!
I'm really not too hungry today (I blame sedentary life!), but I wanted a bit of fruit after the steak, so I picked up one of my organic apples, cut it up and threw it in a pan with some soy milk, nutmeg and cinnamon and baked it for about 30 minutes. The perfect yummy treat to warm me up on this bitterly cold night.
I fell of the paleo-wagon last night (just a bit!). The chef made a chicken curry with white rice and no salad.... and I was counting on baked chicken or meatloaf with a salad. (That's what it usually is...) I didn't have any options; I ate what was in front of me. And someone brought Oreos, so I had a few of those too. Ooops.
I suppose it's not the end of the world to have a meal every now and then that's not in strict accordance with this new nutritional regime, though I want to be careful about rationalizing any "slips". My major concern while eating the food wasn't really straying from my new diet, it was that my digestive system was going to go crazy and I would spend my entire night waiting tables while dashing in and out of the bathroom. I mean, you never know. You get your body used to plain food... and then you feed it curry. If that's not playing with fire, I don't know what is. The good news is, I was perfectly fine.
I've never really been on a true diet, so I can't say that I know what the cringe of guilt the morning after you eat something you are not supposed to is like. But really, I was fine this morning. I was even happy that I had still managed to enjoy foods that wouldn't necessarily fit in with my normal routine without the pangs of guilt.
But back to reality this morning. Apple cider, and fiber based cereal... and I didn't eat again until my steak tonight. I'm not sure what the deal is - why am I not hungry? I need to keep my caloric intake up; I can't go losing too much weight here.
Especially - not when it's 20 degrees outside with 10 inches of snow and ice to get through!
I drank the rest of my apple cider this morning for a quick wake me up. Apple cider is totally the new coffee. It gives me a warm feeling in the cold morning, some natural sugar for waking up, and it's tasty but still sugary - which keeps me happy with one or two mugfuls. I always drank coffee and tea plain, so I could drink 4-6 cups easily. Obviously, this was not good for me.
I had picked up some small organic steaks from the local co-op before the storm, and defrosted and cooked them for dinner tonight. Because I had the time, I made a nice marinade with canola oil, red wine vinegar, fresh garlic, black pepper, a touch of rosemary and a hunk of raw honey. I threw it in the pan with the steaks and it gave a sweet, spicy edge to them. Yum!
I'm really not too hungry today (I blame sedentary life!), but I wanted a bit of fruit after the steak, so I picked up one of my organic apples, cut it up and threw it in a pan with some soy milk, nutmeg and cinnamon and baked it for about 30 minutes. The perfect yummy treat to warm me up on this bitterly cold night.
I fell of the paleo-wagon last night (just a bit!). The chef made a chicken curry with white rice and no salad.... and I was counting on baked chicken or meatloaf with a salad. (That's what it usually is...) I didn't have any options; I ate what was in front of me. And someone brought Oreos, so I had a few of those too. Ooops.
I suppose it's not the end of the world to have a meal every now and then that's not in strict accordance with this new nutritional regime, though I want to be careful about rationalizing any "slips". My major concern while eating the food wasn't really straying from my new diet, it was that my digestive system was going to go crazy and I would spend my entire night waiting tables while dashing in and out of the bathroom. I mean, you never know. You get your body used to plain food... and then you feed it curry. If that's not playing with fire, I don't know what is. The good news is, I was perfectly fine.
I've never really been on a true diet, so I can't say that I know what the cringe of guilt the morning after you eat something you are not supposed to is like. But really, I was fine this morning. I was even happy that I had still managed to enjoy foods that wouldn't necessarily fit in with my normal routine without the pangs of guilt.
But back to reality this morning. Apple cider, and fiber based cereal... and I didn't eat again until my steak tonight. I'm not sure what the deal is - why am I not hungry? I need to keep my caloric intake up; I can't go losing too much weight here.
Especially - not when it's 20 degrees outside with 10 inches of snow and ice to get through!
Saturday, December 20, 2008
Snowstorm Paleo!!
It's been freezing cold in my house and I've been trapped in my room with my tiny space heater and my electric blanket, just trying to stay warm. For some crazy reason, my roommates seem to think that 62 degrees is an adequate temperature for the house during the winter.
Instead of sipping teas or hot cocoa, I've been enjoying hot apple cider for the last day. It's working well; I need some hot liquid to keep me warm, and apple cider is working well. I suppose those that like the calorie free options of coffee or tea would cringe at the calories I'm taking in from 3-4 cups of apple cider a day, but frankly, I don't care. Bring it on!
Side note: I am still drinking plenty of water.
I'm tired. And yes, I know that it is partly from the completion of a long, drawn out, exhausting semester of school. I spent way too much time in the hospital and at doctor's offices, and in return, spent way too much time at the close of the semester beating my head against the library desks at school. But I also know that this exhaustion is coming from a change in my nutrition - lack of carbs, lower glycemic intake, etc.
So the normal response would be to grab a cup of coffee. Not an option for me - so I am pushing through it as well as I can.
For breakfast this morning, I ate another small bowl of my complex carb oatmeal, and an entire bowl of canned peaches. For a quick lunch, I finished a bit of my Kashi fiber cereal and ate a hard boiled egg. I'm planning on a glass of my funky all-natural pomegranate acai berry fiber something or rather juice before I take off for work, and then whatever the chefs serve for staff meal, I'll have to make do with it. Usually they give us a salad and some sort of meat option, so I should be able to have a decently paleo-friendly dinner at work tonight.
Unfortunately, this is all dependent on me having enough energy to make it to work in an hour!
Instead of sipping teas or hot cocoa, I've been enjoying hot apple cider for the last day. It's working well; I need some hot liquid to keep me warm, and apple cider is working well. I suppose those that like the calorie free options of coffee or tea would cringe at the calories I'm taking in from 3-4 cups of apple cider a day, but frankly, I don't care. Bring it on!
Side note: I am still drinking plenty of water.
I'm tired. And yes, I know that it is partly from the completion of a long, drawn out, exhausting semester of school. I spent way too much time in the hospital and at doctor's offices, and in return, spent way too much time at the close of the semester beating my head against the library desks at school. But I also know that this exhaustion is coming from a change in my nutrition - lack of carbs, lower glycemic intake, etc.
So the normal response would be to grab a cup of coffee. Not an option for me - so I am pushing through it as well as I can.
For breakfast this morning, I ate another small bowl of my complex carb oatmeal, and an entire bowl of canned peaches. For a quick lunch, I finished a bit of my Kashi fiber cereal and ate a hard boiled egg. I'm planning on a glass of my funky all-natural pomegranate acai berry fiber something or rather juice before I take off for work, and then whatever the chefs serve for staff meal, I'll have to make do with it. Usually they give us a salad and some sort of meat option, so I should be able to have a decently paleo-friendly dinner at work tonight.
Unfortunately, this is all dependent on me having enough energy to make it to work in an hour!
Friday, December 19, 2008
All I want is a tortilla crammed with stuff.
Really, that's it.
I'm having massive cravings for a burrito filled with everything that's non-paleo friendly. The tomato soup I just ate didn't really help to take the edge of of this craving; I'm doubting that the chicken, carrots or greens I will have for dinner will help either.
Nobody ever said this was going to be easy.
I'm having massive cravings for a burrito filled with everything that's non-paleo friendly. The tomato soup I just ate didn't really help to take the edge of of this craving; I'm doubting that the chicken, carrots or greens I will have for dinner will help either.
Nobody ever said this was going to be easy.
Concerns over breakfast
First things first: My breakfast.
Today I'm having hot apple cider for my beverage. (My room was like an icebox when I woke up this morning; getting out from under my electric blanket proved to be a trying task!) In line with my promise to myself not to completely cut out carbs yet, I'm eating a small bowl of plain oatmeal with my hard boiled egg and slice of paleo bread with raw honey. I suppose I could have put raw honey on my oatmeal as well, but to be honest, I like plain oatmeal.
The paleo-friendly "bread" may look like pita, but I can't decide what it tastes like. I think, really, it tastes like nothing. The texture is somewhere in between a stale cracker and hard bread. The bread is incredibly dry, so it sort of feels like you're chewing on sand after awhile. All that being said, because I'm being as honest as I can about this, it's not terrible. I didn't completely gag when I swallowed it. I think it's just a texture thing; once I get used to it, I won't have any problems with it.
If I have to eat sand-like "bread" to get better, I will.
As for my concerns, I have been somewhat worried about my weight. Again, I reiterate, this change in my nutritional habits is NOT to lose weight. It is to find a way to be healthy and neurological symptom free without medication. However, many people adopt the diet that I have in order to lose weight. That being said, I'm going to start recording my weight on this blog. That way, if I begin to have a severe weight loss, I'll need to adjust my caloric intake.
(Also, I seem to be missing that gene that women have that makes them protective of their weight. I really don't care if people know how much I weigh.)
This morning I weighed myself in at 136.2 lbs. It's a pretty average weight for me, so I was happy. Really, I can get down to about 128 lbs before my BMI will drop below 18.5. (I know the flaws with the BMI system, but I still think that it's a good guideline to follow.) I spoke with my doctor once about my weight, and she said that even though I am tall (just under 5'10"), my frame is relatively small. She wouldn't get concerned about me until I dropped to the lower 120's. My goal is to stay above 125 lbs. at all times, at the bare minimum.
Today I'm having hot apple cider for my beverage. (My room was like an icebox when I woke up this morning; getting out from under my electric blanket proved to be a trying task!) In line with my promise to myself not to completely cut out carbs yet, I'm eating a small bowl of plain oatmeal with my hard boiled egg and slice of paleo bread with raw honey. I suppose I could have put raw honey on my oatmeal as well, but to be honest, I like plain oatmeal.
The paleo-friendly "bread" may look like pita, but I can't decide what it tastes like. I think, really, it tastes like nothing. The texture is somewhere in between a stale cracker and hard bread. The bread is incredibly dry, so it sort of feels like you're chewing on sand after awhile. All that being said, because I'm being as honest as I can about this, it's not terrible. I didn't completely gag when I swallowed it. I think it's just a texture thing; once I get used to it, I won't have any problems with it.
If I have to eat sand-like "bread" to get better, I will.
As for my concerns, I have been somewhat worried about my weight. Again, I reiterate, this change in my nutritional habits is NOT to lose weight. It is to find a way to be healthy and neurological symptom free without medication. However, many people adopt the diet that I have in order to lose weight. That being said, I'm going to start recording my weight on this blog. That way, if I begin to have a severe weight loss, I'll need to adjust my caloric intake.
(Also, I seem to be missing that gene that women have that makes them protective of their weight. I really don't care if people know how much I weigh.)
This morning I weighed myself in at 136.2 lbs. It's a pretty average weight for me, so I was happy. Really, I can get down to about 128 lbs before my BMI will drop below 18.5. (I know the flaws with the BMI system, but I still think that it's a good guideline to follow.) I spoke with my doctor once about my weight, and she said that even though I am tall (just under 5'10"), my frame is relatively small. She wouldn't get concerned about me until I dropped to the lower 120's. My goal is to stay above 125 lbs. at all times, at the bare minimum.
Thursday, December 18, 2008
Bread experiment.
For anyone looking to take a gander into the world of paleo eating... this website is a great resource for recipes.
www.paleofood.com
I found a "bread" recipe on this site, and slightly modified it to meet the ingredients I had.
6 T oil
1 t raw honey
3 eggs (organic)
1 C pecan nut meal - I used almond meal
1/4 C arrowroot
Because there is no "lift" to this bread, you dump it on a cookie sheet.
And then you spread it out.
Then you bake it at 325-350 for about 15 minutes.
Most of the "bread" turned out allright, but I need to spread it a little more evenly next time; the thin areas of batter burned. But, really, after I cut them out, the bread looked a bit like pita. I'll try it out for breakfast tomorrow with some of the raw honey I just got; I will post my thoughts tomorrow morning!
www.paleofood.com
I found a "bread" recipe on this site, and slightly modified it to meet the ingredients I had.
6 T oil
1 t raw honey
3 eggs (organic)
1 C pecan nut meal - I used almond meal
1/4 C arrowroot
Because there is no "lift" to this bread, you dump it on a cookie sheet.
And then you spread it out.
Then you bake it at 325-350 for about 15 minutes.
Most of the "bread" turned out allright, but I need to spread it a little more evenly next time; the thin areas of batter burned. But, really, after I cut them out, the bread looked a bit like pita. I'll try it out for breakfast tomorrow with some of the raw honey I just got; I will post my thoughts tomorrow morning!
Breakfast at noon?
I was out quite last last night (until 2 AM), so I'm now eating my paleolithic friendly breakfast at 12:30 pm. I know, it's lame, but hey, it was a rough couple of months. I deserve a day off.
A good question was posed to me last night - Why not small amounts of caffeine that you find in green tea, white tea, etc.? It's a good question, and it deserves a good answer.
The answer, according to a true raw paleo would be that anything that requires heat would not be paleo. Raw paleos eat raw meats, raw eggs and all their veggies and fruits totally raw. A raw paleo would not drink tea by any means; acient man did not drink tea. (A scientist last night actually told me that the antioxidents in tomatoes are most potent in cooked form, by the way. Something to do with fat solubility. But that's just a side note.)
My answer is, at this point, I am simplyfying my diet. I will keep eliminating things and trying different foods until I reach a point where I feel better. Many people who go on the paleo diet do so to simply lose weight. I can lose about 6 pounds before I would be categorically underweight, so this is not my goal by any means. It's not about adhering to a strict diet that someone else created; it's about finding a diet that works for me. This nutirional regime is all about finding a way of life that allows me to stay relatively medicine-free.
Another reason I am choosing to stay completely away from caffeiene is that tea, coffee, sodas - these are all natural diuretics (something that deplets your body of hydration). While I am increasing my fruits and veggie intake, I am also increasing my protein intake. Albeit it is mostly lean fish and lean meats, I am slightly cocerned about my kidney function with an increase in meat consumption. That being said, I am drinking about 3 liters of water per day, in addition to my funky all natural juice. I've never had problems with my kidneys, but I think it's best to play it safe with my hydration efforts. :-)
Once these headaches and my problems with my right toes go away, I will be all for "experiementing" with teas. I am bringing things back to a baseline level, getting better, and then slowly re-evaluating what I will or will not ingest. I personally LOVE a good pu-erh tea, and I know the health benefits of drinking high quality teas.
Ultimately, I think my diet will be based on paleolithic nutrition, with some influences from Middle Eastern, Asain and Mediterranean diets. I don't think I will stop drinking organic milk, and I don't think I will give up soybeans, either. I doubt I will never again eat carbs (though I think I will lean towards complex, organic carbs). I doubt I will never again drink a cup of tea.
But this is why this is an experiment. I'm hypothesizing what will work, trying it out, and recording my findings here.
Now, back to my breakfast! I had a glass of half water/half funky grape juice that I actually totally love now and an organic banana. I'll probably finish the rest of that smoked salmon. Since I have the rest of the day to myself, I will run a few errands, and get cracking on that paleo-friendly bread that I've been meaning to try now for awhile.
Keep the questions coming, it's good for me to have to reason why I am doing what I am doing. I enjoy the challenge, always.
A good question was posed to me last night - Why not small amounts of caffeine that you find in green tea, white tea, etc.? It's a good question, and it deserves a good answer.
The answer, according to a true raw paleo would be that anything that requires heat would not be paleo. Raw paleos eat raw meats, raw eggs and all their veggies and fruits totally raw. A raw paleo would not drink tea by any means; acient man did not drink tea. (A scientist last night actually told me that the antioxidents in tomatoes are most potent in cooked form, by the way. Something to do with fat solubility. But that's just a side note.)
My answer is, at this point, I am simplyfying my diet. I will keep eliminating things and trying different foods until I reach a point where I feel better. Many people who go on the paleo diet do so to simply lose weight. I can lose about 6 pounds before I would be categorically underweight, so this is not my goal by any means. It's not about adhering to a strict diet that someone else created; it's about finding a diet that works for me. This nutirional regime is all about finding a way of life that allows me to stay relatively medicine-free.
Another reason I am choosing to stay completely away from caffeiene is that tea, coffee, sodas - these are all natural diuretics (something that deplets your body of hydration). While I am increasing my fruits and veggie intake, I am also increasing my protein intake. Albeit it is mostly lean fish and lean meats, I am slightly cocerned about my kidney function with an increase in meat consumption. That being said, I am drinking about 3 liters of water per day, in addition to my funky all natural juice. I've never had problems with my kidneys, but I think it's best to play it safe with my hydration efforts. :-)
Once these headaches and my problems with my right toes go away, I will be all for "experiementing" with teas. I am bringing things back to a baseline level, getting better, and then slowly re-evaluating what I will or will not ingest. I personally LOVE a good pu-erh tea, and I know the health benefits of drinking high quality teas.
Ultimately, I think my diet will be based on paleolithic nutrition, with some influences from Middle Eastern, Asain and Mediterranean diets. I don't think I will stop drinking organic milk, and I don't think I will give up soybeans, either. I doubt I will never again eat carbs (though I think I will lean towards complex, organic carbs). I doubt I will never again drink a cup of tea.
But this is why this is an experiment. I'm hypothesizing what will work, trying it out, and recording my findings here.
Now, back to my breakfast! I had a glass of half water/half funky grape juice that I actually totally love now and an organic banana. I'll probably finish the rest of that smoked salmon. Since I have the rest of the day to myself, I will run a few errands, and get cracking on that paleo-friendly bread that I've been meaning to try now for awhile.
Keep the questions coming, it's good for me to have to reason why I am doing what I am doing. I enjoy the challenge, always.
Wednesday, December 17, 2008
Food & Friends
Is this a placebo "feeling good" or a real "feeling good"?
I slept well last night, and again, only needed 2 migraine pills to put the throbbing ever-persistent headache to rest. Yes, I would love it if these headaches would simply go away, but progress is progress and I'm happy with small steps if they eventually add up to a great leap.
Keeping in line with my "not jumping headfirst" into this new diet, I ate a nice breakfast of oatmeal, an organic banana and a half glass of organic soy milk this morning. I'll finish that salmon and cucumber for a late lunch, and then have an apple for a late afternoon snack.
Social gatherings are already presenting a problem. Tonight a handful of friends and myself are having a "making your own dumplings" party. A good friend of mine is a fantastic cook, and for Thanksgiving we made our own ground chicken dumplings. Tonight, to celebrate my successful completion of the most bizarre semester ever (I may have missed more classes than I attended), we are having a party.
This is perfectly fine right now; I'm not a true blue total paleo yet. I'll have a paleo friendly lunch and snack, and then I'll eat a healthy dinner. No problem. But as the weeks go by and I transition into more of a complete paleo diet, I'll need to seriously consider how many of these gatherings I can really participate in. I'll need to think about packing my own individual dinners and simply participating in the social part of these gatherings.
Nobody ever said that this was going to be a simple transition.
The good news is I just got my raw organic honey in the mail!
I slept well last night, and again, only needed 2 migraine pills to put the throbbing ever-persistent headache to rest. Yes, I would love it if these headaches would simply go away, but progress is progress and I'm happy with small steps if they eventually add up to a great leap.
Keeping in line with my "not jumping headfirst" into this new diet, I ate a nice breakfast of oatmeal, an organic banana and a half glass of organic soy milk this morning. I'll finish that salmon and cucumber for a late lunch, and then have an apple for a late afternoon snack.
Social gatherings are already presenting a problem. Tonight a handful of friends and myself are having a "making your own dumplings" party. A good friend of mine is a fantastic cook, and for Thanksgiving we made our own ground chicken dumplings. Tonight, to celebrate my successful completion of the most bizarre semester ever (I may have missed more classes than I attended), we are having a party.
This is perfectly fine right now; I'm not a true blue total paleo yet. I'll have a paleo friendly lunch and snack, and then I'll eat a healthy dinner. No problem. But as the weeks go by and I transition into more of a complete paleo diet, I'll need to seriously consider how many of these gatherings I can really participate in. I'll need to think about packing my own individual dinners and simply participating in the social part of these gatherings.
Nobody ever said that this was going to be a simple transition.
The good news is I just got my raw organic honey in the mail!
Tuesday, December 16, 2008
Full and happy!
It was the final day of classes for this year, and I had a major push to get through it.
No coffee.
I made a stop at the university salad bar again mid-afternoon for a quick bite to eat. Romaine, carrots, cucumbers drizzled with olive oil, an apple and a hard boiled egg - and I was quite full and content. The egg really helps; it takes the major curb off my hunger. While eating my lunch, I was looking around the cafeteria and seeing the food that everyone else was eating. Pizza, chips, sodas, coffee, sub sandwiches, etc.
To be honest, I wasn't envious of these people. I noticed how they were slumped over their food, some had acne, and more than a few were slightly to majorly overweight. Not that everyone with that type of diet has these problems - but it made me sit up a bit straighter and proudly munch on my carrots.
I picked up an Odwalla for a pick me up before my final this evening. It's not paleo-friendly food, but again, I'm not completely paleo yet. It did the trick; I felt great. Was it the diet? The final went extremely well, I was completely focused.
After my final, I stopped at the local Harvest Co-Op for a few groceries. It was the first time in the last two weeks that I felt I had the time and leisure to waltz around and check things out. I picked up some arrowroot, some organic Wild Alaskan smoked salmon, organic chicken strips, and organic 4 oz steaks. I also picked up a bag of organic carrots, an organic cucumber and some more of that funky juice (which I've actually begun to enjoy).
Dinner was some smoked salmon and half of a cucumber, with a little bit of my funky grape juice.
Full. And happy.
No coffee.
I made a stop at the university salad bar again mid-afternoon for a quick bite to eat. Romaine, carrots, cucumbers drizzled with olive oil, an apple and a hard boiled egg - and I was quite full and content. The egg really helps; it takes the major curb off my hunger. While eating my lunch, I was looking around the cafeteria and seeing the food that everyone else was eating. Pizza, chips, sodas, coffee, sub sandwiches, etc.
To be honest, I wasn't envious of these people. I noticed how they were slumped over their food, some had acne, and more than a few were slightly to majorly overweight. Not that everyone with that type of diet has these problems - but it made me sit up a bit straighter and proudly munch on my carrots.
I picked up an Odwalla for a pick me up before my final this evening. It's not paleo-friendly food, but again, I'm not completely paleo yet. It did the trick; I felt great. Was it the diet? The final went extremely well, I was completely focused.
After my final, I stopped at the local Harvest Co-Op for a few groceries. It was the first time in the last two weeks that I felt I had the time and leisure to waltz around and check things out. I picked up some arrowroot, some organic Wild Alaskan smoked salmon, organic chicken strips, and organic 4 oz steaks. I also picked up a bag of organic carrots, an organic cucumber and some more of that funky juice (which I've actually begun to enjoy).
Dinner was some smoked salmon and half of a cucumber, with a little bit of my funky grape juice.
Full. And happy.
There's a coffee shop four levels down.
I'm sitting in the 6th floor of library, and on the 2nd floor there is a fantastic little coffee bar, with freshly baked carbohydrate-full sugary goodies, and yummy artificially flavored lattes galore.
I have water and orange juice once again today. I'm suffering from lack of caffeine, to be sure, but am determined to stay away from it. I have plenty of water to keep me hydrated and feeling well - and it could be psychological, but I really do just feel healthier already. It's a slight feeling, but it's there.
I only ended up needing a very low dose of my migraine medicine last night. (Side note: You take two pills, then one every hour until the migraine is gone, up until 6 pills have been taken. I usually take around 3-4 pills; last night I only took the first two.) It could very well be a fluke day (there are days since my hospitalization when I have not have headaches at all, though they are rare). But I am hopeful that my no-coffee, tea, soda or alcohol rule is helping in reducing this ailment.
I am working on my last bit of Kashi fiber cereal - I had that with soy milk and my new funky all natural grape juice for breakfast. I will miss my cereal in the mornings when it is gone, but I am excited to begin baking my paleo-friendly bread. I've always enjoyed baking and "tweaking" recipes, and now I have a whole new arsenal of ingredients to work with.
But for now, it's all about managing to keep my eyes open....
I have water and orange juice once again today. I'm suffering from lack of caffeine, to be sure, but am determined to stay away from it. I have plenty of water to keep me hydrated and feeling well - and it could be psychological, but I really do just feel healthier already. It's a slight feeling, but it's there.
I only ended up needing a very low dose of my migraine medicine last night. (Side note: You take two pills, then one every hour until the migraine is gone, up until 6 pills have been taken. I usually take around 3-4 pills; last night I only took the first two.) It could very well be a fluke day (there are days since my hospitalization when I have not have headaches at all, though they are rare). But I am hopeful that my no-coffee, tea, soda or alcohol rule is helping in reducing this ailment.
I am working on my last bit of Kashi fiber cereal - I had that with soy milk and my new funky all natural grape juice for breakfast. I will miss my cereal in the mornings when it is gone, but I am excited to begin baking my paleo-friendly bread. I've always enjoyed baking and "tweaking" recipes, and now I have a whole new arsenal of ingredients to work with.
But for now, it's all about managing to keep my eyes open....
Monday, December 15, 2008
End of the Day
For dinner I ate a fish fillet and some soy beans - it wasn't a true paleo meal, but I'm working into it.
I picked up some completely organic freshly pressed concord grape juice today from one of the many health food stores in my neighborhood. (Side note: I love hippie Cambridge, MA.) Not going to lie - it tastes a bit funky. There is no added anything in it - just pure squished and filtered grapes.
I also picked up some almond meal today; the store didn't have pecan nut meal. I'll have to hit up Trader Joe's and Whole Foods to see if they do on Wednesday. Once I grab some arrowroot from the Harvest Co-Op down the street, and once my really raw honey comes from Oklahoma, I'll be set to make my first batch of paleo-friendly bread.
An additional note: I did just order several books on paleolithic nutrition from Amazon.com. I'm fully aware that I am no expert on these matters, and that is partially the reason why I am so cautious in diving headfirst into a nutritional regime like this one. I'll be consulting with several different people as I shed more of my neolithic eating habits, and I'll make sure I understand the nutritional value of every change that I am making before I change it.
I am munching on the last of my chocolate rice cake 100 calorie packs I bought many weeks ago. I will miss my munchies when they are gone; I will not buy any more of them.
I do have my typical night migraine right now, and I am weak and my right foot is slightly numb, but overall, things could be a lot worse. I hope to eventually not need my low-dose migraine medicine anymore.
I picked up some completely organic freshly pressed concord grape juice today from one of the many health food stores in my neighborhood. (Side note: I love hippie Cambridge, MA.) Not going to lie - it tastes a bit funky. There is no added anything in it - just pure squished and filtered grapes.
I also picked up some almond meal today; the store didn't have pecan nut meal. I'll have to hit up Trader Joe's and Whole Foods to see if they do on Wednesday. Once I grab some arrowroot from the Harvest Co-Op down the street, and once my really raw honey comes from Oklahoma, I'll be set to make my first batch of paleo-friendly bread.
An additional note: I did just order several books on paleolithic nutrition from Amazon.com. I'm fully aware that I am no expert on these matters, and that is partially the reason why I am so cautious in diving headfirst into a nutritional regime like this one. I'll be consulting with several different people as I shed more of my neolithic eating habits, and I'll make sure I understand the nutritional value of every change that I am making before I change it.
I am munching on the last of my chocolate rice cake 100 calorie packs I bought many weeks ago. I will miss my munchies when they are gone; I will not buy any more of them.
I do have my typical night migraine right now, and I am weak and my right foot is slightly numb, but overall, things could be a lot worse. I hope to eventually not need my low-dose migraine medicine anymore.
Lunch wasn't so bad...
I stopped at my school's cafeteria for a quite bite before I turn in two of my final papers.
I'm not being too hard on myself in this experiment right now. The only absolute off limit items are alchohol, coffee, teas and sodas. I'm working into it.
But the salad bar looked fresh today, so I loaded up on romaine lettuce, bell pepper slices, onions, carrots and cucumber slices. I added one hard boiled egg and drizzled some plain olive oil over the salad. I also grabbed an orange juice for a sugar fix. (I'm dragging from the lack of coffee this morning.)
My lunch, itself, was an experiment. And I can say - I'm full and content.
Success!
I'm not being too hard on myself in this experiment right now. The only absolute off limit items are alchohol, coffee, teas and sodas. I'm working into it.
But the salad bar looked fresh today, so I loaded up on romaine lettuce, bell pepper slices, onions, carrots and cucumber slices. I added one hard boiled egg and drizzled some plain olive oil over the salad. I also grabbed an orange juice for a sugar fix. (I'm dragging from the lack of coffee this morning.)
My lunch, itself, was an experiment. And I can say - I'm full and content.
Success!
No Coffee or Tea this morning!
What a rough morning - no coffee or tea. I'm anxiously awaiting the arrival of my organic raw honey (www.reallyrawhoney.com) so I can begin to make almond honey breakfast shakes for a bit of a sugar pick-me-up in the mornings. I'm not exactly a night owl, but I'm sure no morning person either.
Here's the recipe that I've been interested in trying.
1 cup Food-Processed Nuts (I'll probably use almonds)
2 cups Water
1 Banana (Organic)
1/2 tablespoon raw honey
Hopefully it becomes a nice little breakfast shake! I'm interested to try it with other berries as well as with the banana.
But as for my breakfast this morning, I'm sticking to the soy milk and the Kashi fiber cereal for now. No coffee or tea or soda today - once I get "good" with that, I'll move on to other things. My hope is that by doing this gradually, it will become a lifestyle change as opposed to a "diet".
Here's the recipe that I've been interested in trying.
1 cup Food-Processed Nuts (I'll probably use almonds)
2 cups Water
1 Banana (Organic)
1/2 tablespoon raw honey
Hopefully it becomes a nice little breakfast shake! I'm interested to try it with other berries as well as with the banana.
But as for my breakfast this morning, I'm sticking to the soy milk and the Kashi fiber cereal for now. No coffee or tea or soda today - once I get "good" with that, I'll move on to other things. My hope is that by doing this gradually, it will become a lifestyle change as opposed to a "diet".
Sunday, December 14, 2008
Why Paleolithic?
These past few months, I spent more time in hospitals and doctor's offices than I cared to. I had headaches, partial paralysis, weakness, numbness, tingling, temporary blindness in one eye, muscle aches, nerve pain - you name it, I had it.
I found myself at the ripe age of 23, hooked up to heart monitors and inside of MRI machines. I was transferred after a week in the hospital to a rehabilitation hospital, but was disheartened to see the median age of the patient at around 80 years old. What the hell was I doing there?
Medical science, the pharmaceutical industry, modern medical treatments and testing - it all failed me. The only thing that got me better was a steady diet, support from my friends and serious rest.
While I am 80% better now, I am still plagued with some nerve pain, some headaches, occasional numbness in my toes, and exhaustion.
I should let my readers (if I even have readers) know that I'm not unhealthy. I've never smoked a day in my life, never even tried a drug that wasn't prescribed to me, I limit my caffeine intake, and I drink only in moderation. I run long distances, and I'm usually at the gym 3-5 times a week. I get a decent amount of sleep each night. I eat well, a moderate diet that leans towards organic foods and lots of veggies. My BMI is around a 19-19.5. I'm just under 5'10", and I'm around 135 lbs.
I shouldn't be so frail. I should be closing down bars on the weekends, eating pizza regularly and smoking the occasional cigarette, right? Instead, I find myself sick the entire day after I drink two Amstel Light beers, and I get a massive headache from a single latte. Chinese food, Thai food, anything out of the ordinary puts me in bed for at least a day. I have to keep an emergency supply of Ginger Ale under my bed at all times; my body just can't handle so many things.
I could keep complaining. Or I could do something about it.
A good friend of mine, with several degrees in anthropology, suggested the Paleolithic Diet when I was in the hospital. Skeptical of anything associated with a "diet", I dismissed it at first. (I find "diets" to be quick fixes for long term problems.) But as these symptoms have persisted, and my aversion to modern medicine has grown as their inability to help me has become more apparent, I have decided to throw in the towel and give it a shot.
Here's the Wikipedia on the Paleolithic Diet.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paleolithic_diet#Sustainability
It's an interesting theory, and I can buy it in parts. Fast foods, hydrogentaed oils and refined sugars have only been around for a limited amount of time compared to the human history. Even if you don't buy into evolution, Joshua didn't stop at a Wendy's on his way to Jericho. Have we poisoned ourselves with modern foods? As I lay buried under my covers in an attempt to get over another "sick spell", I can't help but wonder if I could get better by following a strict diet based on ancient man's eating habits.
It may seem ridiculous to many of you, but for me, I've been just a little too sick for just a little too long. If it means that I can have some semblance of a "real life" back, I'm game for trying this out.
I've already completed eliminated alcohol from my life, and as of today, I have eliminated all sodas, coffee and teas from my diet as well. Candy, chips, pretzels, "munchies" - these are all things that I will buy no more.
Today I ordered some raw, organic honey from a company based in Oklahoma, and I will pick up some pecan nut meal and arrowroot from the local organic store tomorrow to try a "bread" recipe I found online. I'm not by any means going to dive headfirst into this new nutritional regime, in fact, it is advised that you begin with one meal a day and slowly ease into these new foods.
But I'm going to try this. There has to be a way to fix this problem that doesn't involve clinical trials and popping pills.
I just never thought that way would be effectively becoming a cavewoman.
I found myself at the ripe age of 23, hooked up to heart monitors and inside of MRI machines. I was transferred after a week in the hospital to a rehabilitation hospital, but was disheartened to see the median age of the patient at around 80 years old. What the hell was I doing there?
Medical science, the pharmaceutical industry, modern medical treatments and testing - it all failed me. The only thing that got me better was a steady diet, support from my friends and serious rest.
While I am 80% better now, I am still plagued with some nerve pain, some headaches, occasional numbness in my toes, and exhaustion.
I should let my readers (if I even have readers) know that I'm not unhealthy. I've never smoked a day in my life, never even tried a drug that wasn't prescribed to me, I limit my caffeine intake, and I drink only in moderation. I run long distances, and I'm usually at the gym 3-5 times a week. I get a decent amount of sleep each night. I eat well, a moderate diet that leans towards organic foods and lots of veggies. My BMI is around a 19-19.5. I'm just under 5'10", and I'm around 135 lbs.
I shouldn't be so frail. I should be closing down bars on the weekends, eating pizza regularly and smoking the occasional cigarette, right? Instead, I find myself sick the entire day after I drink two Amstel Light beers, and I get a massive headache from a single latte. Chinese food, Thai food, anything out of the ordinary puts me in bed for at least a day. I have to keep an emergency supply of Ginger Ale under my bed at all times; my body just can't handle so many things.
I could keep complaining. Or I could do something about it.
A good friend of mine, with several degrees in anthropology, suggested the Paleolithic Diet when I was in the hospital. Skeptical of anything associated with a "diet", I dismissed it at first. (I find "diets" to be quick fixes for long term problems.) But as these symptoms have persisted, and my aversion to modern medicine has grown as their inability to help me has become more apparent, I have decided to throw in the towel and give it a shot.
Here's the Wikipedia on the Paleolithic Diet.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paleolithic_diet#Sustainability
It's an interesting theory, and I can buy it in parts. Fast foods, hydrogentaed oils and refined sugars have only been around for a limited amount of time compared to the human history. Even if you don't buy into evolution, Joshua didn't stop at a Wendy's on his way to Jericho. Have we poisoned ourselves with modern foods? As I lay buried under my covers in an attempt to get over another "sick spell", I can't help but wonder if I could get better by following a strict diet based on ancient man's eating habits.
It may seem ridiculous to many of you, but for me, I've been just a little too sick for just a little too long. If it means that I can have some semblance of a "real life" back, I'm game for trying this out.
I've already completed eliminated alcohol from my life, and as of today, I have eliminated all sodas, coffee and teas from my diet as well. Candy, chips, pretzels, "munchies" - these are all things that I will buy no more.
Today I ordered some raw, organic honey from a company based in Oklahoma, and I will pick up some pecan nut meal and arrowroot from the local organic store tomorrow to try a "bread" recipe I found online. I'm not by any means going to dive headfirst into this new nutritional regime, in fact, it is advised that you begin with one meal a day and slowly ease into these new foods.
But I'm going to try this. There has to be a way to fix this problem that doesn't involve clinical trials and popping pills.
I just never thought that way would be effectively becoming a cavewoman.
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