The Skinny on Me

My brother raved about this last week over Thanksgiving; apparently, a bunch of his Washington friends have gone primal (the paleo diet). When he was first telling me about it, I was a bit skeptical. I mean, come on, with the paleo diet not only do you eat life our ancestors, but you’re supposed to run like them too. 

When I saw this article from Active.com, it helped change my initial thoughts about it. For the most part, I’ve already given up processed carbs (I unfortunately can’t afford to grocery shop, so until then I’m still eating Dreamfield’s Penne Pasta). In stead of processed carbs, however, I’m still eating starchy foods like quinoa and rice. Both of which are no goes on the Paleo diet. 

So, what is the Paleo diet?

With readily available modern foods, The Paleo Diet mimics the types of foods every single person on the planet ate prior to the Agricultural Revolution (a mere 500 generations ago). These foods (fresh fruits, vegetables, lean meats, and seafood) are high in the beneficial nutrients (soluble fiber, antioxidant vitamins, phytochemicals, omega-3 and monounsaturated fats, and low-glycemic carbohydrates) that promote good health and are low in the foods and nutrients (refined sugars and grains, saturated and trans fats, salt, high-glycemic carbohydrates, and processed foods) that frequently may cause weight gain, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and numerous other health problems. The Paleo Diet encourages dieters to replace dairy and grain products with fresh fruits and vegetables — foods that are more nutritious than whole grains or dairy products. (ThePaleoDiet.com/FAQ)

At this point, I’m still researching the Paleo diet to see if it’s a good idea for me or not, especially since I have to deal with reactive hypoglycemia. This morning, I stumbled across BalancedBites.com, authored by Diane Sanfilippo (BS, Certified Nutrition Consultant, C.H.E.K. Holistic Lifestyle Coach). In addition to her site, she also co-hosts podcasts with the author of CaveGirlEats.com, Liz, about the paleo lifestyle. 

I’ll give it a listen, peruse their sites and report back to y’all with feedback. Have any of you had experience with the Paleo diet? Was it good, bad or indifferent?