Rethinking, Not Replacing
Perhaps this is where it all starts; the idea that we simply need to replace commonly found food items in our meals with something similar to them, rather than rethinking the entire approach to eating. Let’s take bread as an example. For many, it’s a mainstay at all meals of the day; whole wheat toast with breakfast, focaccia with lunch, a mini bagel as part of a snack and a dinner roll before the last meal of the day. What, in nature, that needs no processing, is like bread, and therefore something we can use as part of our Paleo lifestyle? Nothing. Absolutely nothing. “Well, what about the “Paleo” Breads, Bagels, Wraps etc.?” They’re not Paleo. The gist of the Paleo diet is to create an alkaline, unrefined, anti inflammatory way of eating to help our bodies become healthy. We do this by making every single meal feature lots of fresh veggies, some wild protein and some healthy fat and maybe some fresh fruit. We do not do this by replacing the traditional, commonly found, ‘Standard American Foods” which make us sick, fat and tired with slightly less offensive versions of highly refined, used-to-be-Paleo ingredients (like coconut flour). That approach completely defeats the purpose and is not the ideal way to approach Paleo living. Instead, throw the entire model of what a typical meal or snack may be (according to what we were taught was a healthy manner of eating) out the window and start from scratch. For every single meal, start with a plate of fresh, local vegetables, organic if possible. Add some wild protein and some natural fat (avocado or extra virgin olive oil or unrefined coconut oil). That’s the formula that reflects the True Paleo approach, which allows your body to become less inflamed, more alkaline, less likely to function on a roller coaster of insulin spikes and crashes throughout the day and to be healthier overall. Yes, I write about this a lot and yes, I am aware I may come across as being dogmatic, but my intentions are clear: I want to help people get healthy and change the way America eats. Presenting anything other than what Paleo really is does nothing but create a huge disservice to many people who might benefit from eating in a truly Paleo manner but who are not actually able to try the real deal because the information has become too convoluted. Oh, if only the use of the word “Paleo” had some sort of prerequisite qualification. I’ve already trademarked the word “Paleoista”…hmm….
