What's Paleo? It's a way of eating which includes nutrient dense fresh vegetables and fruits, meats, poultry, and seafood. Because I am not a fan of seafood, I won't be eating any. I try to like fish. I really do, but my taste buds just do not cooperate. The Paleo Diet encourages participants to eat clean animal sources of protein- fish, meat, poultry- and replace dairy, legumes/beans, and grain products with lots of fresh vegetables and fruits – foods that are more nutrient dense than whole grains or dairy products. These nutrient dense vegetables and fruits are great sources of soluble fiber, antioxidant vitamins, minerals, phytochemicals, omega-3 and monounsaturated fats, and are low-glycemic carbohydrates, which means you gain great control of your blood sugar levels and encourage your body to go into fat loss mode.
Why Paleo? First of all, it's nutrient dense if you are loading up on nutrient dense vegetables and fruits. Secondly, who doesn't enjoy meat and poultry or hamburgers and bacon?! Grass-fed, pastured meat/poultry of course. But more importantly, I have an autoimmune disease called Hashimoto's Thyroiditis.
Some symptoms of Hashimoto's Thyroiditis are:
- Fatigue and sluggishness
- Increased sensitivity to cold
- Constipation
- Pale, dry skin
- A puffy face
- Hoarse voice
- An elevated blood cholesterol level
- Unexplained weight gain — occurring infrequently and rarely exceeding 10 to 20 pounds, most of which is fluid
- Muscle aches, tenderness and stiffness, especially in your shoulders and hips
- Pain and stiffness in your joints and swelling in your knees or the small joints in your hands and feet
- Muscle weakness, especially in your lower extremities
- Excessive or prolonged menstrual bleeding (menorrhagia)
- Depression
- Hair loss or thinning
- Decreased concentration
- Brain fog
What's an autoimmune disease? As medical researcher, medical biophysicist, author of The Paleo Approach and The Paleo Approach Cookbook, Dr. Sarah Ballantyne states, "Autoimmune disease is caused by the immune system losing the ability to differentiate proteins belonging to your own body with proteins belonging to a foreign invader (like a bacteria, virus or parasite). What causes symptoms is the build up of damage to cells, tissues and/or organs in the body–damage caused by your own immune system attacking those cells. Which proteins/cells are attacked is what separates one disease from another. In Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis, the thyroid gland is attacked. In Rheumatoid Arthritis, the tissues of your joints are attacked. In psoriasis, proteins within the layers of cells that make up your skin are attacked. However, the root cause is the same." According to Rob Wolfe, former research biochemist and author of The Paleo Solution – The Original Human Diet, autoimmune diseases share a common cause: damage to the intestinal lining which allows large, undigested food particles to make their way into the body. This is called “leaky gut and the autoimmune response”.
What does going Paleo have to do with Hashimoto's Thyroiditis? Gut health is the basis to thyroid health. By removing the foods that cause leaky gut and inflammation and by adding nutrient dense foods that support optimal gut health, you can create the best opportunity for your body to heal. Going Paleo does just that. When you go Paleo you automatically remove grains, gluten, eggs, beans, processed foods, sugars and other inflammatory agents from your diet and your gut. This is the first step if you have Hashimoto's. Numerous studies show a strong link between gluten intolerance and Hashimoto’s. Optimal health is the result I am hoping for. Right now I am not on any medications for Hashi's. I'd like to keep it that way.
So will this Paleo way of life be challenging? Yes. Very. Much. So. My biggest challenge as I embark on this journey will be figuring out breakfast and sandwiches..... Who am I kidding? Really it's the chocolate thing and the sugar thing. I have to say goodbye to my two faves. Sigh. Sniffle. Sniffle. Well, it was fun while it lasted. I have wonderful memories. I will miss them dearly. I'm not sure I will ever completely get over them..... But with the support of my network of loving, caring, thoughtful friends and family I will get through this, right? HELP ME PLEASE!
That's part of the reason why I wrote this post. For support and encouragement. By putting this out there, I am hoping to share my struggles and challenges with you. I am also hoping for encouragement and understanding. If I seem crabby, well, it's because I am. I miss my sweets and breads and quinoa. But I know I will feel great in my body and I'm on the path to optimal health.
I am worth a few "sacrifices" and the time it takes to be well. Aren't you too?
