Some of my Co-workers had expressed an interest in trying Paleo, I mean how can you not want to try it when you see all of the deliciousness that I bring for lunch everyday?!?! Since I will be posting regularly on my blog to help keep them going, I thought I would open it up to anyone who wants to join in.
Our Challenge starts February 25 and ends March 26. If you want to join us, leave a comment on the post to let me know that your up for the challenge! Keep us updated in the comments by letting us know what you are eating and how you are feeling. It is much easier to make it through a challenge when you have a team to support you.
Below is the information I am sharing with my co-workers, so I can also share it with you!
PALEO
– 30 Day Challenge
What is
Paleo?
Also known as the Paleolithic diet or caveman
diet, the Paleo diet consists of eating as our ancestors did. This means your
diet should include:
·
Meat from animals (preferably
grass fed)
·
Eat both fruits and vegetables,
but favor the vegetables
·
Eat quality fats (avocado,
coconut oil, nuts and seeds)
What Foods
To Avoid:
·
Processed – prepackaged foods
·
Grains – wheat, rice, barley,
quinoa, oats, etc
·
Legumes – beans, chickpeas,
peanuts
·
Sugar - high fructose corn syrup, artificial sweeteners, sugar
·
Dairy – milk, cheese, yogurt
Why Eat
Paleo?
Grains contain gut-irritating lectins that
damage the microvilli in our intestines, which leads to the widening of tight
junctions (leaky gut). This allows particles (especially
lectins) into your body. Your
immune system responds to these particles by destroying them and creating
antibodies to go and search for more.
Some of these particles “interpolars” can resemble various tissues in
your body so you become autoimmune (your immune system has waged war on your
own tissue). Gut damage elevates systematic inflammation.
Milk elevates serum levels of Insulin-Like
Growth factors, which increase the risk of cancer. Milk also raises insulin levels and contributes to insulin resistance,
which is associated with metabolic syndrome, type 2 diabetes, heart disease,
Alzheimer’s disease and obesity.
Cottage cheese, butter, sour cream?
(Providing they are full fat) they have had mostly everything but the fat removed,
but they can still be problematic if they come from grain fed cows or if you
have autoimmune issues.
Legumes although less problematic, they
should be avoided because they contain similar properties to grains and can
cause the same gut irritation.
Sugar is one of the main culprits that leads
to obesity, diabetes, systematic inflammation and many other health conditions.
Beyond the scientific mumbo-jumbo, what most
people find the most convincing is their own experiences, or listening to a
friend or co-workers experiences.
So give it a go, what have you got to lose?
Info
courtesy of Everyday Paleo
THE
PALEO CHALLENGE:
Monday
February 25 – Tuesday March 26
My Challenge to you is to eat Paleo for 30
days.
Keep track of what you eat, and how your body
feels.
Its not an easy challenge, but it wouldn’t be
a challenge if it was. We are
doing it as a team in order to support one another. There will be moments of struggle and weakness, but it helps
having others there to support you.
During the first 2 weeks of changing your
diet, don’t be surprised or discouraged if you have moments of feeling sluggish
and tired. This is your body
adjusting to burning protein and fat as opposed to sugar! You will snap out of it I promise so
stay strong!
Most challenges say you should go hard core
Paleo for 30 days and see how your body feels. We are doing things a little differently. Cold Turkey is
often hard, especially if you have a family who may not be on board. (my 2 year
old certainly isn’t). So have some
liquid whipping cream (35% fat) in your coffee, make some Paleo “Treats” (using
raw honey and pure maple syrup) in moderation.
Start cleaning out your pantry. Donate all
the stuff with a bar code on it to your local food bank (perhaps we can put a
pantry cleanse box in the office and make one giant donation)
Useful
Books: (I got all at Costco except Eat like a
Dinosaur)
Practical Paleo – Diane Sanfilippo
Everyday Paleo – Sarah Fragoso
Everyday Paleo Family Cookbook – Sarah
Fragoso
Paleo Slow Cooiking – Gluten Free Recipes
Made Simple – Chrissy Gower
Eat Like a Dinosaur – Recipe and Guidebook
for Gluten Free Kids – Paleo Parents
Useful
Resources:
