Those of you that know me know I’m a sucker for celebrity gossip. To Chuck’s dismay, I love shows like The Real Housewives and The Bachelor. I like to catch up on my Hollywood friends by perusing entertainment sites online during my daily train commutes. Today, I came across an article from Harley Pasternak: Is It Good to Go Gluten Free? http://greatideas.people.com/2014/05/28/gluten-free-diet-harley-pasternak/
I’ve got to say that this article totally pissed me off. Now, I get it…it’s a short blurb of an article and it’s probably not meant to elicit thought-provoking, intellectual scientific discussion. I’m sure they’ve got to keep things fairly superficial for our small, entertainment focused minds. There’s my problem. You don’t introduce a topic that is both controversial and important like this one, fill it with mis-information and then end it with a flimsy sentence saying: “But before we throw money after potentially unnecessary gluten-free alternatives, let’s let the scientific community investigate further!”
I want my fellow celebrity stalkers to know this is not good advice!! Don’t wait for that – there is a ton of information out there already. There are so many things I disagree with in this short, shallow article. But, I’ll just cut to the chase. One sentence in the article said: “Researchers found that the subjects reported worsening of their symptoms with all of the diets, including the gluten-free diets.” You can’t eat gluten one day and then not eat it the next day expecting symptoms to go away. You also have to address other items that can be working against you (toxins, sleep patterns and a host of others that are topics for another blog). The best way to test for gluten (or any other food sensitivity) is through an elimination diet. You have to eliminate the food from your diet COMPLETELY for at least 30 days (many people do longer) and then re-introduce it again to see if it causes any symptoms. I would highly recommend cutting out gluten and never re-introducing it, though, as I believe it is the worst. Why? Keep reading for my references…..I just have a few more quick thoughts to get off my chest first!
I’m not a doctor or the world’s most prominent gluten expert, but Harley isn’t either. I don’t have a famous television show to carry my message, but I do have this blog and I do have first-hand experience. I think it would be awesome if everyone gave up gluten (and a host of other terrible foods) and went Paleo. The results for me have been nothing short of exceptional. Yes, I had a compelling reason to try it out. But, many others (some of whom we’ve featured on this blog) have done it and haven’t looked back because the change in the way you feel is so great! Do I expect that everyone will live this way – no. Do I hate my friends that eat gluten – of course not. Do I want you to stop reading People magazine? Don’t be silly. Do I hope you try it out and get educated on the topic from some place other than entertainment mags? Totes Magotes!!
Today, I was really noticing the vast array of attendees at Paleo f(x). There are people with auto-immune diseases like Celiac, Hashimotos and MS, to peak performance athletes that are competing in triathalons and Spartan challenges, people with weight issues and others that just want to learn more about the Paleo lifestyle. There were medical doctors and natural doctors sitting on the same panels for frank discussions on the heath of our nation and how to talk to your physician effectively. Everyone seems to be here for a common purpose… to improve their minds, improve their bodies and help others do the same. It is a strong community of like minded people gathered together to become better versions of themselves. I was expecting Paleo f(x) to be a conference about food preparation and exercise, but this is so much more. Topics encompass everything from nutrition to healthcare to addiction to sexuality to poop. We have only made it to one cooking demo (thanks Marla, it was great!). The rest of the day was spent gathering a-ha moments and processing all of this new information.
Ask The Paleo Experts Master Mind – panel – (Dr. Terry Wahls, Kirk Parsley, M.D., Chris Kresser, Dallas Hartwig, Nora Gedgaudas)
This was just an open session where attendees could ask the experts any questions.
The first question was a lady asking why she has lost 40 lbs and her breasts stayed the same size. I suppose this could be a problem, I’m not sure. Anyway, she has been confused by it because diets from her past made her breasts smaller before anything else. The consensus from the panel was a post menopause hormonal issue. Makes sense to me.
AIP (Auto-immune Paleo) – question for Chris Kresser – His version of AIP doesn’t eliminate seeds and nuts. Why not? He sees more issues with nightshades and eggs and not really any problems with digestion of seeds and nuts.
One audience member isn’t losing fat around the gut – most likely high cortisol. Premebeability in the gut leading to inflammation. Undiagnosed food sensitivity issues. Strength and interval training will help rebuild hormone levels, but only of sleeping well.
Other random tidbits and thoughts that you can Google:
-After exposure to gluten, you can produce antibodies for 3 months
-Asthma is autoimmune. Correlation between the gut and asthma. Google Kresser and histamine.
-One of the best mood stabilizers for teens is to get good sleep. 80% of teens lack sleep and their circadian rhythms are off. (This is why kids be craaazy)
-Issues digesting kombucha and fermented foods? Possible cause is disbiotic flora in the gut. A test for SIBO was recommended.
-No immune reactivity to camel milk because it is so close to human milk (anybody have a camel?)
US Healthcare: In Crisis or Chaos? – panel – (Robb Wolf, Dr. Grayson Wheatley, Julie and Charles Mayfield, Dr. Richard Maurer, Darryl Edwards)
We all know the answer to this… our system is pretty f’d up. Think of yourself as your own healthcare system be proactive with your own health and wellness.
One panelist had a nice analogy with health insurance and car insurance analogy – you don’t expect your car insurance to pay for oil changes, fixing dings and car washes. If they did, the cost of insurance would be huge. Why do we expect our insurance companies to pay for everything?
Darryl Edwards… Doctor, author and Paleo athlete. On this trip from the UK for Paleo f(x), he got cut above his eye and needed stitches. He got first hand experience of our dis functional healthcare system. It’s not good, people. It would have been cheaper for him to fly back to the Uk first class and have an ambulance pick him up at the airport.
Personal Paleo Meatloaf Cooking Demo – Marla Sarris
Author of Pigskin Paleo, fellow member of the Chicago Paleo Meet-up and creator of Paleo Porn. Marla rocks!
She made some personal meatloaves shaped like little footballs – brussels sprouts, leeks, pork. Mmmmmm mmmm. I can’t wait to try these out at home. Marla made some good points about not needing fancy tools or kitchen gadgets to make good food. Keep it simple and minimal. Good stuff.
Paleo and Addiction – Panel – (Karly Randolph Pitman, Kaila Prins, Susan McCauley,Amy Kubal, Dr. Nicole Avena)
-Symptoms of addiction – Perfectionist, over exerciser, perfect food, prefect body, control
-One panelist is grateful for her addiction (drugs and alcohol) – without the addiction and hitting bottom, she wouldn’t be where she is today
-Root causes of addiction – born this way, root was there and there is a genetic component to it.
-Whatever the type of addiction, if there is a genetic disposition to it, it doesn’t mean that addiction is a destiny
-There is a vulnerability, tenderness and sensitivity with addicts that makes addictive substances much more powerful for them
How do you know if you are addicted vs a healthy habit?
-When your life is being disrupted by your behaviors, then it is time to seek some professional help.
-An addiction never brings what you are seeking no matter how much you do it. Never satiates or brings satiation
-Once you start and you can’t stop it
How do you know when you start to recover?
-Stimulus taken away
-You are able to nourish your body and mind and do things in a healthy way
What do you tell someone that you see struggling?
-It is ok to stop and life is better on the other side
-You are recovering what you lost
Using Paleo as a path to recovery
-In typically recovery programs, nutrition is not addressed (pills are)
-Food addiction is the last addiction
Last thoughts… Paleo is healing and hugs are Paleo
Navigating Your Non-Paleo Physician (What’s Up Doc?) – panel (Dr. Lauren Vigna, Dr. Michael Ruscio, Dr. Richard Maurer,Dr. Daniel Kalish, Dr. Rick Henriksen)
-Most MD’s have only had 2 weeks of nutritional training in 4 year of school
-Why is a Dr qualified to give dietary advice?
-Lack of education and its easier to write out a prescription and say to work on diet and exercise. They want to give good advice, but haven’t had the success. If the patients are on the insurance model and prefer the easy fix of a pill.
-You are your own best health advocate
How do we get over white coat and use dr as a consultant?
-Choose the provider with the skills for what you need. You may need several providers for whole health care.
-You can get all the information and do your research and then find a Dr that you trust to guide you through the steps.
-If you are talking to a Western trained MD, you need to communicate in the same language. Saying “leaky gut” may shut that Dr out. Drs went into the field to help people and genuinely want to help out. There is a give and take between the Dr and patient.
-Find someone that is fully trained and has 3-5 years in practice, it might be worth it to travel.
Where can you find a natural doctor? What questions can you ask a non Paleo physician to see if they would be good to work with?
-What do they do for fitness and what do they eat?
-Check out the cross fit gyms and ask the gym owners if there are any family doctors that workout there.
-Most likely Dr’s you find won’t be following Paleo, but they should know about it.
What do you do if your Dr wants to put you on an unnecessary medication?
-Have object measures so you and your physician can measure results and analyze them. Open to using the drug if the diet/ exercise program isn’t effective.
-Ask if there is anything that will be harmed if you don’t take the medication right away
-Tell your doctor that you don’t what to take a medication… and ask their thoughts
-Work together with the Dr and try to collaborate on the solution. They will be more open to alternatives.
-The right test and the wrong Dr = failure
-Natural Doctor is outside the insurance network and will spend significant time with you as a consultant
Are you Paleo Sexual? – Christopher Ryan
I had no idea what to expect from this session, but I knew I had to go. This ended up being one of my favorite sessions of the day. Christopher Ryan had an insightful and hilarious presentation about how we developed sexually. The opening quote is one of my favorites, “A fig leaf can hide many things, but an erection isn’t one of them” 🙂
We went into the social life and sexuality of the Bonobo. If I’m ever reborn as an animal, a Bonobo would be a great choice. I got to meet Christopher at the end of the conference. He is a really great guy and my kindred Bonobo brother. I’m looking forward to reading his book, “Sex at Dawn“, on the flight back to Chicago.
Other interesting facts:
-Human beings have sex around 1000 times per birth – sex isn’t about reproduction
-We are one of few species that have sex when the female is not able to conceive
-Female copulatory vocalization – more likely in species that are promiscuous.
So much new information and another huge day tomorrow!
Me Paleo. 