Get the Paleo diet to work for you by doing a Paleo Redux

While most people have heard of a paleo diet, and have seen varied success, a paleo template or paleo redux is entirely new to a lot of people. Depending on genetic background, health status and other factors it may take some work to get a paleo diet to work for you. It may even require adjusting or finding the balance of carbs, fat and protein right for you. I first came across this idea when I came across Chris Kresser's website at www.chriskresser.com.

Commonly people lose weight or improve their health through a paleo diet of some sort. There is a minority though that either plateau or may even reverse the good changes they've made so far. There are some common areas people run into though when on a paleo diet though. The three main areas are detox capacity (which can involve methylation), digestive issues and blood sugar issues.

The basics of a Paleo Template

For those unfamiliar with the paleo diet, it is similar to the Atkins diet but distinguishes itself by being based on individual needs, body type, activity levels, and in some cases grains (gluten free), dairy, even rice is included. Traditional paleo doesn't allow for any grains, rice or dairy but I find in my own experience and some others rice and gluten free grains can be tolerated. A paleo template is more flexible, open minded and isn't strict like some adherents of the paleo diet which don't allow for any cheating or trying things differently.

Some may need to take the route of an anti-inflammatory paleo diet which would lower the consumption of nightshades (tomatoes, peppers, eggplant, potatoes), nuts and seeds and also onions, garlic and some cruciferous vegetables as well (such as cauliflower and broccoli, carrots are generally fine). Also eliminating FODMAPs foods can be very helpful, especially those with digestive issues. For a complete list of FODMAPs foods check this link: http://ibs.about.com/od/ibsfood/a/The-FODMAP-Diet....

No matter what diet you choose to go on, soy, legumes and wheat (anything containing gluten) should be eliminated. Generally speaking most vegetables are okay for consumption, unless you are allergic, are ammonia/sulfur sensitive, or have digestive issues. The best fruits to eat are berries, a lot of other fruits can be too high in fructose which can cause either blood sugar issues, or digestive issues, generally speaking the sweeter the fruit the higher in fructose it is.

Gluten free grains should be added and tested slowly by the individual. Corn and oats are generally best avoided unless you soak them. Rice should be fine as well, as long as they are well tolerated. Fiber can either have a helpful effect or detrimental effect on the digestive system and the body, too much insoluble fiber can cause problems, and lead to bacterial overgrowth and gut dysbiosis (bacterial imbalance)

How to fix them

For the most part paleo is very beneficial to those with a variety of genetic backgrounds and even varied health status. Detoxifaction, digestion and blood sugar are three important areas to fix or work on though if paleo isn't working for you. Detoxification is an important part of your body's natural process to rid itself of toxins, impurities and if it isn't working properly foods will not be fully digested, and digestion can be hampered by improper detoxification.

Detoxification capacity may be impacted by genetic imbalances which can be determined by taking a 23andMe test to find out which genes may be affecting detox. There are also a number of herbs and supplements that can help with detoxification as well. Taking an epsom salt bath with charcoal, oatmeal and baking soda can also enhance detoxification as well.

Digestion can be affected in a number of ways, due to genetic imbalances, bacterial overgrowth, candida/yeast problems or even affected by past diets such as a standard american diet. Low stomach acid and digestive enzyme levels are a very common digestive problem. There are tests for stomach acid and enyzme levels but the simplest and most cheapest is to fine tune the amount of betaine HCL you will need to supplement with.

Enzymes are simpler to work with and digestive bitters can also be taken in addition to Betaine HCL. Papaya digestive enzymes are typically all that is needed, taking more may not be needed, especially since some are sensitive to some digestive enzymes. Taking bone broth as well can help with digestion (as well as adrenals), which can be easily made in a pot or crockpot or pot with beef bones or chicken bones, water, vinegar and salt and pepper (i also add some liver in as well).When digestion is fixed it can also help detoxification as well as increase immune function.

Blood sugar can be affected in a number of ways as well. Transitioning from a higher carb diet (such as a standard american diet) to a lower carb such as a paleo template there are often carb or sugar cravings when going lower carb. For most people lower carb is better but some people do better with higher carb by having rice and even sweet potatoes. Limiting sugar, honey, fruit can help a lot as well. Cinnamon can help control blood sugar but be sure not to take too much as it can thin your blood. Supplementing with amino acids may also help with carb cravings as well, and have found that carb cravings are lower when supplementing with amino acids. If you need to eat lower amounts of protein (ammonia intolerant due to mthfr and methylation issues), supplementing with amino acids will help offset lower protein amount as well.

Taking bone broth can help stabilize blood sugar levels by helping out your adrenals which can affect blood sugar as well. By taking care of your blood sugar and adrenals they will help each other out (much like adrenal and thyroid health are influenced by each other). If you have insulin resistance or something requiring help and input it is best to find a paleo compliant health practitioner via www.paleophysiciansnetwork.com which is how I found my current Naturopathic doctor.

Methylation is an important part of your body's natural processes. If you do find that you have any number of detoxifaction and/or methylation snps (singular nucleotide polymorphisms), you may need to find an mthfr specialist to address these. Typically about 10-30 percent of the population have one or more snp mutations which affect methylation and/or detoxifaction. After taking a 23andme test and getting results you can find a specialist to help you at www.mthfrsupport.com and also get it analyzed as well. You can also get a preliminary analysis for free at www.geneticgenie.org.

In some cases a paleo diet isn't enough and can require a different strategy which may require outside help, supplements or curtailing the diet to your body and needs. A paleo redux or template is a more open minded approach since people have varied biochemical makeups which affect their dietary needs. For some higher carb may be better, especially if someone is doing a lot of cardiovascular conditioning or working out.

Rice, gluten free grains and perhaps even legumes if soaked can work out for some people. It is a wise idea to find out what works for you, by varying levels of protein, fat and carbohydrate. Some may do better with a lower fat and/or lower protein due to digestive issues, as some people have trouble breaking down fat. Others may be sensitive to ammonia/sulfur levels due to genetic issues and may require lower protein levels until fixed or stabilized.

Many people often confuse the paleo diet for the atkins diet. There are a lot of similarities but they are very different in some crucial ways. The paleo diet and especially a paleo template diet is more flexible, especially when it comes to carbs. The atkins approach also doesn't emphasize organic, free range and natural meat and protein. The atkins diet also allows some grains as well which aren't healthy in the long run (unless gluten free and then it may take some experimentation). The zone diet is also similar but I don't have much experience or knowledge about it. There seem to be a lot of unconventional diets which can be very unhealthy, and sometimes even dangerous.

I have heard a lot about the human growth hormone diet which requires periods of extreme calorie cutting combined with taking hormones. Such diets I would never advise someone to try. Even with the paleo diet its important to have a balance, and find what works for you individually. I have even seen the complete opposite of a paleo diet as shown by Epic Meal Time on youtube or by Matt Stone of 180 degree health. They may be needed in some rare circumstances but shouldn't be used long term. The slow carb diet is similar but with the addition of legumes and a cheat day. I think for the sake of your sanity it may be okay to occasionally cheat but not every week and only if you aren't overly sensitive to some foods.

Although vegan diets have been popular for some time I do not personally agree with them and would never try a vegan diet. If someone wants animals to be treated better I would rather they eat organic, free range meats and protein instead of avoiding it altogether. Some may require less protein with others as well it depends on a lot of factors. Meat, protein and fat often get a bad reputation by doctors and mainstream media but looking more carefully and closely into the facts show they aren't so bad at all and are often beneficial.

These are books or resources which I personally recommend and have helped me transition and get the most out of a paleo diet.