Yesterday was my 3-year Paleo Anniversary. What brought me to Paleo was a flare of my autoimmune disease, lichen planus (a skin condition similar to psoriasis but in a deeper layer of the skin) in addition to scalp psoriasis, eczema, low energy, IBS, allergies, asthma, GERD, frequent sinus and lung infections, tendonitis, joint pain (early arthritis), acne, migraines, mild depression and mild anxiety. I had successfully lost weight following a low-carb diet (I has lost 100lbs and reversed my pre-diabetes and high blood pressure), but I wasnt healthy. I was on medications for my skin conditions (topical steroids), IBS (laxatives and stool softeners), GERD (PPIs), asthma (bronchodilators and steroid puffers), and allergies (antihistamines and leukotriene receptor inhibitors). Some of these were prescription medications, and some OTC on the advice of my doctors. I had standing prescriptions for intranasal steroids for sinus infections, and had been on and off other medications such as H2 blockers, migraine medications, oral steroids, anti-inflammatories and antibiotics whenever I got an infection. Losing weight had not made me healthy. I found Paleo with an internet search, and recognized the diet name from a friend mentioning it several months earlier (thanks Chad!). As a scientist and medical researcher, I was initially very skeptical. At the time, there wasnt much out there explaining the science behind the Paleo diet. I read everything I could find online for about 3 months before deciding to try it. I decided I was going to give it 90 days. After 2 weeks, I was off every medication. I was sold. After 2 months, I decided it was time to start a blog and transition my family to a Paleo diet. This whole journey started on August 31st, 2011, my first day of eating Paleo. When my own health improved so much, I started delving into the detailed science behind how food and lifestyle factors impact health. I became passionate about educating others. My kids health was greatly improved by transitioning to Paleo. My oldest daughter started sleeping through the night for the first time in 5 years and went off laxatives which she had been on for chronic constipation for 2 years. We discovered that gluten- and dairy-intolerance was the cause of my youngest daughters obstructive sleep apnea (for which she had had numerous invasive tests over a year and a half, without finding a cause). I never could have predicted that changing my diet and lifestyle priorities would not only change my familys health but also completely change my life. I never could have known that finding a solution to my health struggles would lead to a whole career based on educating others, to writing TWO books, and to all the other opportunities I now have. So, celebrating my 3-year Paleo Anniversary is a big deal for me. Its celebrating the beginning of a health, hope, and a new life.
Posted on: Mon, 01 Sep 2014 14:36:37 +0000
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