Paleo Diet and Paleolithic Diet Questions & Answers

Question

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Happy Holidays Everyone,

My identical twin sister (now age 25) was born with cerebral palsy. Over the past 7 years, it seems her issues and symptoms have become worse. She walk with canes, uses a wheelchair, has cognitive, motor, learning, speech, and physical impairments.

Too add to that, after she had two major surgeries around the age of 18 she put herself into this endless cycle. The surgeries put her in a position of immobility, which then led to weight gain, which then led to her mobility and progress once again deteriorating, which then led to more weight gain. Now she is obese, and it is even more difficult for her to get around, let alone exercise.

I obviously know Paleo would help her diet and aid in weight loss. However, my question is whether the benefits of Paleo could help the disability itself..? If there were more than weight loss benefits, I could use that as a stronger tool to convince her that Paleo is the way to go.

This will for sure be a tough battle. Food is my sisters comfort. During the past 7 years she hit some pretty hard times, which led to comfort eating. She loves all of the bad stuff.

It is really difficult to watch my identical twin sister slowly deteriorate. I just found out yesterday she has been undergoing a number of neurological tests because she is experiencing more problems that influence her sensitivity, spasticity, back, etc. It wasn't her choice to be born with this disability. I want to help her, but she is incredibly stubborn, and loves her food. She has tried other diets... which of course did not work.

Anyways, I apologize for rambling. I am driving home in two days to visit my family for the holidays, and this will be the first time I have seen my sister in person since July.

edited Dec 20 at 2:26

asked Dec 20 at 2:21

PrimalFit-D
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Paleo? No. GAPS? Maybe. – Roth Dec 20 at 3:32

Here's another link about cerebral palsy: paleohacks.com/questions/68006/… – Roth Dec 20 at 3:34

Roth, I'm a Paleo newbie. Would you mind giving me a small summary of what GAPS is. – PrimalFit-D Dec 20 at 12:29

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Impossible to summarize GAPS quickly. You're better off getting the book, it's a really in-depth and complex diet with stages. The book is Gut & Psychology Syndrome by Dr. Natasha Campbell-McBride. – Roth Dec 20 at 18:06

syrahna · Answer 1 · 2013-01-31 06:34:52Z UTC

You sound like a very loving sister. I'm sure that as a twin this also feels uniquely painful.

As someone who loves someone with a severe disability (like you!), I'd just caution you to be careful not to analogize non-disabled or less-disabled to "fixed" or otherwise inadvertently make what sounds like a value judgment about her life. It's just so loaded.

It absolutely infuriates me to see the comment about healing autism. Sorry, Chuck, but that's exactly what I'm talking about. Disability is a way of life, a human way of being, it happens, and it's not wrong. It just is. Being neuro or physiologically typical is just more convenient. It is a slap in the face to a lot of disabled folks when you tell them they could be fixed if they just did X or Y.

If I had a nickel for every time someone has told my better half that he just needs to be saved and/or take a supplement to be able to walk again, I could buy everyone on this board a grass fed T-bone. Society still quietly pushes the message that disability is indicative of a character flaw.

chuck · Answer 2 · 2012-12-20 03:55:14Z UTC

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Indeed can . Read the book IF NATUROPATHS ARE QUACKS THEN I GUESS IM A DUCK , by Shauna Young . The book speaks on how shes healed many people even down to autistic children

answered Dec 20 at 3:55

chuck
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I have to admit that is a unique title. I will for sure check it out, and maybe even purchase it for my sister for Christmas :) – PrimalFit-D Dec 20 at 12:29

Can Paleo Help the Symptoms of Individuals Born With Cerebral Palsy?

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