I would do what my son did to me! I'm a 64 yr old man in terrible health due to vegetarianism and pescatarianism. I suffer from loss of teeth, diverticular disease, multiple abdominal hernias, RA and osteo arthritis, Barrett's esophagus, as well as prostate cancer. My surgery last summer led my son on a campaign to get me on paleo - not that I was that resistant - he started with Taubes' "Good/Bad Calories" then a few months later Wolf's "Paleo Solution" - after ruminating on this material I decided that Wolf's 30 day challenge was worth investing in (what's 30 days out of 64 yrs REALLY1!!!) - now about 70 days later 28 lbs less, and off nearly all meds, feeling the weight of oppressive depression lifted - if I didn't have more hernias to repair (this summer's surgery) I would be giving any "iron man" a run for his money - alas it's the exercise I can't get in since it seems verboten! No lifting or weight bearing probably for the rest of my life! I had to give up nightshades - potatoes, eggplant, peppers (green/red), tomatoes (I still use minimal amts. of marinara sauce for spaghetti squash once a wk.). Perhaps most difficult for me and not totally successful is my addiction to cayenne and spicy foods - I've made tremendous headway in this area - I don't use cayenne - but there are spices I do use that include some hot pepper - to me it's too mild (I like to sweat when I eat!) - the other problematic areas are caffeine - I try to no avail to curtail my coffee intake and once a month I treat myself to 85% dark chocolate (the bar is gone in one sitting!). I'm off all meds for arthritis ( still have minor aches in hips and one knee and one wrist) but I was injecting myself twice a wk!!!! I don't mind a reminder of an ache now and then - it actually motivates me to keep up my paleo!! I was taking a reflux med - only take it once a wk ((give or take) - and then it's for the times I eat my cruciferous veggies which I love and you mentioned - cabbage, brussel sprouts, sauerkraut etc - they cause untold amounts of pain - hernia, bloating and reflux - but even cooked to death they're "good" for me - and I guess I'll stick with them = and take the medication so I can tolerate them! I don't think it's such a huge change to my life - especially when I experience no hunger on this meal plan-- I don't anticipate anything to "call me off of this eating style" -- being on disability in NYC I for one can't afford a daily regimen of grass-fed meat - more power to you if you can! I tend to buy one grass fed meat per wk(usually bison-burger) and do a lot of fish and liver the rest of the week - or whatever is cheap at the market - I don't get anything processed - NO GRAINS, NO DAIRY, NO LEGUMES, NO POTATOES (I do eat 1 yam a wk) - I'm not a "raw" food eater - don't even agree with it! I'm so glad I consider myself paleo now - and don't feel like I'm "denying myself"! I would like to start some site for older paleos - getting the most out of our "September" years - I mean - come on - we're not "young bucks" any more, and a lot of us are restricted from the "gym-buff" days of yester-year - sure there are a couple of "Charleton Hestons and Jack Lalaines" around, and maybe this new generation of paleos will be able to maintain that sort of thing - a lot of us got messed up with "Atkins" who's diet was so restrictive it made us sick (no fruits or veggies) - this is great - and I'll try to get more of us old folk involved - maybe we can get rid of our canes, crutches and walkers - and die a more pleasant death! Good Luck!!!

She sounds like the female version of my dad. I think your approach of what telling her what not to eat is the best course of action. Concentrate on removing the gluten grains, the industrial seed oils and high sugar content out of her diet. She's not morbidly obese like my dad was so I don't think it's absolutely necessary to insist on vlc but in his case vlc seemed to speed up a lot of healing in the hypertension area. He also has dramatically reduced inflammation in hips and knees. Basically beating back the inflammation by removing the main 3 offenders should reap great benefits.

Edit: his GERD did much better on the basic lacto-paleo. But Ive been encouraging him to eat fermented vegetables like Kim chi and sauerkraut to take care of it for good. Chris Kresser over at thehealthyskeptic.org has a great protocol for GERD.

Is it possible that the GERD is an ulcer? If that's the case, then get some cabbage into her diet. I can't remember the name of the enzyme in it, but it's supposed to combat h. pylori if I remember correctly. I have an ulcer that is healing (and I thought it was heartburn) but mine was developed before I realized I have celiac disease, and was likely aggravated by it.

I agree with luckybastard and your own thoughts on which way to go with her diet. I would suggest you help her do it in stages though, because GF is a massive step all on its own, and some of the sugars and other fillers start to come out on their own with that one step. I'd make sure she has lots of variety to start with so she doesn't get bored or overwhelmed. Once that step is done, the others should be easier.

As for tomatoes, put her on a challenge and let her see for herself. Once pasta and bread is cut out, tomatoes/nightshades, in my opinion, have fewer obvious culinary uses (no spaghetti) so she may not miss them as much. Suggest she do two weeks without them, then reintroduce and see how she feels.

This is all assuming she's the kind of person who is determined enough to stick with any of it for long enough to notice a difference, and if she feels like the trade off is worth it. I have a good friend who has a lot of health problems, notices dramatic improvement when she follows more of these principles, yet she cheats often. She convinces herself "a little" is ok, and she suffers for it. I've told her that it's a good thing she never got into alcohol or drugs because she'd be in the gutter right now! Anyway, good luck and don't get frustrated if her curiosity doesn't lead to the kind of action you'd like to see.

Here's what I would do, and have done. Because she's older, probably a bit set in her ways (hell, i'm 46 and pretty set in MY ways) and this change would be pretty big for her I would definately go in phases. An easy way to explain to someone how to begin eating this way is mainly, "if it comes in a box or a bag and you HAVE to cook it in order for it to be edible, then don't get it". In other words, Meats, vegetables you can eat raw (you don't HAVE to, you just could if you have to) and fruits and some seeds and nuts and a bit of honey if you need a sweetner, And a bit of dairy...try that for two weeks...forget about all the "ratios", etc. That can be so confusing and disheartening when you're trying to figure out "can I eat this with that" etc. By nature of just cutting out the majority of the bad stuff, the processed stuff she will probably feel loads better and have more energy and motivation to continue.

Hey girlie!

I dropped my blood pressure medication by keeping my carbs under 75 grams per day. I've been on the medication for 9 years. It isn't really vlc, just moderate carb, so I think that may be helpful to start there for her. I stick to sweet potatoes and usually 1 serving of fruit per day.

The other thing is I still eat every 2-3 hours. I know it's very non-paleo, but it really helps me, being a former eating disordered person. My usual scheudle is 7am breakfast, 10am snack. 12pm lunch, 2pm snack, 5pm dinner or snack and 7/8pm snack. I have nutrient breakdowns for all of them too, because I'm a little bit crazy. I really helps to know when I"m going to be eating next.

seems all have some great ideas. I would follow a low carb, moderate protein.. as high protein is a recipe for a cancer disaster! She does sound pre-diabetic if not already. There was a great debate by Dr Rosedale and Dr K on this site that was very interesting. I have heard Dr. Rosedale talk at many large conventions, probably the most talented MD on nutrition and metabolic science out there. I have my mum on his program, she is 67, and sounded like yours a few years back. She lost a lot of the fat around her middle (the most dangerous type) BP and BS all came in line all without exercise. good luck.

Semirade--thank you for posting! Congratulations on your actions to change your behaviors and diet! Terrific post with terrific information especially for people who are not young. I am a grandma in my mid 50's, former vegetarian for 20+ years who also flirted with vegansim on an off during those years.

Yes, to the website for those of us who are not spring chickens!! It seems most (recent survey) eating Paleo are young--professional. I feel like I am walking in uncharted territory as an "Old Chrone" (post menopausal woman with age) making the transition to Paleo from being a vegetarian.

What I am most interested in is how to redefine aging! I do not want to live forever but I do want to have a very high quality of life while I am living devoid of medications and engagement in the massively flawed medical system.

While I realize this is shared by those who rebel against the current SAD promoted program by the government it is particularly challenging with age due to lifelong mindset and behaviors complicated by income (Ask how many of us have been put out to pasture prematurely!); and a multitude of other factors.

So YES to a website for those of us over 50 who are the Senior Groks!