Paleo Diet and Paleolithic Diet Questions & Answers

Question

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Some days I feel like Superman - other days, not so much.
By that, I mean, bloating, diarrhea, pain in lower GI.

I've been paleo-ish for about 8 mos. Love it. Only recently have I noticed issues (that I believe are deficiencies... such as peeling nails, hair less shiny, super dry skin, sinusitis. That's all I can think of for now.)

Okay, so I'm allergic (yes, real allergy) to all of the onion family (including garlic).
I'm also GF (non-celiac, no money/ins. to get "official" Dx).

I'm really ooged out by organ meats & can't find anyone who sells bones (to make broth) (& I don't think my family would appreciate my bringing home bones. They're more squeamish than I.) Farmer's markets are more expensive than the stores around me & "grass fed" meats are OUT of the budget.

I gotta fear of cruciferous veg b/c I've got Hashimoto's (untreated b/c I'm "too young" for treatment).

Which means I'm 30 y/o female, no insurance/money to get a profile done - so please don't recommend that. #defensive-yes

I need more veg, for sure, but, again, I love greens, but shy away due to implanted fears(??) of cruciferous will make thyroid issue worse. Help with this please??

Meats... chicken breast (fam doesnt like dark meat, so I only get the breast), ground beef (non-grass fed), bacon (occasional), deli cut meats (Jenny-O mostly b/c it's GF, yes I'm aware it's "processed" - mostly chkn, turkey or Salami), eggs (many, daily). Dairy: real (non-Kraft - only real 2/3 ingred. cheeses) rarely.
Veg: sweet potato (baked), white potato (baked), broccoli (most often), kale/other greens (once a month-ish), celery Legumes/Nuts: almonds, peanuts, white beans (maybe once a month, usually in soup) Fats: butter (lots!), raw EVOO, coconut oil, bacon grease Fruit: banana, apple (maybe once a month) Other/Specialty: Coffee, tea, rarely honey, rarely spoonful of PB (natural), GF crackers (maybe 4x/year), GF "Pizza" (Amy's rice crust, again, maybe 4x/year), homemade "protein" bars (uses oats, pb, dk choc-powder, lots of butter) (this about 6x/year).

Vits: Calcium, Iron, Selenium, Vit D, Vit C, Mg, Vit E, probiotics too.

Sounds really horrid now that I see what I eat... Obviously I need more veg, and probly need to up my carb intake (less emphasis on this). #tail-btwn-legs-head-hanging

I do use Fitday, not regularly lately (w/major change in schedule). But, I wonder if it's %'s (vits/minerals) are accurate.(?)

Any criticism/comments/advice are fully appreciated. I hope I stated what's necessary. Sorry this is so long. Just really need a re-vamped diet & further education on whether my thoughts (esp. re: cruciferous veg) is right/wrong/outta the ball park.

/sigh/ Hack-me?!

edited Feb 4 2012 at 16:55

SuZQ
527●3●8

asked Feb 4 2012 at 16:12

SuZQ
527●3●8

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Lol, AnnaA : you're going for the Strunk & White badge, am I right :D? – Korion Feb 4 2012 at 17:00

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@SuZQ : I may be a diet nazi, but your diet is kinda high in omega 6. You don't eat any grass-fed beef or lamb, you don't eat fish. Oh, and you also eat EVOO, almonds and peanuts. Why are you supplementing iron? – Korion Feb 4 2012 at 17:02

I've been anemic since I was a child. And I still have a long way to go learning about Omega 3/6. I love a diet nazi, so hack away. Can't afford grass fed/organic. Lamb is $$. And I do enjoy fish, I just need to buy it on sale (dont like tuna/salmon, but like shell-fish). – SuZQ Feb 4 2012 at 17:12

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Anemic =/= iron deficiency. If you can't afford grass-fed, just buy fish, that seems fine. Shellfish could improve your health a lot. And lack of zinc is quite possible, but don't supplement it, just eat oysters as you like shellfish. Don't take supplements unless you absolutely have to. Good luck SuZQ :) Hope winter will be over soon... – Korion Feb 4 2012 at 18:07

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How are you too young for treatment? I've been on synthroid since age 24 and should have started sooner. It's a hell of a lot healthier to actually be healthy. – syrahna Feb 4 2012 at 19:48

show 2 more comments

DePaw · Answer 1 · 2012-02-04 16:28:08Z UTC

Dry skin and hair suggests a lack of glycoproteins. Gelatine, from skin/feet/hooves/powder, is mostly proline and glycine which are needed to make glycoproteins. You can get gelatine from boiling a whole chicken with some vinegar until the bones are soft.

It may also be a lack of zinc, as you're not eating any red meat, organs, or shellfish (like oysters). This can cause problems with hair and nails. Try eating more zinc rich foods or supplementing it (picolinate form is best).

It may also be a lack of omega-3 fatty acids. You're not eating any fish. Try eating a pound of oily fish like salmon, sardines, mackerel, etc a week and see if it helps. Or supplementing omega-3, look for one with lots of DHA as that's the active part.

Don't worry about cruciferous vegetables, as long as they are cooked the goitrogens are deactivated.

I would cut out peanuts as they aren't paleo and are often contaminated with moulds.

Eric P. · Answer 2 · 2012-02-04 17:05:12Z UTC

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30 is too young to be treated for Hashimoto's? Sounds odd, my wife is 37 and was diagnosed with Hashimoto's a few years ago and is getting treatment. I'd get a second opinion.

For organ meats, try smoked liver sausage at the deli. Boar's Head liver sausage is really good. If you have cats they will stalk you for it once they try it. :)

I'd get rid of the oats and prepackaged pizza too.

answered Feb 4 2012 at 17:05

Eric P.
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Yeah I've noticed the GF pizza kills my blood sugar (i feel bloated & lethargic), so you're right. I'll definitely check out the liver sausage. Sounds like something I wouldn't be too frightened of! lol – SuZQ Feb 4 2012 at 17:10

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It looks like pate, you can slice it as thick as you want. I have loved liver sausage since I was a kid. A lot of commercial liverwurst (well, what limited amounts there are) contains corn syrup as a sweetener. But it's cheap if you want to try it. – Eric P. Feb 4 2012 at 17:21

sage_ · Answer 3 · 2012-02-04 17:16:59Z UTC

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start a food diary. you may be able to identifty the source of your non-Superman days.

answered Feb 4 2012 at 17:16

sage_
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PrairieProf · Answer 4 · 2012-02-04 17:53:59Z UTC

It sounds like you need a new doctor if you have diagnosed Hashimoto's and s/he isn't willing to treat it. Some of the symptoms you describe could come from hypothyroidism (dry skin, etc.).

Meanwhile there is info here about hypothyroidism and carbs that you might find interesting if you don't know it. http://perfecthealthdiet.com/?p=5528

I wouldn't freak out about cooked cruciferous veggies -- everything I've read suggests that the goitrogenic effect is vastly reduced. I used to worry about it after I was first diagnosed, but I stopped.

j3wcy · Answer 5 · 2012-02-04 17:58:07Z UTC

The only diet thing I would like to add is that for affordability purposes you could try and find someone to split 1/4 cow with you. I'm doing that as soon as I get a freezer big enough haha.

On the supplement side in addition to the fish oil you might want to think about some K2 as well as iodine. Chris Kresser just reformed his stance on iodine in the treatment of thyroid conditions so probably worth a read:

http://chriskresser.com/selenium-the-missing-link-for-treating-hypothyroidism

hack #me please

5 Answers