Mike Bledsoe from my favorite podcast Barbell Shrugged
PaleoFx 2015
Now that I live in Texas, I had no excuse to miss the PaleoFx conference in Austin this year, a giant gathering of Paleo enthusiasts, scientists, authors, movement specialists, chefs, and fitness experts. Briefly, for those who are unfamiliar with the Paleo philosophy of eating, here it is in a nutshell: eat real food, minus grains, legumes and most dairy products. This means lots of veggies, healthy fats and oils, meat, raw nuts, and modest amounts of fruit. Here are some highlights from the conference, and further resources for those wanting to learn more about the Paleo lifestyle.
The Gateway Allergen
Bryan Azur, publisher, and Cain Credicott, chief editor of Paleo Magazine (and some cave people)
Nora Gedgaudas, the author of Primal Body, Primal Mind, during her lecture at PaleoFx called gluten the “gateway food allergy”. I have found this to be very true, and my personal story is a prime example. I first got into the Paleo Diet while I was living in Bend, Oregon and started CrossFit. I realized that despite cutting gluten out of my diet, I still didn’t feel great. After doing some research, I learned that many people with gluten sensitivity have cross-sensitivities to other grains and foods. For me, oats were a problem. After cutting them out of my diet, it became obvious that processed gluten-free foods containing tapioca starch and brown rice flour also made me sick. Once I cut grains out completely, I started to realize how sensitive I was to sugar. When I ate anything sugary, my throat would become painful and tight, and my energy levels would tank. I finally realized that sticking to a Paleo diet, and avoiding grains, sugar, and processed foods, was a lifestyle choice that made me feel the healthiest. After embracing the Paleo lifestyle, I starting writing articles for Paleo Magazine. It was wonderful to meet up with the crew from Paleo Mag at their booth on the expo floor.
The Science Behind Paleo
Paleo isn’t complicated. It’s a common sense approach to eating that just bypasses all the overly processed chemical-laden garbage the food industry churns outs. There is a lot of science behind the Paleo philosophy. Gluten is a protein found in grains that raises levels of an enzyme called zonulin. Zonulin increases the permeability of both the intestinal lining and the blood brain barrier. This can trigger inflammatory reactions and an auto-immune response to food metabolites that aren’t being properly broken down in the gut. Lectins are a type of protein found in many foods, but highly concentrated in grains, beans, and nuts. Lectins can trigger joint pain, damage intestinal lining, and cause leptin resistance. Leptin is a powerful hormone involved in regulating hunger. For those wanting to learn more about gluten allergies, and the inflammatory actions of grains, read Wheat Belly by William Davis, M.D., and Grain Brain by David Perlmutter, M.D..
Paleo Fitness and Primal Movement
The Paleo philosophy is not just about diet, it’s also about movement. We all know sitting on our butts all day long is unhealthy. However, spending 30-45 minutes on an elliptical machine is also not the answer to solving the nations obesity problem. Building muscle, promoting healthy mobility, increasing flexibility and agility, and engaging in full-body functional training are all part of the primal movement philosophy. They are also essential for aging gracefully I might add. The PaleoFx conference has ton of great functional movement, mobility, yoga, and fitness workshops. I had the opportunity to work on my lifting techniques with Dutch Lowy from Black Box Strength & Conditioning, Fort Worth, TX, during the Speed Under the Barbell workshop.
The Barbell Shrugged Crew and Friends
I fell in love with Olympic lifting when I first started CrossFit, and have a big fan of the podcast Barbell Shrugged for a number of years. While recovering from a major back surgery last summer, it was one of the things that kept me motivated through my recovery. I was stoked to be able to spend time hanging out with Dr. Andy Galpin, Brian Mackenzie, Mike Bledsoe, Doug Larson, Chris Moore, and the crew from Barbell Shrugged before they filmed their podcast with Robb Wolf at the Caveman Coffee booth on the expo floor. And if you are in the market for a kettlebell coffee mug. Caveman Coffee will deliver.
If you are interested in learning more about the Paleo lifestyle, join me next year for the annual PaleoFx conference in Austin, Texas. If you are lucky enough to live in Austin, check out the Paleo coffee shop Picnik, serving delicious Paleo tacos and the best butter coffee menu in the South.
