Paleo Diet: Getting Started and MS Symptom Update

Getting started with the Paleo diet was by far the hardest part. Until I had purged the pantry of all the old staples like pasta, rice, and flour I wasn’t going to be able to be truly on the diet.

The purge was an eye opener for sure; I think we filled up four grocery bags of foods that weren’t included in the new diet. Corn, cans of soup, and anything that contained any ingredients that were more of a long scientific formula than something you should be eating were donated to our awesome neighbors. Boxes of pasta, bags of rice and peanut butter...you’re out too. When all was said and done Old Mother Hubbard had me beat by a mile!

My new building blocks include almond flour, coconut flour, almond butter and coconut oil. It has been interesting getting used to using these new ingredients, but they actually taste better to me so it hasn’t been too tough. I’ve got a jug of extra virgin olive oil and some sesame seed oil that I use to cook with rather than vegetable oil.

Instead of pasta with a canned sauce, garlic bread, and a canned veggie for dinner, I’m whipping up a fresh salad with chicken or fish, or a steak with butternut squash and a spinach salad. It does take a little longer to prepare meals but with a little planning it’s not bad at all plus the meal you’ve prepared is so much better tasting and better for you too.

Now that I have been eating healthier good food for a few months many of my MS symptoms have lessened to the point that I have forgotten about them. No more cog fog! Sure I will forget a name, but I’m not forgetting why I just walked into the kitchen! I’m able to ride my stationary bike for longer and longer periods each day and not struggling to just make it to ten minutes. Building stamina was something I thought was gone for good with MS. Along with stamina I’m getting stronger; my gimpy leg has even gotten stronger in turn, which is helping my walking and balance.

Is Paleo why I’m feeling so much better? Eating healthy has made me feel better about myself and I’m experiencing great results, I’m looking forward to further healing! Fight on!!

Be a Warrior Today,
Donn

• A Bit About Donn:  Donn is 38 years old and was diagnosed with relapsing remitting MS in 2010.  He lives with his wife and son in Plymouth, MI.

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