SUNDAY PALEO / January 15, 2012

Adding color to our walls has not changed much in 25,000 years.By Dr. John

Scicurious, at Scientific American Blogs, notes that the Paleolithic diet is “pretty popular among Americans right now.” However, he questions how well we know the details of our ancestors' diet, especially when it comes to fish. Did our ancestors deep sea fish 40,000 years ago? In Does your Paleolithic diet allow tuna?, Scicurious reviews new evidence from Papua New Guinea and nearby islands, such as a cave in the island of East Timor:

The cave holds evidence of a VERY long period of human habitation, with carbon dating showing artifacts as old as 42,000 years before present all the way to the modern period (or at least around 5,000 years ago). Among the shells, beads, stone artifacts, and bone points, are fish bones. LOADS of fish bones. The authors recovered over 38,000 fish bones, representing almost 800 species of fish. And not all of these fish were shallow water specimens. In fact, there were a lot of Scombridae specimens, the tuna group, and these specimens reached back almost to the base of the bone pile, estimated to be, at the bottom, around 42,000 years old.

Is it dinnertime? Although not fish recipes, here are some great Paleo/Primal meals to consider:

Fajita Frittata with Avocado Salsa

Oven Roast Chicken with Truffle Salt and Thyme

Slow Cooked Lamb Roast

You're eating well and starting to see some results from your Primal or Paleo diet. What about exercise? Is it time to start lifting weights? Maybe do some cardio? These should be easy decisions, but when you consider our Paleolithic ancestors, things get tricky. Josh Noel wonders, if our “modern notion of exercise has gone astray?” Learn more on this brewing controversy at Train like a caveman. 

Erwan Le Corre, founder of MovNat, suggests the way to determine how to exercise is to ask: What is the best fitness regimen for a tiger (or a tigress)?

So isn’t it high time for a healthy and meaningful paradigm shift in the way society and the fitness industry approaches fitness?  In the way you are personally approaching exercising?  Aren’t you thirsty for authentic human movement?

Here’s the right answer: in order to become and stay optimally fit, a tiger needs to move the way tigers move in their natural biome.  It is that simple.  Tigers will move naturally when they’re free to live the natural life every tiger should live; as will all other wild animals.

Read the post and let me know what do you think. Does it take more for us to regain or maintain fitness than "authentic human movement"? 

Finally, take a look at the recent post by John Michael and contribute your thoughts to Notes on a Manifesto.

SUNDAY PALEO / December 25, 2011

Happy Holidays! Thank you for visiting this past year.
We wish you a Healthy and Happy New Year!

FITNESS

Barefoot running: bad or beneficial?
"I'm constantly scanning the terrain, dodging rougher areas and taking a much more meandering line, which works different sets of muscles. It's almost like dancing. But the moment I put shoes on, most of that sensitivity is gone." - MSNBC

2012 Summer 5 Day Workshops!
“We are happy to announce our 2012 Summer 5 Day workshop schedule.  These workshops give participants the unique opportunity to reconnect with their true nature in the beautiful woods of WV.  Participants will enjoy camping, learn lots of new movement techniques, become a part of the MovNat "tribe", and most of all have fun.” - MovNat

ENERGY

The 5 States With the Most Installed Wind and Solar Power Saw the Least Increase in Electricity Prices from 2005-2010
“The findings presented here show quite clearly that states with high volumes of wind and solar PV have seen well below average cost increases. When this fact is considered in conjunction with the various health, environmental, energy security, and job creation benefits of renewable forms of generation, it helps to form a compelling argument in their favor.” - Think Progress

Facebook & Greenpeace Join to Ramp Up Renewable Energy
"‘Facebook looks forward to a day when our primary energy sources are renewable, and we are working with Greenpeace and others to help bring that day closer,’ says Marcy Scott Lynn of Facebook's sustainability program. "As an important step, our data center siting policy now states a preference for access to renewable energy.” - Sustainable Business

LIVING

This amazing off-grid hobbit house cost less than $5,000 to build - Grist

MODERN DISEASES

The Truth About Gluten
"‘We're cleaner than we used to be,’ Fasano said, and our general cleanliness may lead to overactive immune systems and a less stable environment for healthy gut bacteria. Additionally, celiac disease may be on the rise because we eat more wheat products now than our ancestors did, and that wheat contains more gluten.” - MyHealthNewsDaily

The Paleo Diet And Gout
“Part of the treatment for gout, which is a form of arthritis, is avoiding of high-purine as well as high-fructose foods. The Paleo diet, which is based on foods your hunter-gatherer ancestors ate thousands of years ago, may be beneficial for gout.” - Livestrong

NUTRITION

Cereal? Cookies? Oh, What’s the Diff?
“So for more than half a century well-intentioned parents have been torn between their desperation to get their kids to eat something, anything, and the knowledge that most packaged breakfast cereals are little better than cookies. … It turns out that from at least the perspective of sugar content, many are worse...” - The New York Times

RECIPES

Standing Rib Roast 
This holiday season we enjoyed a standing rib roast, also known as prime rib. This amazing cut of meat is sure to dazzle any dinner guests you have during the holidays. - Primal Palate

Tender Prime Rib Roast with Mushroom and Bacon Sauté
“Prime rib is a cut of meat that’s perfect for special occasion feasts in more ways than one. Served in supple, thick slices that are marbled with fat, it’s a decadent and impressive main course.” - Mark's Daily Apple

Grain-free Christmas Cookie Roundup 
To give you something festive to munch on for the next few days, we thought we'd put up a collection of holiday-appropriate cookies for you to make and share with your families! - Primal Palate

SUCCESS STORIES

How the Bears Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Primal Lifestyle 
There are two thoughts I clearly remember having in my lifetime: I am overweight, but I no longer care about how I look and I am fine with being this way for the rest of my life. My husband is likely to die of a heart attack sometime soon and there is nothing I can do about it." - Mark's Daily Apple

TERRA

The Greater Gila: America's First Wilderness
“The Gila has been referred to as the Yellowstone of the Southwest for its size, wildness, and nearly complete suite of natural processes and wildlife populations. Extensive roadless areas, wilderness and old growth forests, unparalleled wildlife—including Mexican spotted owl, Mexican gray wolves, jaguars, and endemic trout and other native fish - make the Gila Bioregion very special with the potential to be the crown jewel of a wild southwest.” - Wild Earth Guardians

SUNDAY PALEO / December 18, 2011

Grey Glacier, Patagonia, Chile

ANTHROPOLOGY

77,000-Year-Old Evidence for 'Bedding' and Use of Medicinal Plants Uncovered at South African Rock Shelter
“The oldest evidence for bedding at the site is particularly well-preserved, and consists of a layer of fossilized sedge stems and leaves, overlain by a tissue-paper-thin layer of leaves, identified by botanist Marion Bamford as belonging to Cryptocarya woodii, or River Wild-quince. The leaves of this tree contain chemicals that are insecticidal, and would be suitable for repelling mosquitoes.” – Science Daily

Is the Lion Man a Woman? Solving the Mystery of a 35,000-Year-Old Statue
“Archeologists have discovered previously unknown fragments of a figurine known as the "Lion Man," and are piecing it back together. Could the 35,000-year-old statue actually represent a female shaman? Scientists hope to resolve a decades-long debate.” - Spiegel Online

NUTRITION

What to Eat and What to Avoid for Lifelong Health
“I’ve given you a few basic tools to identify what foods might be preventing fat loss and promoting poor health, so you generally know what not to do, but now you want the details on what you should be doing. Specifically, what you should and should not be eating. Let’s bring it all together and spell it out.” – Mark’s Daily Apple

Why Eating Animals Makes Everything Easier
“The problem is that many of us are broken. Sedentary living, modern food toxins, too much stress, not enough sleep, and a distinct lack of play for play’s sake (more on this later, if you’re confused about why I’d rank “play” with all the other stuff) have fundamentally changed the way we process fuel.” – Mark’s Daily Apple

RECIPES

Scrumptious Salmon Chowder
“…last night I wanted soup to warm us up and I searched around my fridge and pantry for what would work and came up with a delicious salmon chowder using some amazing wild caught salmon filets from our local supplier."- Everyday Paleo

Dark Chocolate Macadamia Bark Sprinkled with Sea Salt
"When your sweet tooth goes looking for the ultimate dessert indulgence this year, look no further. Dark Chocolate Macadamia Bark Sprinkled with Sea Salt tastes fully and completely like “real” dessert. Not only will you enjoy every bite, so will the family and friends that you gift it to (hint, hint, don’t eat it all yourself!)" - Mark's Daily Apple

RECLAIMING HEALTH

It Could Be Old Age, or It Could Be Low B12
“As we age, our ability to absorb B12 from food declines, and often so does our consumption of foods rich in this vitamin. A B12 deficiency can creep up without warning and cause a host of confusing symptoms that are likely to be misdiagnosed or ascribed to aging.” – The New York Times

Confessions of a former Coke addict
“Yes, I've battled a Coke "addiction" more than once. Just when I think I have it beat, it worms its way back into my life. No, this Coke isn't that white, powdery stuff; it comes in a can, and my drug of choice is Cherry Coke Zero.” - Grist

Too much booze blunts your immune system
“Alcohol blunted the monocytes' defences. When the over-the-limit cells were exposed to a virus mimic, they produced only a quarter as much of the virus-fighting signalling molecule called type-1 interferon as teetotal monocytes made.” – New Scientist

Fruits and Vegetables Reduce Risks of Specific Types of Colorectal Cancers, Study Finds
“The effects of fruit and vegetable consumption on colorectal cancer (CRC) appear to differ by site of origin, according to a new study published in the October issue of the Journal of the American Dietetic Association.” ­– Science Daily

URBAN FARMING

Farming: A New York state of mind
“New York has a lot to offer -- farming is no exception. This week, we visited three very different farmers and heard their take on the city and how growing food plays a role in (and is influenced by) the Big Apple.” - Grist

SUNDAY PALEO / October 9, 2011

Food market, Otavalo, Ecuador, South America. Image: John MichaelANTHROPOLOGY

Prehistoric Children Finger-Painted on Cave Walls 
"Researchers have uncovered evidence that children as young as 2 decorated France’s Rouffignac caves with markings known as finger flutings at least 13,000 years ago, drawing not only simple lines but also symbolic shapes." - History.com

ENVIRONMENT

World’s second tallest structure will power 100,000 homes a day with hot air 
"If a clean energy project in the Arizona desert goes forward, the second tallest structure on Earth will be a 2,600-foot solar updraft tower, which could last 80 years and generate 200 MW of electricity each day -- using only hot air." - Grist

Nearly All Deep-Sea Fisheries Are Unsustainable 
"The authors of this Marine Policy paper say that the best policy would be to end economically wasteful deep-sea fisheries, redirect subsidies to help displaced fishermen and rebuild fish populations in productive waters closer to ports and markets, places far more conducive to sustainable fisheries." - Save Our Seas 

The Self-Sufficient Office Building 
“The story is that this building is pushing the boundaries of performance in all categories, not just in one or two,” said Jason McLennan, the chief executive of both the certifying institute and the Cascadia Green Building Council, a chapter of the U.S. Green Building Council that administers the better-known LEED rating system. “For this building type and this scale, it’s the first in the world to go this far.” - The New York Times 

MODERN DISEASES

How Inflammation Affects Your Health 
"Chronic inflammation is another story. It occurs when inflammation persists, and the dilated blood vessels and hyped-up immune system become the body's new norm. However, not only is it not part of the normal healing process, research indicates that it may be at the very core of chronic diseases such as asthma, rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease." - MyHealthNewsDaily 

Low Vitamin B12 Tied to Brain Atrophy, Cognitive Impairment 
"The study found that higher levels of several markers of vitamin B12 deficiency, most notably methylmalonic acid (MMA) and homocysteine, were associated with lower global cognitive function scores and lower total brain volume roughly 5 years later." - Medscape Neurology 

Junk Food Looks More Tempting When Blood Sugar Drops 
"More worryingly, after a mild blood sugar drop, our brains are less able to fight our desire for ice cream and pizza, the researchers said. And the response from the part of the brain responsible for inhibiting such cravings was particularly weak in obese people, the study found." - MyHealthNewsDaily 

Brain scans show obese less able to stop food cravings 
"Brain scans of thin people who looked at pictures of high-calorie foods showed increased activity in a region of the brain used for impulse control, but obese people showed little activity in this region, the researchers found." - MSNBC.com

RECIPES

Dad’s Grilled Lemon Chicken 
"Anyhow, what I’ve learned first hand is that Paleo can be done and it’s not as difficult as many people think.  I knew this going into it because, well my wife runs this very popular blog called Everyday Paleo, which most of us have heard of.  And yes I have cooked many meals in the past, for those who remember Dad’s Pork Chops, yeah that was me." - Everyday Paleo 

Harvest Spiced Drumsticks 
"Fall is here, which means the kids are back in school, cozy sweaters are being worn, pumpkins are ripe for the picking, and warm comfort foods are on our tables. This fall, we have created a tasty chicken recipe that will fill your home with all the wonderful aromas of fall flavors, and is also a perfect 'left-overs' option to send along with your kids to school." - Primal Palate

SUNDAY PALEO / August 14, 2011

Sunday morning walk, Gore Creek Trail, Vail, CO. August 2011. Image: CyberMed, LLC

NUTRITION 

If You Think Kids Can’t Make Big Diet Changes, Think Again! 
"I’m not going to sugar coat it — the doing part was easy, just remove the bad foods and cook healthier meals… but the emotional part was hard. They pitched fits ..." - The Primal Parent

7 Signs and symptoms you are addicted to junk food 
"What is junk food? Pretty much anything that contains sugar, refined wheat, trans fat and other yucky things. Cakes, candy, soda pop, pizza, donuts, ice cream, etc. You know the drill." - Kris Health Blog

RECIPES

Everyday Paleo Gazpacho with Avocado Cream! 
"I received a bunch of heirloom tomatoes in my CSA box this week and while gazing at them on the counter along with a few fresh cucumbers, beautiful purple bell peppers, and big red onions, I became inspired to make a gazpacho!" - Everyday Paleo

Paleo Chicken Bastila 
"This is a special occasion only recipe... Like, ‘I’m only going to eat this once a year or so’ special." - PaleoDigest

SUCCESS STORIES

Success Stories 
"People that reversed diabetes; lost 50+ pounds and took back control of their lives; refined their diet and exercise program to attain goals they thought were impossible. Here is just a small sample of the amazing accounts of transformation I have received over the last year." – Mark’s Daily Apple

What it feels like to lose 200 pounds 
"As of last Thursday, we, as a couple, have lost 200 pounds... It’s like a whole other person just walked out our door, never to be seen again. It has seriously changed everything about us." - Paleo Parents 

URBAN FARMING

Can Planting Vegetables in Vacant Lots Save Cleveland?
"By transforming its vacant lots, backyards and roof-tops into farming plots, the city of Cleveland could meet all of its fresh produce, poultry and honey needs, calculate researchers from Ohio State University. These steps would save up to $155 million annually, boost employment and scale back obesity." - WIRED SCIENCE

Monthly Finds - June 2011

ENVIRONMENT

• A Warming Planet Struggles to Feed Itself – New York Times
• Warming to Blame for Water Crisis in U.S. West? – National Geographic
• Rolling Out New Routes on America's Bicycle "Highway" System - OnEarth
• “Colorful” Solar Panels from Qsolar – Clean Technica

FITNESS

• Aping the Early Human Workout - WSJ
• Exercise May Prevent Silent Strokes – My Health News Daily

NUTRITION

• The Modern Paleolithic Revolution – Technorati
• 10 things you can do today to start your primal journey - Courageous Mind
• Paleolithic Diet Infographic – PaleolithicDiet.com

RECIPES

• Asparagus With Gremolata, Lemon and Olive Oil – New York Times
• Grilled Artichokes with Creamy Mint Sauce – Mark’s Daily Apple
• Ginger Beef with Mango Salsa – Everyday Paleo
• baby back ribs + cherry cabbage slaw – Modern Paleo

A Paleo Mother's Day Dinner

Two of our older boys joined us (the oldest is in Ecuador) and together with our youngest son, five of us celebrated Mother's Day with a family dinner.

Appetizers included store bought smoked oysters and shrimp.

Baby romaine & fresh herb lettuce were mixed with carrots, celery, strawberries, and olives. The salad was dressed with olive oil and balsamic vinegar.

Click to read more ...