Paleo: Breakfast

Here is the Paleo breakfast I had earlier today.  Not a cereal grain in sight!

I tend to eat eggs most days for breakfast.   Eggs are great for many reasons.  They are a wholesome food.  Eggs are a high quality protein food - containing all the essential amino acids and a great source of balanced macro and micro nutrients.  It is easy to digest and has a high level of bioavailability, which means that most of the nutrients ingested are absorbed and utilised by the body.

To increase the amount of healthy fats I have used copious amounts of extra-virgin coconut oil, added a whole avocado and a palmful of walnuts.

I also enjoy a high level of antioxidants with rocket, spinach, red cos and green batavia, washed down with peppermint and green tea. (No coffee).

Testimonial: No to Osteoporosis!

My name is Vicky and I suffered a fracture in the ankle whilst out jogging just before Christmas 2011.  I was referred to Darryl through a recommendation from a friend.  

I viewed Darryl's profile on his website and was intrigued about his approach to movement.  I was also keen to see how and if paleo nutrition could help with my recovery.

The first question Darryl asked provided a lot of food for thought.  He asked, "do you think it is normal to have a fracture when running"?  I hadn't thought of it myself and none of the other specialists I had seen challenged me in this way.  Based on a food diary I compiled he suggested I get a bone profile test done which presented low calcium, phosphorous and Vitamin D serum levels, then a bone density test which showed I had osteomalacia and osteopenia - which if left could lead to osteoporosis.  I was only 34 years old and was very surprised to be affected by this especially with all the dairy intake I had and exercise I was doing.

I started a one to one workout and nutrition programme with Darryl that excluded dairy (which were causing me other issues due to lactose intolerance) and with no calcium supplements.  A diet based on real-food and removing foods that were blocking absorption of essential nutrients.  My calcium levels were back in the normal range after a few months and full movement in my ankle had returned without discomfort.

After 7 months my recent bone density scan and Vitamin D results came back as normal and I no longer suffer from osteomalacia or osteopenia.  

As a bonus I am also in the best shape I have been in, in years!

Thanks Darryl

Victoria Daniels, 34.

Testimonial: Remission From Rheumatoid Arthritis

Testimonial for Darryl Edwards - Fitness Explorer Nutrition

Consultation: April 2012

I was diagnosed with Rheumatoid arthritis a couple of years ago and have been on the Paleo Diet for a year or so.  Although I was much improved I was still not quite there and spoke to Darryl about making further changes.  

I’ve spoken to nutritionalists and dietitians before and of course doctors; everything was quite black and white. Take this, eat this, and don’t eat that. With Darryl it was different.  It was enlightening, philosophical and tailored to the individual.

Darryl was very calming straight off the bat, I was relaxed immediately and found him very easy to talk to. I started obsessing about details and Darryl would remind me that a holistic approach was much more sensible.  It is easy to become caught up in the paleo politics and obsess about micro-details when you are sick.  I don’t know how he does it but he puts it all into perspective.

He made some dietary suggestions that were specific to me and my health concerns, he made some additional lifestyle suggestions and helped me understand the importance of the right types of movement in relation to my condition.

Since taking his advice I have seen my health improve in leaps and bounds. I was stuck in a vicious cycle of knowing that exercise was going to be good for me but being a little bit too ill to do any. With the few variations I made to my diet, I was able to break the cycle and begin to exercise.  I found the more I moved, the more I improved.

Darryl has definitely been a key player in my life-changing year from Rheumatoid arthritis to a fit, happy lady in remission!

Arianna

Statistics: Prescription Drugs

Getty Images

Prescription drugs: 

In 2011 the US spending on prescription medicines made up 34 percent of the worldwide total. For the sake of comparison the European Union (27 countries) and Japan combined, is only 29 percent of worldwide expenditure.

The amount spent on prescription drugs globally in 2011 was $956 Billion and this is expected to grow to $1.2 Trillion by 2016 - will we be any healthier as a result???