health problems

 I meet them all the time- people who tell me that they would never try the paleo diet because their diet makes them feel awesome. Maybe they don't realize that a face covered with acne and a spare tire around their waist aren't exactly markers of feeling awesome. 

I thought of that when reading this NYT article about Alicia Silverstone where she eats a meal presumably loaded with inflammatory omega-6 fatty acids

She settled on nachos and onion rings to start, and mulled beer selections with two girlfriends who had seen her show that night. This was no dive bar that the trio had chosen for a post-performance meal; it was Candle 79, a cozy Upper East Side restaurant that specializes in organic and vegan cuisine. The nachos came slathered in refried pinto beans, tofu sour cream and chili-grilled seitan, a wheat-based meat substitute.

If you are at a vegan restaurant, be sure to avoid fried things. Unless Candle 79 is bucking the trend, they are using canola, safflower, and soy oils, which are rich in omega-6, which to boot is also sensitive to eat. Alicia's fried food was probably loaded with rancid inflammatory fats. I was sad when I realized my favorite veggie-friendly restaurant, Souen, uses such oils to fry in. I LOVED their fried oysters, but I can't order them again. 

But she claims she feels awesome

The karma of turning vegan is amazing. And then to get this sudden weight loss, and my skin is glowing and my nails are strong and my eyes are white — it was wonderful.

But if you google Alicia Silverstone and acne, you can find pictures of her without makeup showing off her not-exactly glowing skin. It's not a surprise: gluten and rancid omega-6s are a nasty combination. It's not veganism that's the real problem here though, it's the idea that veganism is THE PERFECT diet and as long as you don't touch those nasty animal products you are AOK. The truth is that acne is usually caused by things like gluten, sugar, and omega-6 oils. It's hard to avoid these as a vegan...or anyone who eats one, but worth it for everyone!

Last year I had some issues with acne. I realized it was because of my "cheat meal" at the Swedish pub, which was a burger with mayo. The burger bun and the oil in the mayo=bad news for my skin. I have delicate skin and what I eat really does show up, for some lucky people it doesn't, but maybe they aren't so lucky because they don't get that visual indicator. Either way, so many women I know accept acne as normal! If you are 25 and still have acne, that's the sign of a problem. 

I was reading this excellent interview with an ex-vegan this morning and she also talks about her "veganism as perfect diet" blinders:

Did you feel better or worse as a vegan? 

I felt better for the first four months and then progressively worse for the next seven years.

But did you tell people you felt better?

While I was vegan I worked as a manager in a health food store.  I always told myself and others that I felt much better as a vegan (deep down I knew I didn’t).  I think I was actually trying to convince myself that I felt better.  “I’m thinner, so I MUST feel better.” 

If you do the paleo diet you have to be conscious of blinders too. If you are having a problem, admit it and look for solutions. It's very much possible to have a diet that causes problems, but is technically paleo.