SEE A FRICKIN DOCTOR

Posted Tue, 08/24/2010 - 07:32 by Melissa

While I don't have lots of faith in doctors, there are plenty of serious conditions that basic tests can rule out. I'd feel pretty stupid if I didn't get them and ended up dying or seriously ill from something that eating a good diet might not save me from. In paleolithic times people DID die of infections that are preventable now. They weren't diabetic and didn't have heart disease, but bad things can still happen to the human body.

When I first started paleo I wasn't doing so well. I had a terrible UTI and I was traveling, so I thought I would try to treat it myself. Let's just say this didn't work so well and I ended up with an even worse kidney infection.*

So I don't have much tolerance for people with acute symptoms who self-treat:

  • Black-outs
  • Severe or unusual abdominal pain
  • Internal bleeding
  • Serious headache
  • Changes in vision
  • Difficulty breathing
  • Difficulty urinating and unusual urine

And then post

"Hey, I just started paleo and I am in a lot of pain in my abdominal region. I think it's candida leaky gut syndrome, which I diagnosed myself for. Do you think I need to increase carbs?"

Let me repeat: weird shit is not part of transitioning into the paleo diet. People who do this just make the paleo diet look bad. I understand going to the doctor sucks (and many doctors aren't that helpful), but it's worth it to rule out major problems.

This reminds me of anthropologist Thomas Headlund's account of raising his children among the Agta:

There were less-rosy sides to the way our children grew up, too, of course. They suffered from the local diseases, especially malaria (all five of us), and two of our children had primary complex tuberculosis. (TB is the number one killer of Agta adults.) And they may still suffer some psychological trauma over the deaths of many Agta with whom they were close: the majority of their childhood playmates are today dead. (Agta life expectancy at birth averages only 21.5 years.)

The paleo diet is a tool to cure diseases of civilization. It doesn't mean giving up modern science. In fact, I would like to see paleo associated with science, not with people acting irresponsibly.

* Not having UTIs or yeast infections since going paleo seriously has been one of the main reasons I've stuck with the diet.

Comments

If you think Crossfit is

by michaelchasetx - 09/08/2010 - 10:09

If you think Crossfit is poorly adapted for older people, you're not scaling correctly. TMTS (Too Much Too Soon) is to be avoided. The best help I received was from Jeff Martin at BrandX for scaling: http://www.crossfitbrandx.com/index.php/forums/viewforum/16/

Well put. It's important to

by ScottMGS - 08/24/2010 - 09:30

Well put. It's important to know the strengths, weaknesses and efficacy of any regimen we follow whether it's allopathic (western doctor-type) medicine or any of the alternatives. That goes, as well, for any diet, exercise and other lifestyle choices we make.

I always enjoy your blogs,

by Jae - 08/24/2010 - 08:50

I always enjoy your blogs, but just wanted to say your last three posts have been exceptional. Now if you could just address the ladies and tell them all to go gain 20 lbs. of muscle, that would be great. ;)

Haha. My grandma lives near

by Melissa - 08/24/2010 - 09:29

Haha. My grandma lives near Bloomington. She's 91, but maybe she can do Crossfit. The women in my family gain muscle pretty quickly. I've gained about 5 lbs muscle recently.

I actually think CrossFit is

by Jae - 08/24/2010 - 14:49

I actually think CrossFit is very often poorly adapted for older people, although the smarter trainers know how to do it well. But I think everybody needs strength training, especially as we get older, and I see women neglecting this a lot because they "don't want to get bulky" or are scared of lifting heavy. If I write about it, women ignore me... if you wrote about it, I think they'd be more likely to listen.

Also, I'm jealous! I wish I could gain muscle quickly. Or at all. =) Congratulations on those 5 lbs! That's pretty significant for your size, for sure.