PALEO JAY Smoothie Cafe

A very important component of health is skin health.  In a large way, the health of your skin is directly related to your diet and lifestyle: if you eat a good paleo type of diet, in other words eating foods that enhance your health rather than those that cause inflammation on a daily basis, why then your skin will be clear and supple, smooth and healthy.    This is because if you eat things like grain products and sugars on a regular basis, especially if it is daily, you are subjecting your gut lining to constant insult!  The actual mechanism is rather involved, since there are so many damaging components of modern wheat, which is very different from the ancient Einkorn strain of wheat that is mentioned in the bible.  This modern wheat contains a “super starch” that encourages the body to store fat at the same time that it damages our gut lining severely, opening the junctures within the lining to invaders in our digestive system that gain access right into our bodies through these “holes” within our intestinal lining.   Even if you don’t have full blown celiac disease, which is an absolute total intolerance to gluten, most folks have gluten sensitivity.  They simply do much better when gluten is eliminated from their diet- this is most people!  They lose fat weight, and they are not prone to acid reflux, diabetes, and even heart disease and cancer.  All by simply eliminating wheat from their diets!   Skin health is kind of the ‘canary in the coal mine’.  This skin is the largest organ on the body, and so any deterioration of the gut lining allowing the incursion of invaders into the body often shows up either in irritable bowel syndrome, or other obviously gut-induced illnesses, as well as in poor skin health- exzema, skin dryness and redness, psoriasis, acne, and most other skin problems.  On the skin, we can see when damage is occurring in the gut- it is that simple!  Another thing about wheat is the fact that it is sprayed  with glyphosate, which is the active ingredient in Monsanto’s insidious Roundup pesticide, which is sprayed in quantities ever-increasing on crops in the U.S., one of the biggest crops being wheat.  Biblical wheat was not laced with poison…   If I told you that if you would eliminate entirely one component of your diet, namely wheat, and that one step would make you much leaner, far less prone to autoimmune diseases that are the scourge of the modern world, and also unlikely to develop either heart disease or cancer, would that make it worthwhile to you?   And if I further mentioned that if you also limited sugar and other sweeteners to small amounts only, along with gluten free versions of bread products, you would gain a vibrant health and wellness that was far beyond your dreams- would you do it??   Not only would this achieve life-long health and wellness pretty much all by itself, it would also give you glowing, clear skin!  And then, if you added in the “icing on the cake” you would not be eating anymore- things like 8 good hours of sleep each night, daily exercise of the Perfectly Paleo Exercise type, including lots of stretching and mobility work, self-resisted and virtually

Probably one of the most seminal things I’ve ever read about exercise was an article written by Ken Hutchins, the originator of Superslow.  Ken’s exercise protocol was groundbreaking, in that he pinpointed exactly what the actual goal should be in exercise!    If you don’t know what you are even aiming at, you are never going to hit the target!  And it is a true statement that: the vast majority of people, exercise “specialists” included- don’t know what exercise really is, and what the real goal of exercise is.    Most “exercise” falls in the recreation category, not exercise.  Real exercise has the goal of improving physical fitness, period.  This means doing what it takes to improve-   Muscular size, strength and endurance Bone strength Cardiovascular efficiency Enhanced flexibility Contributing to body leanness Increased resistance to injury   That makes perfect sense, right?  Exercise is all about improving your body.  Of course, stress relief and other benefits also incidentally accrue- but the bottom line in physical improvement!  Exercise should send a signal to the body- improve, or you may die.  The basic demands of nature are that severe.    I think that many in the paleo community, as well as of course the general public, are completely ignorant of this.  The prevailing concept is that any movement is exercise.    Wrong.  Just “moving”, whether it be in a sport, or any other activity, however strenuous, is recreation, not exercise.  Recreation is fun.  Exercise is definitely not fun- it is hard, uncomfortable, and brutal!  To be truly effective, it must go just beyond your comfort zone, into a place where you want to stop before you’ve reached real fatigue- but you don’t!  You go on, doing a couple of more reps, even though it burns.  You do this for the results, not because it’s “fun”.    It’s kind of a fine point, because almost everyone says they are walking, or running, or skiing, or playing football or baseball or doing Cross Fit or dancing for exercise.  You may gain a small bit of physical benefit from these activities, but it is incidental, and comes at the cost of possible injury and is a very inefficient means of increasing fitness.  For instance, in most sports, let’s pick football for instance, the off-season is when players concentrate on actually building fitness.  Then, during the playing season, they progressively become less and less fit, as they overtrain and inevitably get injured.  Their sport is recr

The world of nutrition and fitness, health and wellness is as fraught with fads and fashions, unfortunately, just like almost everything else.  The cutting edge thing right now is the ketogenic diet!   Forget paleo diet- in this iteration of the perfect human diet, we go beyond paleo- we don’t just go “low carb”, we go virtually no carbohydrates!  Actually, that’s not quite true: perhaps 25 grams per day of so is permissible.  One medium banana has 27 grams of carbs, so you get the idea- ketogenic is almost no carbs at all!  Even things like your daily paleo green smoothie, such as I recommend with green and cruciferous veggies, kefir and, probably contains more carbs than that, probably about 30 grams or so.  Still quite low carb, but not quite keto carb level!   On the side of the ketogenic diet, it is definitely true that this way of eating can be incredibly therapeutic!  It has been used successfully for literally thousands of years, going back to ancient Greek times, in the treatment of epilepsy.  Fasting was recommended to treat epilepsy in 400 BC!  And Jesus recommended it in the book of Mark: And he said unto them, This kind can come forth by nothing, but by prayer and fasting.   He was referring to the a young boy, who lay thrashing and foaming at the mouth, which is a symptom of epilepsy.  Now, it must be noted that fasting is, in itself- ketogenic.  If you stop eating altogether, after a certain point you will begin burning stored fat for fuel- you are then ketogenic!  It really is that simple.  Humans have been going in and out of ketosis for all of history.   The difference today is that now, in this age of agriculture as opposed to hunting and gathering Neolithic times, we are absolutely surrounded with carbohydrates, protein, and all kinds of sugars, day and night!  And, of course, it is killing us, making us fat and sick, diabetic and prone to all sorts of autoimmune disease.  Going back to a Paleo type of diet, with fat and protein, and a few natural carbs like berries or sweet potato is the antidote.   But now, since everyone likes to go to extremes, ketogenic is seen as the way to go.  My take?  Well, aside from the fact that my moniker is PaleoJay, you must know which side I will come down on, right?   Well, I do say paleo is a wonderful way to cure most ills of modern life, but a ketogenic does indeed have its place.  It is wonderful as a therapeutic tool!   I go in and out of ketosis all the time!  Intermittent fasting is an in-between way of having the best of both worlds.  You know: eat supp

I’m sorry for the hyperbole within that title- ‘Get a Vitamix or die!’  You won’t really die- you will be just like the hordes of almost undead Americans that are gradually slipping into not only unhealthy, but into levels of diabesity.   If you are not sure by now what diabesity is, let me illuminate: diabesity is the precursor to all modern degenerative disease.  ALL.    Once you are on this path, there is no good way out.  You will continue eating your processed carbs, blithely ignoring everything I say on a weekly basis, and gradually getting fatter and fatter, or at least more insulin resistant and diabetic.  As you ignore my recommendations to go lower carb, and higher vegetables in your diet, it will not go well with your health.  Sorry, but it is guaranteed!    Higher carbs, processed (fast and boxed and packaged) foods will sicken you, slowly but surely.  Just as a high vegetable, with a modicum of low sugar fruits thrown in- (like citrus and berries)- diet will gradually make you healthier and healthier!  But most folks will not incorporate large amounts of vegetables into their diets!  This is the truth- they are acclimated to modern ideas, and those ideas say “Eat what you like!  Moderation in all things.  Keep calories in line, and you are fine!   The only good thing is that those who have been paying attention to actual modern science know that this is BS.  Calories, overall, mean very little.  Ratio of carbs to fat mean much more.  As does quality of meat, eggs, and seafood- pastured, free range, and wild caught, to point it out!    QUALITY OF FOODS MATTER, HUGELY.  Most sources will tell you it makes no difference.  They are wrong- a calorie is not a calorie!  A Skittle is not the same as Kale.    And, most importantly, the quality and nutrient density of foods are paramount to health!   And here is why you need a Vitamix, or you will die in squalor and pain in a back alley… just kidding!   Actually, why I say this is because, although you may not need a Vitamix or other high speed blender to stay alive: You do to stay healthy!   I kind of hate to “beat the same drum,” but the truth is that if you don’t have a blender to make yourself (and your family!) a  Green Paleo Smoothie that you can drink on a daily basis- you will not get the greens and other anti-oxidants, including spices that will give you optimal health.  You won’t- it’s almost impossible in this modern world.   Millenia ago, you and your tribe would ha

Our lives are consumed with keeping things going- at least mine surely is!  Two trees fell last night, unbeknownst to me, and unfortunately both of them fell across a road!  Yikes. I was working in my garden, and then remembered I needed to pick up some branches that had fallen recently, so I could mow later.  I picked up said branches, and then spotted two more, up behind the garden.  Now, you need to know that my property is located in a coulee, which in the French parlance of the explorers who explored my area here in the driftless zone, long ago- a coulee is a three sided valley.  A big valley in my case, surrounded on three sides by tall bluffs, covered with woodlands.  It’s wonderful in that it is naturally very isolated. My house, one of the original farmhouses in the coulee, is on the corner of the two roads that converge in the valley- and so, I have a road on the south side of my house, and another on the east side.  These are the only two roads that are out here.  When I went after the two branches up behind the garden, I noticed a lot of shade here.  ‘What the heck?’ I thought, and walked up the little hillside to the road.  A tree had fallen, probably due to the incredible amount of rainfall we have had this year in the Coulee Region.  The tree, a box elder, halfway blocked the road to the south of my house. Sighing deeply, I’m sure (I have lots to do lately), I got my chain saw, my wonderful Stihl Farm boss, and went to work.  Maybe an hour or so, that was it, and the road was at least clear.  The rest of the tree can wait until Fall, or at least until I have more time.  I still had to mow, the next three days are scheduled for all rain! I decided to head down the East road, to see if there was more damage.  I drove my diesel tractor, chain saw still along for the ride… there it was- another tree down!  I was the menace of the coulee, blocking both roads!  I got down, fired up my Stihl, and cleared up this mess as well.  Another hour.  That’s two hours of heavy chain saw work, cutting, bucking, dragging, and stacking of bad firewood- and, this morning was my big heavy pushup workout day- so, I was a bit tired to start.  I like to take it easy after a heavy workout.  Recovery is important! Now, I could finally mow!  Mowing is quite enjoyable, since I can listen to podcasts, or to AM radio like Rush Limbaugh.  No one explains modern politics better than Rush!  When I finally finished this, a couple of hours later, I went into the house.  I told my wife about the two trees down, and how I had to cut them up.  “Did you cut up the old dead apple tree?” she asked.  I shrugged.  “I neve

If you are like me, you have a strong urge to sequester yourself away, living as full and healthy of a life as I can.  Working on my land, my few acres upon which there is always something that needs doing!  I’ve had numerous large trees come down this year, and some I’ve cut up- others are waiting, waiting for me to have the time to cut them, move them, stack them, and stack and/or burn the brush.  I’ve had trouble with my old 1962 Ford pickup that needed taking care of, and well, you get the idea- I’m sure your own life is just as beset with complications that demand your immediate attention.  But the king of them all for me is our latest- a kitchen remodel!  Oh my gosh, you haven’t lived until you have washed dishes in a tub outside with your garden hose for over 6 weeks, and had no stove or sink at all.  (At least downstairs- the upstairs remodel was last year)! And now, we have a wonderful, super-functional new kitchen.  Just have to get all of the furniture out of the dining room and the garage, and back inside, and finish off the downstairs bath… Here is my point.  My paramount goal is to live peacefully in my rural setting, tending a large garden, seeing my neighbors and grandchild regularly, and cooking, reading, exercising, playing music, and writing.  It seems as if that would be easy to attain, especially now that I am officially retired. It’s not.  Life really does happen- emergencies of all sorts, deaths and births, joys and tragedies- they are so much a part of the fabric of life that sometimes we forget- we don’t really have an option to just become a sort of happy recluse, indulging our own interests.  We are part of our tribe, and as much as we individualistic Westerners want to believe otherwise- the tribe takes precedence.  It is our duty to care for and help our family and friends, our sacred obligation, really. But don’t think this means that we are required to take care of outsiders- the indolent, illegal immigrants, those that refuse to try, that expect to be supported as a right, whether native or foreign born!  These should be viewed as either hostile invaders in the first case, or bad seeds to be weeded out in the other.  A vital “tribe” can only thrive with ‘all hands rowing the boat’.    Sorry- that was my brief rant on how some think that to be compassionate or accepting we need to support any sort of cultural rot that is shoved at us.  We don’t, and we should be ever vigilant about such stuff, forced upon us by a Big Government, whether it be Rome or any other more modern, socialist sort of tyranny.  I personally believe that we have escaped such a socialist tyranny with the last election, but just as in our personal lives: we are never “home free”.  There is always more to do! My point is this: try to not bemoan your lot, (as I sometimes do, until I stop myself), thinking ‘Why can’t I just be left alone?

There is one simple, tasty addition to your life that is the closest thing to a cure-all that I can name- bone broth!  Bone broth is simply the bones, the marrow, cooked down for at least 12 hours into a miraculous, life-sustaining liquid.  A tasty liquid, that contains so many health benefits it is hard to believe.   I think the primary benefit is its gut healing ability.  Virtually everyone in the developed world has a damaged gut lining!  Gluten and gliadin (from wheat) GMO products, processed foods, fast food, NSAID medications like aspirin and tylenol, ibuprofen and the like, stress itself, along with a lack of enough good, restful sleep all result in a permeable gut lining.  Such a damaged lining exposes you to   ALL AUTOIMMUNE DISEASES!   ALL OF THEM   Do I really need to list them all?  Let’s just toss out a few- type 1 diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, Alzheimer’s, and even cancer are all basically autoimmune diseases, where cells in the body are attacking other cells in the body.  All can be traced back, ultimately, to a permeable, or leaky gut, where “invaders” can pass right into the body through the leaking “holes” in the gut lining.   That is really enough, right there- but the benefits go beyond even that- joint pain is relieved by the injection of the glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate that are contained in bone broth- why would you buy expensive supplements to do the same thing?  Also, bone broth is a better protein supplement than any you can buy, and much more assimilable.    Bone broth will also improve your sleep, supply hard-to-find nutrients that will also improve eye health, vastly improve skin and hair health, (your hair will probably become thicker and shinier within a couple of weeks of use), and even improve your mood, digestion, and protect you against depression and mood swings!    You probably are wondering- “How can I get this miracle into my life?”  At least you should be!  Well, it is really easy, and inexpensive too…   Just get a big pot, (a crock pot is ideal), and after you have prepared a pastured chicken for dinner, take all of the bones and connective tissues (the feet and neck and organs too if you have them!), and simmer them for at least 12 hours.  Put in a splash of apple cider vinegar to help break down the minerals in the bones, and some sea salt, and you are done- just strain out the bones in a colander or strainer, and put into canning jars.  Or else, just leave in the pot, and ladle out a cup of so throughout the day to sip on.    Here’s the thing- I know many of your eyes are glazing over about now!  “(I hate to cook, I don’t have pots, or canning jars, or a crock pot- I never even use my oven!)”

I know- you’ve woken up, and thought: “Perhaps a Paleolithic Lifestyle would change my life?  Because now I am: 1. weak 2. fat 3. diseased   Well, you can be a diesel engine-  Or, a Paleo Diesel, if you prefer; a Conan-esque, super efficient person who can handle any obstacle or disease, just by your well-tuned metabolism and lifestyle!  It truly is your choice…   What you need to do, is eschew, or give up what the evil rulers of our time are ordering you to do!  They want you to:   1. Eat low fat, only vegetable oils please!  2. Move More- Eat Less- this means walking, jogging, mall walking, aerobic dance classes: all sorts of wimpy, stupid flailings of your limbs that accomplish almost nothing, but make you feel virtuous.  And then, you go on a “low calorie” type of diet, that results in you being malnourished.  But still fat.   I hope you know by now, if you have listened to me or any other Paleo podcasts at all, that this is B.S.  And no, despite the accuracy of it, I don’t mean Barbara Streisand.    I want you to eat a full-fat, lower carb sort of diet- without fast foods, processed foods; and super low in sugar and super high in vegetables and and low glycemic fruits, like citrus and berries.  Sprouts and spices- mainly in green Paleo Smoothies, as outlined in Perfectly Paleo Exercise and at www.paleojay.com    You know, it is literally true that, if you give up the processed foods, and high carb Barbara Streisand- oh, I mean B.S., sleep a good 8 hours per night, and exercise ala Perfectly Paleo Exercise on a daily, or near daily basis, you will sidestep most of the diseases and infirmities of modern times.   What exactly does this mean?  Well, it means that:   1. You will not become diabetic, or its precursor- diabesity. 2. You won’t become an old, obese person who is heading for Alzheimer’s! 3. You will build your tendons and ligaments, rather than let them decline, as they do in almost all conventional exercise approaches.  You will learn about the importance of isometrics, self-resisted, and above all Virtual Resistance, where the body resists itself as it moves through a range of motion, working not only the muscles, but the all-important tendons and ligaments that actually support the musculature!   If you do what I prescribe in Perfectly Paleo Exercise, following the diet of a green, paleo smoothie daily, and do the exercises as prescribed as well, you will turn yourself into a Paleo Diesel!   I came up with this term as I was doing things out on my land with my diesel tractor.  If you have never spent time amongst tractors, you wouldn’t know that diesel engined tractors

A really big lesson that needs to be learned about health, fitness, and wellness is to not work out sometimes!   I know, for me this was a hard, hard lesson to learn, and actually internalize.  If you are motivated to change your diet to a paleo path, eliminating grains and vegetable oil, and replacing them with good meats and seafood and a green smoothie loaded with veggies and coconut milk, spices, green tea and berries- why, then you are highly motivated indeed.  Just like me!   And diet is definitely the number one thing most folks need to change.  There is no reason to go “by halves” here- clean up your diet- it is all positive!  No downside whatsoever.   But, here is the thing: exercise is different.  The big thing is this- everyone thinks that more is better!   It’s not.  It seems as if it is at first, when you make great gains in musculature, endurance, and everything else.  “Let’s just keep this going forever,” you think, “ I will exercise myself into a superman or woman!!”  You envision yourself getting bigger, leaner, and stronger forever, and eventually wearing a cape or carrying a golden lasso…   It doesn’t work that way.  At least not in the real world.    Especially as you age.  And although I am now 65, I don’t mean that you have to be that old to change your exercise protocol- even if your are 30- well, you are no longer 20!    The better your diet, actually, the less you NEED to exercise!  Diet is by far the most important element of fitness and health, and although I personally exercise every single day if I can- diet trumps exercise!  Exercise simply stimulates the body to use the good nutrients you have eaten, and takes advantage of the good rest and sleep you have had to utilize these nutrients to build your body into the healthy, wonderful shape that you want.   The takeaway here is this: if you feel you have to exercise every day, no matter what-   You don’t.    Relax.  Chill out.  If your diet is good, if your home life is largely stress free (no one’s is, entirely!), and you have slept a good eight plus hours per night for a while-   Exercise is a good “plus” for you!  Do it, and go at it Perfectly Paleo Exercise style: hard, intense, and briefly.  This will stimulate muscular building, and also cardio improvements- but don’t forget stretching.  Stretching is almost as important as building muscle and endurance, and as you get older, it is even more important!    Get on the floor, squat

Wow- this is an all-encompassing podcast, to say the least-  HOW TO WORKOUT?  Well, all I mean really is to give you a template.  A What to do when type of workout schedule. I just see so many folks flounder when it comes to working out!  Really- it is not that complicated, and it definitely is not that hard.  It takes effort, sure; but so does working a job.  And most high achievers (no welfare folks need apply), have no problem with that! Here is how I see it:  the problem areas-   1. Work out at home.  Yup, the number one reason for not working out is “lack of time”.  Working out at home gives you that time.   2. Don’t use a gym, or elaborate equipment.  Again, equipment is not only unnecessary, it is counterproductive.  Just use your own body!   3.  Realize that diet trumps exercise- REALLY.  As important as exercise is- and it definitely is, as I do it every single day- diet is way, way, WAY more important!!   That is basically it, as far as exercise is involved.  Use your own body- virtual resistance, Perfectly Paleo Exercise should be your core exercise, along with bodyweight exercises such as pushups and hindu squats and straight-legged setups and stretches, along with using gymnastic rings to do these bodyweight exercises…  Hey- check out my ebook Perfectly Paleo Exercise to see what I’m talking about!   But, one thing that has really helped me is this:   1. Choose one day of the week for one exercise program!   I know, it doesn’t sound like much, but let me tell you that there are many things that derail your exercise program.  Many.  Life intervenes.  So, what to do?   Today was Thursday, which for me is pushup day.  This makes it super simple- I wake up, and think “It’s Thursday!”  I know that that, and Sunday, are the big, pushup and whole body workouts of my week.    It doesn’t matter if I haven’t had a chance to work out in a week, or even two.  On this day, this Thursday, I know I should, if I can, be doing pushups- so I do!  I get out my Perfect Pushups and, after I do my Perfectly Paleo Virtual Resistance Exercises (as I always do, 99% of the time when I awake), I know I need to do pushups today, along with wheeled ab extensions and side ab raises. (Those are what I have chosen- you may choose differently, but I hope not too much…)   On Fridays, I do Virtual Res

You’ve probably heard about being stoic, which has come to mean “toughing it out”, “not complaining about hardship” and the like. But actually, this is all that is left in modern times of a deep, and well thought-out school of philosophy that flourished from it’s founding in the third century BC, and right up through Roman times and beyond.  This gist of it was this: the path to happiness for humans is found in accepting that which we have been given in life, by not allowing ourselves to be controlled by our desire for pleasure or our fear of pain, by using our minds to understand the world around us and to do our part in nature's plan, and by working together and treating others in a fair and just manner. Sounds kind of like Christianity, and “following the Golden Rule”, doesn’t it?  And one of the key tenets was that the way you live your life is far more important than what you say you believe.  Hypocrites need not apply! I believe that I have been a practicing Stoic for the past few weeks, since in stoicism one needs to set one’s emotions aside, and live in harmony with Nature, since all of life is capricious, and changeable.  I have recently lost my father, during the same time that we are without a kitchen, in the midst of a remodeling that has left us washing our few dishes on a table with a basin and a hose outside, and cooking on a propane cooker I usually use for cooking down maple sap for syrup! There is no relation between the two, but I am making the point that all of life is like this: chaos and random events define our lives.  The best way to “train” for this is to periodically put ourselves into what we consider the worst that could happen.  The stoics did this all the time- they would wear rags for a week, and dine on the poorest food they could find- just to show themselves that, if the worst did happen- if they lost everything they owned- it was not big deal, really… The birds still sing.  Nature goes on- just today I saw several bluebirds, and tomorrow I look forward to seeing my little grandson, still shy of 2 years of age.  I went to a birthday party of a neighbor’s children that were 1 and 3 respectively - I have known their mother since she was about 6.  (They made a “healthy” birthday cake that was 100% whole wheat flour, with frosting of natural sweeteners, but that is another story!)  I ate none of that… It is as if I am living in stoic rags, in a way.  We have no way to wash clothes, and will have to visit a laundromat soon, although we have so much going on that will be difficult.  But as I washed dishes today, in a plastic tub on a card table in the yard with a hose for rinsing, I found I actually enjoyed it.  The birds all about, the sound of the falling water from our little fountain- who cares that someone ran into the side of my wife’s car yesterday, smashing in the side- there were no injuries.  My father is gone.  But, he lived for almost 97 years- what can be sad about that, really?  He has left me as the patriarch of the family- the oldest male of my line, since his brother passed away one week before my father, at 98!  Both died peacefully at home- is this really something to tear out one’s hair over?  No- it is a happy event, actually- a NATURAL EVENT. I am living now almost as a homeless person, with the exception that I do have a home, only without the means to prepare food!  I am wearing dirty clothes, and trying my best to eat healthy, making smoothies on my workbench in the garage, and grilling our foods on the charcoal grill.  In the ancient tradition, I thank Zeus daily for the refrigerator in that garage, along with the sunlight of Apollo!  And I know, that when it is all done, over a month from now- I will really, really appreciate it!  And why will I, really?  Because of the deprivation!  We all need to consciously deprive ourselves of luxury, of what we have all assumed to be our right in this modern, quasi-decadent

Yes, that’s right- “weed’ your gut, trimming back those bad microbes that swarm about your intestines, converting the food you eat into either energy, or FAT.  Do the microbes within our micro biome really have this much power over our bodies?   You bet they do!  The bugs break down complex carbohydrates in our food. They manufacture crucial vitamins and other nutrients that we wouldn’t be able to produce otherwise, like vitamin K and niacin. They help protect against pathogens (such as E. coli and Salmonella) and break down toxins. They also communicate with both the immune and nervous systems, sending signals that may influence whether we develop auto­immune disorders and how we regulate our appetite and mood.   They also can determine whether we are Lean or Fat.   You probably are thinking that I will say now that you should ‘eat lots of probiotics’, supplements and fermented foods like yogurt and sauerkraut… and yes, I think you should!  But first, it is crucial that you weed your gut, getting rid of bad microbes like the Firmicutes: a group of gut bugs that has been associated with an increased risk of obesity.    If you eat lots of starchy carbohydrates and sugars, you are encouraging these fat-making little bugs to proliferate, crowding out the Bacteroides, which is a group of gut bugs that is been associated with leanness.  So, the first step in improving the quality of your all-important gut bugs is to not feed- starve those firmicutes!    This allows not only the bacteroides to have room to multiply, but if you also eat good foods to replace those bad, starchy sugary ones- replacing them with good real fats like olive oil, coconut milk, and full-fat, pastured dairy, you will be feeding desirable strains like the bacteroides and L. Acidophilus.  This bacterium colonizes most densely in the small intestine, where it helps maintain the integrity of the intestinal wall, ensure proper nutrient absorption, and support healthy overall digestive function, among other important functions, such as improving immunity.   There are many other strains of bacteria that are at home in our guts, and the more diverse the population, the better, as they all do different things, or have different functions.  We don’t know that much about many of them, but we do know that some are very beneficial, and others are actually indicative of bad health, from having to multiply to service an unhealthy diet; that is, one high in processed starchy foods and sugars!   I’ll leave you with this:  it has been determined that during bariatric surgery- bypass surgery, where the intestine is rerouted into a “stapled off” smaller stomach, which bypasses one part of the intestine, that the gut micro biome dramatically improves in its diversity, with many more of the bacteroides and other good types, with much less of the firmicutes and other bad, fat producing and disease encouraging microbes.   In my opinion, having this surgery, despite this good effect, which usually results in a formerly obese patient almost miraculously being cured quickly of diabetes, obesity, sleep apnea, and many other modern diseases of civilization- is a mistake!  For one, it is a life-threatening operation that costs tens of thousands of dollars…   But the main reason is this: simply by changing our diet NOW, we can achieve the same result, naturally-   Without compromising our digestive tract Without going ‘under the knife’ and imperiling our life ALL JUST BY CHANGING OUR EATING HABITS!                 

“I live a Paleo Lifestyle.” “I am paleo.” “I lift weights, I am a bodybuilder, or powerlifter, or Crossfitter, or- God help you- a marathoner- whatever!” If you endeavor to live a healthy overall lifestyle, with a healthy diet, adequate sleep and optimized nutrition, right along with healthy family and “tribal” interactions- why, I think I have the label for you: You are a Physical Culturist! All this really means is that you put health above other criteria. Your goal is not to be the biggest, or the strongest, or the most flexible, the most enduring or the fastest… You only want to be the best you, overall, that you can be! At least, this is the goal that I have been talking about for years here at PaleoJay’s Smoothie Cafe, even if it is not always immediately apparent. Diet is incredibly important! It is usually the bedrock of a healthy lifestyle, but then all the other components, such as good sleep, ‘tribal’ relationships, strength and overall fitness including body composition are also crucial… as is living in harmony with nature, spending ample time outdoors, and having a fulfilling intellectual and spiritual life as well- So, what is the bottom line in all of this? Health and Happiness is my answer. Also, to aspire to an autonomous lifestyle, where you determine yourself what is the best way to live, and go ahead and live that life, no matter the opinions of others! Actually, this last is the hardest to achieve of all, since opinions overall are incredibly judgmental- and almost always with no considered reason, arrived at independently, at all. Let me elaborate on that last: the vast majority of folks live lives that they have been conditioned to aspire to. “Cookie-cutter” sorts of lives, mainly determined by parental and peer social cues, even things we have patterned into our lives from television shows and such… Material success is all that matters, ultimately! Money and reputation… To be the most envied couple/family/individual is all that matters…. Fame and fortune… Biggest house, most manicured lawn, and most successful children… The most popular couple of all…Most powerful… Most admired… The list goes on and on. None of it amounts to very much, if you think about it for any length of time. My father is now 96, and will turn 97 in July. I spent a few days last week with him, as did my siblings, off and on, for quite some time. His health is failing now, but he is still at home, along with his wife of 66 years, who is now 91. (He robbed the cradle)… He made a lot of money, as well as raising eight healthy children. His investments are substantial; just his home is worth a fortune. But now, what does he talk about the most? What does he truly value after a lifetime of achievement? He never mentions money, but he talks a lot about how wonderful his wife is and was. His parents come up often, along with his siblings, his uncles, his aunts, and childhood small town friends. Old friends are very important, and they still arrive to visit, at least those few that are left! Even the friends of his children are very important to him now, especially when they come to pay their respects, which they often do. When talking of happy, important times in his life, he ranks things roughly in this order: 1. Music (He is a lifetime musician, and continually says that when he couldn’t play anymore it was “the saddest time of his life.”) 2. Being outdoors working in his “back acher.” This was his double suburban lot, which he spent every evening and day off in, amidst the birds and squirrels, gardening, grilling, and chopping wood, along with watching us kids play various ball games and climb rope ladders until it was too dark to see. He had no interest in TV. He never mentions that famous people he knew, or how powerful or rich anybody was. My mother and him mainly get excited when a new bird lands in the yar

Every time! As Hippocrates said it long ago, as he was forging the basis of Western medicine (which the medical establishment has abandoned in modern times, unfortunately): Let medicine be thy food and Food thy medicine! It was true in 400 BC, and it is just as true now. Hippocrates also said that “All disease begins in the gut”, and now the latest medical research shows that also to be true- the gut biome, meaning the intestinal flora and fauna that inhabit our intestines and elsewhere on our bodies, even in our mouths and on our skin! But within our intestinal tract, that is the home of tens of trillions of tiny gut “bugs” that help us to function as human beings. Our gut bugs manufacture various vitamins and hormones, even regulating our mood and helping us in digestion, and even in regulating our weight! Conditions as diverse as depression, obesity, autism, and even a positive, optimistic view of life are all linked to the health and diversity of the gut population of microbes! If you eat a wide diet of natural vegetables and fruits, along with probiotic foods such as naturally fermented foods such as sauerkraut, pickles, yogurt and kefir- why then you are nurturing a healthy, resilient micro biome- a healthy gut! This is, bottom line, the main key to a healthy body, and it requires lots and lots of nutrient dense vegetables- of course, a healthy, blender-produced smoothie is almost essential to getting this diverse diet of huge amounts of veggies in the modern diet. (You knew I’d say that, but it’s still true grasshopper!) Conversely, to revert to drugs: every time you take a drug, you are messing up your precious micro biome! Especially antibiotics- their entire purpose is to carpet-bomb your gut biome! Of course, the idea is to take out one virulent, bad strain of bacteria… but antibiotics can’t differentiate! It’s as if there is a huge battle between two warring armies in your gut. Millions of good guys are fighting away, against another army of bad guys that want to harm you. An antibiotic bomb falls down your gut, and explodes! When the dust clears, both armies are dead! Also, all of the innocent bystanders- the workers repairing your tissues, the office workers that regulate your mood and weight levels- they’re all dead too. Your gut is a huge vacant land, a cemetery of once hard workers, along with bad invaders, but now just- sterile and empty! Doctors used to think this was good! In fact, many still do, but they are very wrong indeed if they do- they are using science they learned in the 1970’s, not current medical research that very much endorses the critical importance of a strong and vital gut micro biome. With a sterile gut environment, the battle can go either way. If you regulate the gut microbes you allow within your body by eating a good, paleo type of diet that is heavy on veggies and fermented foods, and very low in processed starches and sugars- why they you encourage the growth and immigration of good, positive microbes that will enhance your health and well being! However, if you introduce fast foods and other processed crap into your gut, you are encouraging the rapid growth of millions of bad microbes- those same undesirable microbes you were finally forced to kill with the carpet-bomb of an antibiotic drug! What’s more, if you continue with the bad eating, especially with gluten in the mix, you are letting your gut get more and more permeable- this means that undesirable proteins will slip through your gut lining, right into your bloodstream. This is the worst scenario of all, in that it means that you are being invaded from within. Your body reaches that point, as your gut becomes more and more permeable, that your white blood cell defenders cannot tell the difference between some of your own tissues and those of the invaders- and, when this happens, your body starts to attack your own organs and tissues. Th