New and curious

[dunbar]

Hi, I am new. I don't really know much about paleo and those other variations.
I'm pretty intimidated right now by how complex this appears to be. I  don't really
like rules because then I start to obsess with them and worry about doing mistakes
which is why I'd already be afraid of eating something which is not allowed and then ruining the success of the diet itself. But if the diet would really work then it would be worth it.
I have a few health issues and don't really know if it has anything to do with eating or if changing my diet could do anything against it.

stuff which I have includes:
-seborrhoic dermatitis
-uneven fingernails
-vision disorders (visual snow, blue field entoptic phenomenon)
-very rough skin on the upper arms and shoulders
-twisted and very unhealthy looking hair on my head (not all of them but they increase)
-frequent joint pain & cracking of multiple joints without any real reason

A few years ago I also had a blood test and vitamins and minerals were measured and I was suprised that I had low zinc, selenium, D, and B vitamins even though I try to eat relatively healthy. I read a few books about superfoods and stuff like that but now I realize that many of these foods which are supposedly healthy like beans, lentils etc. are not allowed in the Paleo diet which is also confusing. I thought that eating lentils was a good idea. 

[CitrusHigh]

Sweet titties, well you've come to the right place!

It doesn't have to be complex. It boils down to eating foods that are right for your body. Symptoms are signs your body doesn't like something, eliminate foods that do this to you. Beyond that, foods should be clean and raw. Clean for animals means they were eating their natural diet and no toxins. Clean for veggies means no chemicals, from rich soil.

There are no rules about what you can or can't eat, just learn what makes foods nourishing and not nourishing within the raw paradigm and then you have to experiment until you find what works and what doesn't, same for everyone, no magic set of foods. Meat is usually tolerable for most,otherwise, things get highly variable quickly! Good luck!

[eveheart]

I read a few books about superfoods and stuff like that but now I realize that many of these foods which are supposedly healthy like beans, lentils etc. are not allowed in the Paleo diet which is also confusing. I thought that eating lentils was a good idea. 

It's not so much that legumes weren't allowed - after all, in the paleolithic era (stone age), there were no rules about eating like you have found in books. It's just that mankind didn't grow agricultural crops back in those prehistoric days. Rather, our predecessors were hunter-gatherers and ate from the abundant supply of animals and from the non-hybridized fruits of the land. Lentils, beans, grains, etc., are agricultural crops, and didn't show up as a main food source until recent human history. The "rules" that you have found are not really rules, just a description of what people ate in the paleolithic era.

I have recovered from very poor health using the raw paleo diet.

[goodsamaritan]

Try reading my eczema cure protocol at http://eczemacure.info/eczema-cure-protocols/september-2008-eczema-and-psoriasis-cure-protocol/

[TylerDurden]

http://www.rawpaleodietforum.com/important-info-for-newbies/sticky-advice-for-newbies-wishing-to-slowly-ease-into-a-raw-animal-food-diet/

Read all the other threads in this section as well:-

http://www.rawpaleodietforum.com/important-info-for-newbies/

[cherimoya_kid]

stuff which I have includes:
-seborrhoic dermatitis
-uneven fingernails

-very rough skin on the upper arms and shoulders
\


A few years ago I also had a blood test and...low D...vitamins even though I try to eat relatively healthy. ..

Your skin issues can be improved by eating a lot of fatty ocean fish, getting some sunlight, reducing carb consumption, and maybe even taking a vitamin D supplement, softgel type.

The fingernail issues will probably be improved by regular consumption of clams.  That works for me.