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We’re not the experts with definitive answers. We are, however, regular people that are trying to achieve better health and a happier, longer life through good diet and exercise. And to do that, we refer to those people who are experts and who do have answers (though maybe not definitive).
This page will be our place to provide you with a few pieces of information and snippets of reference on this broad and evolving way of looking at nutrition, health, and life. Anything we post here will be something we’ve “set aside” into our library of knowledge – something we’ve personally found fundamental in shaping what we are doing. These are links to books we’ve read, or things we’ve got bookmarked in our own Favorites. So check them out and get started. Hopefully some of it will help you build your own answers as well.
BOOKS
- Good Calories, Bad Calories: Fats, Carbs, and the Controversial Science of Diet and Health
by Gary Taubes – another book not specifically addressing Paleo as much as taking a look at the true effects that the high-carbohydrate, low-fat, highly-processed modern dietary guidelines have had on recent generations compared to historical diets even through the early 20th century. - It Starts With Food: Discover the Whole30 and Change Your Life in Unexpected Ways
by Whole 9 - Dallas and Melissa have spent the last few years educating thousands about nutrition and health. The information from their seminars, on their website, and the research that backs it up is all in this book. We have personally witnessed firsthand how their Whole 30 program has changed people’s lives. The Whole 30 has not just helped people with weight loss; it has lowered cholesterol, lowered blood pressure, reversed type 2 diabetes, reduced or eliminated arthritis symptoms and the list goes on. - Lights Out: Sleep, Sugar, and Survival
by TS Wiley – nutrition may not be the primary focus of this book, which highlights the importance that sufficient sleep and good rest have in our health and resistance to disease, but it does play in to the concepts of a primal lifestyle and following the genetic programming that evolution has built into us. - The Paleo Diet
by Prof. Loren Cordain – this book is probably the “defining” book for those currently following the Paleo lifestyle (at least until the release of Robb’s book above). While some of the information and advice may be due for a bit of a “refresher” given additional research since its publication, it provides a very good foundation for getting started. He also has The Paleo Diet for Athletes that focuses on the specific nutrition needs of endurance athletes. - The Paleo Solution: The Original Human Diet
by Robb Wolf – this is a new book by one of the most well-known advocates of the Paleo lifestyle. Robb brings to the subject a background in research biochemistry, years of experience as an athlete, coach, trainer, and successful gym owner, and a sense of humor that keeps things comfortable and entertaining to follow. Robb also hosts a blog site and a weekly podcast that go deeper into specific questions regarding the topics of nutrition, training, and disease. He also speaks at seminars around the world that are often sponsored or hosted at various CrossFit and other independent gyms. - Practical Paleo
by Diane Sanfilippo – This book is absolutely wonderful. It not only has great paleo recipes, but it offers meal plans for those who want to lose weight, who have thyroid issues, autoimmune issues, etc. The first half of the book addresses the reasons to eat healthy foods, digestion issues, and why USDA regulations are unfounded. - The Primal Blueprint
by Mark Sisson – probably considered the fundamental book for “Primal” living, Mark also maintains a blog with lots of good information. While Mark does also advocate and advertise his own line of vitamins and supplements, the non-commercial content of his blog site really is a wealth of information and good advice. - The Protein Power Lifeplan
by Drs. Eades – this book is not so much directly related to the Paleo lifestyle as it is to the high-protein and low-carbohydrate diet that is inherently achieved by the Paleo lifestyle, and contains some great further information and reference to the effects this sort of diet has on minimizing disease. - The Vegetarian Myth: Food, Justice, and Sustainability
by Lierre Keith – a book written by a woman who was a practicing vegan for 20 years that addresses and dispels the arguments underlying vegetarianism, from superior nutrition to the saving of animal lives to the sustainability of the earth under agricultural practices.
BLOGS
- Archevore blog by Kurt Harris, MD – a radiologist with a refreshing look at nutrition, in his own words, “through the lenses of evolutionary biology, biochemistry, molecular biology and medicine.” He’s not stuck on the hard-nosed Paleo/Neo = good/bad mindset, and instead advocates something much closer to what we ourselves tend to follow.
- Chris Kresser blog site by Chris Kresser – he’s got a great set of resources and no-nonsense approach to looking at why we shouldn’t call this a diet, but rather a “template” and a lifestyle, and challenges us all to continue to question and evaluate information that is out there. Lots of information on thyroid function too and information on statins and why they are not effective.
- PaleoDiet.com website maintained by Don Wiss – we could just link this site and let you get lost here. He’s got an extremely comprehensive list of links to just about every aspect of Paleo nutrition.
- Whole 9 – The Grain Manifesto – the entire Whole9 site is full of great resources, but their recent piece specifically on grains is a good quick read for a basic introduction to why we avoid them.
