Supplements and Paleo

So sitting here today I was wondering, where do I get my calcium and vitamin D from if I don’t eat dairy any more?  I do take a vitamin D supplement, but I had a few questions about that, too.  Google is my best friend, seriously.

Okay so what did I find out?  Awesome things!  I read that if you improve your diet, you’ll get calcium from the food you eat (obviously…but other than the stuff you don’t eat on Paleo).  So for anyone who has a dairy intolerance, listen up!  Spinach, kale, okra, and collards are good sources of calcium (all Paleo; for this blog, I’m not going to talk about the non-paleo calcium sources).  For the record, I LOVE KALE!  Sardines, salmon, and orange juice are a few other good sources. (c:  Fatty fish, beef liver, and egg yolks are good sources of vitamin D, but the amount is small.  Just remember, our bodies have the capability of producing vitamin D on its own!  Just go in the sun for a few minutes a day…let your skin soak up some sun, and you will naturally produce the vitamin D.

After doing some research, I found this article:  3 Supplements to Round Out Your Paleo Diet.  I take vitamin D and omega 3s as a supplement, but the probiotics I get from drinking kombucha.  I’ve had coconut yogurt, but found out that the one I eat is not Paleo.  So I’ll have to figure out some other sources.  Probiotics seems rather important, especially when referring to the health of our guts.  This whole leaky gut thing has got me kinda bothered.  I am almost positive that this is something I suffered/am recovering from.  Poor diet, medications (antibiotics, which my doctor prescribes for anything), stress, and neurological conditions (brain trauma, which I suffered from when I was 10), can all cause this condition.  Leaky gut can cause heart failure, depression, brain fog, eczema or other skin conditions, obesity, diabetes, allergies, or asthma…awful.  Also, if your mom had bad gut flora, she could have passed this on to you!  Thanks, mom!

Another disclosure, I only speak of observations, and information I get from articles online…I’m finding Paleo works for me; it may not work for you.  Just make sure you do your research and educate yourself!  You have to personalize your approach to taking care of yourself because we are all individuals with different needs.

I am doing Paleo for myself.  I was sick and tired of being sick and tired.  I needed a change, and finally, I found one that works that’s actually enjoyable.  I share my story, because it could help you.  I came across this testimonial, Andy’s 30 days of Paleo, and absolutely love it.  I can relate to a T.

“Difficult times in life are like washing machines; they twist us, spin us, and knock us around, but in the end we come out cleaner, brighter, and better than before.”