Primal Training and Nutrition to Get Lean, Strong and Healthy
By Darryl Edwards, Brett Stewart & Jason Warner
Ulysses Press, $16.95, 144 pages
If you were to study the drawings sketched on cave walls by our early Paleolithic ancestors, you’d see that they depicted themselves as lean, athletic hunters – no couch potatoes or beer bellies back then! The cave men were doing something right. Whether you’re interested in learning about the Paleo lifestyle or have already adopted the Paleo way of life, Paleo Fitness by Darryl Edwards is an excellent resource for anyone committed to improving their health and well being.
Part I explains the Paleolithic diet. In short, it is “a modern interpretation of what our ancestors in Paleolithic (Stone Age) times as hunter-gatherers.” This is by no means a new concept and the author recognizes this. Doctors and scientists have been studying the positive effects of the Paleo diet for decades. The authors highlight arguments made by experts as to why society’s health status has declined so drastically in the last century. Part II focuses on Paleo Nutrition. There is a handy meal plan but no pictures of food. What did the cavemen eat? Lean meats, fowl, fish, eggs, veggies, nuts and fruit were on the menu. They didn’t eat sugar, grains, dairy products, beans, salt or processed and artificial foods. Look at the food in your kitchen/pantry/shopping cart and ask yourself, “Is this something that would be edible in the absence of modern technology and agriculture?”
One important fact to note is that you can’t be a strict vegetarian or vegan and follow the Paleo lifestyle. You can still do the fitness portion, but the menus in the book won’t work for non-meat eaters because the diet relies on nutrients found in muscle and organ meat and fish that aren’t found in vegetarian sources. Nineteen recipes in the back of the book give readers some ideas about how to start incorporating cavemen-friendly foods into their cooking. The definitely could be more recipes offered but there is a two week Paleo meal plan for readers to follow. If you are committed to following a very strict way of life, perhaps the Paleo diet is for you. If so, Paleo Fitness is a good resource.
Reviewed by Kathryn Franklin
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