I've always considered Larabars - basically, dried fruit and nut bars - to be borderline paleo, so about a month ago I started eating about one per day from my store when time got too short to cook for a while. I expected to have some problems with weight gain or bloating, but didn't notice much, so I kept eating them.
Then last week, I had a dental checkup. I wasn't even sure that I wanted to go, as the previous checkup six months before had shown me in fine shape despite only brushing a couple times a week, which the dentist was amazed about.
It was fortunate that I went. The hygeinist said I had stage one peridontitis - the mildest stage, though more severe than gingivitis - and said I needed to floss at least once per day, and preferably several times. When I put this together with warnings about dried fruit being terrible for the teeth at the gumline, I concluded the issue was the Larabars. I've sworn off them, and I've gotten the recommended toothpaste that is supposed to help with gum disease. I may cut back on the chocolate as well - my current brand is 86% Ghirardelli - though the dentist says chocolate isn't as bad.
I had had a little bit of bleeding while brushing teeth even before going to the dentist, but I didn't make the connection, instead assuming it was a vitamin C issue. Now I know better.
No dried fruit and minimal whole fruit, along with flossing and brushing once or twice a day and use of the dentist recommended toothbrush and toothpaste, and my gums feel much better. I'll probably get lazy about brushing again after this toothbrush wears out, but I plan to stay off the Larabars.
I'd forgotten about the Larabars, but they stayed gone. However, the chocolate got out of hand. My schedule, between jobs and kids and a mismatch with my natural late schedule, has been and is difficult, and trying to manage it with the caffeine in the 86% chocolate resulted in chocolate addiction and excessive chocolate consumption. The combination of chocolate and difficult sleep schedule caused me to gain weight, peaking at my lifetime maximum of 155 pounds, versus my healthy range of 135-145 pounds.
I've switched to 100% chocolate, which I'm hoping will help me limit consumption to those times when I really need the caffeine. Back down to 152 pounds so far. I'd like to get to a more regular sleep schedule, but that doesn't seem to be in the offing.
highlighted and copied this(above) since I forget how else to do it. Very interesting I've had a rash on my left forearm for months and am having trouble isolating the cause...never thought of a sugar connection. doctors cant give me any answers either..more thoughts and info about your experience with this would be great. The flare ups are really itchy and bumpy when it happens as it is now...and yes a whole lots of sugar lately and carbs holiday eating weaknesses must be overcome!!!
I missed this; sorry. The rash did not come back.
One of the things people notice on paleo is much less body odor; there's a thread around somewhere on that. Bad body odor is known to be bacteria related, and at least some saturated fatty acids have antibacterial properties. There's also a theory that most skin rashes are caused by bacteria, which I believe to be true.
My theory is that on strict paleo, especially ketogenic, the skin expresses a certain amount of saturated fat, which protects against the bacteria as well as most chemicals one might come into contact with in the wild. Higher carb diets drive saturated fat into fat stores, meaning less saturated fat on the skin, and possibly more sugars or polyunsaturated fats the bacteria can use as food.
Spreading coconut oil on the skin may have a similar effect, since coconut oil is highly saturated and has high amounts of lauric acid, one of the saturated fats known to have antimicrobial qualities.
I've also started using small amounts of coconut oil on my daughter's hair once every week or two when I brush it; no stink - I guess due to the antimicrobial properties - and it makes the hair so much easier to manage. If she were strict paleo, adding the fat from the outside might not be necessary.