Have you heard the news? The World Health Organization has officially declared that "processed" red meats are in the same "carcinogen" category as plutonium. WHO claims "less than two slices of bacon - increased the chance of developing colorectal cancer by 18%."
If you have MS, feeding your body quality food is one of the best ways to keep your health strong, reduce MS inflammation, and help you manage your MS symptoms. The Paleo Diet can help you eat healthier and also reduce your MS symptoms.
The Paleo Diet (also known as "the Caveman Diet") is so named because it is modeled on the foods presumably eaten by our ancestors in the Paleolithic Period or Stone Age. The diet cuts out farm foods like wheat and dairy, instead focusing on lean meats and greens. It even promises weight loss without counting calories. The diet has been reported to improve glucose tolerance and lower systolic blood pressure.
Busy Americans might be wary of a diet that requires meals to be made from scratch, but even without WHO's latest warning, we all know to be concerned about processed foods. There are many easy-to-make Paleo recipes that are worth making from scratch. Here’s a Paleo recipe with an emphasis on "quick" and "easy."
Paleo-Friendly Mussels Recipe
Fish is so good for you! And mussels are among the easiest and most nutritious dinners.
Use one pound of mussels per person. It's very important that the mussels arefresh. Stop at the fish counter on your way home from work. You can buy them the day before, but don't wait more than twenty-four hours to cook them.
Inspect the mussels to be sure they are clean. If not, just toss them in a colander and spray with the kitchen sink hose. Next, place the mussels in the bottom of a kettle, add enough water to cover them about halfway, cover the kettle, and cook them stove top with the burner on high. They will take about ten minutes, but this is a sure-fire way to know when they are done. The shells will open. If they are not wide open when you first take a peek, cover and cook them a little longer. Never eat any mussel that hasn't completely opened!
While you're waiting, finely chop some shallots and garlic. Soften in olive oil in a pan over low heat. Prepare a large salad with greens and your favorite raw vegetables. Oil and balsamic vinegar can also be used as salad dressing.
With a slotted spoon, remove the mussels to a serving bowl. Cover to keep warm. Now, quickly whisk one tablespoon of balsamic vinegar into one cup of mussel broth (using one cup of broth per person), adding the shallots and garlic. Pour over mussels and serve immediately along with the salad. You can try one of these three delicious, MS-friendly salads to go with the mussels.
In less than 20 minutes, you have a wonderful, healthy dinner on the table! Who needs processed food when fresh and whole can be made with such ease? Although a "strict constructionist" might argue that vinegar is not Paleo, experts seem to think vinegar is generally a useful addition to the diet.
What’s your favorite Paleo recipe?
The Paleo Diet offers great nutrition and is one more way to live healthier with MS. Though I focused on fish as an example, there are many more Paleo-friendly foods that also help with MS. What’s your favorite?