I've been eating a RAF based diet now for 10 years and have seen hugely significant improvements in my health.  However, I'm still not in as good health as I would like and suspect that underlying problems such as low stomach acid, candida, possible absorption issues etc remain an issue due to previous heavy metal poisoning (primarily due to dental amalgam).

I first read the work of Andy Cutler PhD over 10 years ago following removal of all of my amalgam fillings in Germany (before it was recognised in the UK).  At the time, I spent a brief period 'playing' with chelation following his protocol with the use of DMSA and ALA.  But, suffering extreme health difficulties at the time and unable to afford the supplements due to my inability to work I didn't continue the program.

I think my signifiant health improvements following a RAF diet has been partly due to a natural chelation provided by the diet (muscle meats, liver and heart supply plentiful amounts of ALA as far as I'm aware).  As I'm now much stronger physically, I'm considering resuming a serious attempt at chelation therapy following Andy Cutler's protocol.

Does anyone here have much experience of this before or, even, since following a RAF diet?  I think my diet will cover most bases so am simply considering supplementing with a program of 100mg DMSA / 100mg ALA every 4 every hours  for 3 days of each week (4 days off).  This is to be continued for 12 - 36 months to ensure removal of all mercury and lead.

Any thoughts?

Hi all,

I've recently finished reading Born To Run by Christopher McDougall.  What a fantastic book about ultra-running, the culture of the Tarahumara indians of the Copper Canyon, anthropology, persistent hunting etc!  I'd highly recommend this book to anyone interested in running (or not!) and think it would appeal to many here as (despite it's dietary advice & commentary) it sits well with the interests of primal lifestyles.  It's also just a wonderfully gripping adventure true-story.

I've never been interested in running previously but have been inspired by this book and am now looking to take up running as my main mode of transport!!  (rather ambitious I admit!)  

At 38yrs old, I realise that I need to do this in an intelligent manner and am now investigating different running techniques, body alignment exercises, barefoot running possibilities etc with a view to avoiding injury.  I know that some of you guys have mentioned some of this stuff in the past so would be extremely interested in any thoughts or experiences in these matters?

I've spent the last 3 months following a daily exercise program utilising the Egoscue method which promises to re-align correct body posture.  I'm seeing definite improvements already!  Has anyone else had experience of the Egoscue method?

More recently, I've been looking into running techniques to prevent injury and increase efficiency.  The methods described in Born To Run of the world's greatest ultra-runners - the Tarahumara indians - along with modern scientific techniques such as Dr Romanov's POSE Method have all piqued my interest.  However, these styles with their fore/mid foot landings seem to conflict with Egoscue which relies on the accepted Heal-Toe method when body alignment has been corrected.

What are your thoughts on Egoscue, POSE, Chi running, barefoot running, Tarahumara style etc???

Hey guys,

I know this has been discussed before but can't find the information I need from the archives.

How much meat and fat are you eating on a daily basis?  Also, what ratio of protein/fat does this constitute?

I'm suddenly thinking that the 1kg of beef/lamb and 250g+ of suet I'm eating daily is way too much bearing in mind 1g protein = 4 cal and 1g fat = 9 cal !!!  Am I right thinking that's over 6000 calories?!?!

As well as enlightening me with your own daily rations - can someone please point me in the direction of Lex's previous calculations on this subject?  Thanks

Following lifelong problems with candida despite 8 years of RAF, I've decided to implement the anti-candida diet specified by Bee Wilder into my eating plan.  I'll basically be staying with my RAF foods but will be totally excluding high-carb veggies, fruits, honey, dairy (I still had occasional cheese until recently) and probably nuts/seeds as I still have problems digesting them even when I shell/soak/dehydrate them myself.

I'm wondering where I'm going to get my Calcium and Magnesium from.  What do you zero-carbers do in this regard?  I recall various people on here claiming that the body's requirement of Ca/Mg has been overstated and that we get sufficient amounts from meats, organs, seafood etc but I'm not convinced this is the case as any nutritional data I've look at - even on grass-fed meat products - does not suggest this to be the case.  Where did paleo man source these essential nutrients?  Was it purely from chewing bones, bone marrow (negligible) and occasional nuts/seeds?  Magnesium, particularly, seems to be extremely difficult to source.

Nuts, seeds & cacao have been my main sources of these elements besides dairy in the past and I'm contemplating making a sesame/almond milk from soaked un-hulled sesame's and almonds as it shouldn't cause the digestive problems of eating the whole nut/seed.  Has anybody experimented with this?

I'd be very interested to hear any thoughts on these matters.

Michael

Hello to you all!

I've just joined this forum after reading through it over the last week or so.  It seems to be a great group and I'm glad to be a part of it!  I just wanted to introduce myself.

I've been eating RAF for about 7 years now and have still not quite attained the radiant health I seek.  Like many of you I came upon RAF - via Weston Price - after suffering major health problems following years of vegetarianism-veganism-raw veganism.  Up until 2 or 3 years ago I was quite closely eating the Primal Diet way but have since cut out the raw milk/cream, vegetable juices, plentiful honey and some of the other bizarre notions of 'gurus' such as AV.  I do still eat raw organic butter from grass-fed jersey cows but would, ideally, like to replace this with suet and/or marrow.    I think I've been heading towards Raw Paleo for some time so am very pleased to have stumbled upon this group.

As I mentioned, I have been reading through many of the posts on the forum and I'm still a little unclear as to what you guys are actually eating.  It would be great to hear some specific details within this single topic if you care to share with me?  Personally, I'm now looking to eat mainly grass-fed beef and liver, wild venison (when I can afford it!), occasional fish, suet/marrow, limited fresh organic/wild veg (salad greens, herbs, onion, garlic, pepper, tomatoes), limited seasonal tart fruits (raspberries, blueberries, gooseberries etc) and very limited soaked/dehydrated/ground nuts & seeds.  I also use Celtic sea salt.  How does that compare with what you guys are eating?  What kind of quantities/ratios are you eating?

Going beyond raw and beyond organic etc I've long been looking at the 'quality' of the foods I'm eating such as trying to source grass-fed animal foods, high-brix fruit/veg etc.  My main problem at the moment does seem to be finding and sourcing such quality.  If only we had a Slankers here in the UK!

Tyler, am I correct in thinking that you're the same UK Geoff from the Primal Diet yahoo group? I think we communicated a few times years ago on that group.  You seem to have moved on very well and it's been interesting reading about your move to Paleo.  I realise that you probably still largely rely on the London farmers markets for supplies but I'm wondering if you have any sources of grass-fed suet or marrow as I'm finding it very difficult to find!? The best grass-fed farmers I can seem to find are Fordhall Farm and the Well Hung Meat Co who both seem genuine in their grain-free feeding.  Unfortunately, I cannot obtain anything but cuts of meat from them.  Are you managing to obtain your paleo fats sufficiently? Any suggestions?

Best wishes,

Michael