Vitamin B9 Folate & the Paleo Diet do you get enough deficient signs symptoms sources supplements-min

Vitamin B9 (Folate) & the Paleo Diet

Growth and development – this is what Vitamin B9 is most vital for. Growth and development actually comprise a whole set of processes in the human body, with cell division and DNA production perhaps the most important ones, and so Vitamin B9 becomes especially important during pregnancy, lactating, and early growth stages. What is more, it promotes nerve function, helps to prevent osteoporosis-related bone fractures, and can play a role in the prevention or treatment of a number of medical conditions: anaemia, cervical tumours, depression, glossitis, insomnia, myelopathy, ovarian tumours, restless leg syndrome, schizophrenia, uterine tumours.

Unfortunately, Vitamin B9 deficiency is one of the most common nutrient deficiencies, suffered often by pregnant women, by chronic alcohol abusers, and by those with poor nutrient absorption disorders like ulcerative colitis. How can you recognise a deficiency? This can by characterized by muscular fatigue, insomnia, depression, forgetfulness, irritability and gingivitis or periodontal disease.

Vitamin B9 actually comprises two compounds – Folate which is found in natural foods, and Folic Acid which is synthetic. Though similar, Folic Acid that is used for fortifying processed foods is absorbed to nearly half the level of Folate. Therefore, it makes much more sense to focus on whole foods to get adequate Vitamin B9 consumption, and for this the Paleo Diet is a great solution, as it promotes a natural way of eating in the name of long-term vitality and health.

How much Vitamin B9 do you need in your diet?

The daily recommended amount of folate is 400μg. Since it is easily excreted from the body, excessive intakes are very difficult to reach.

Vitamin B9 Folate & the Paleo Diet do you get enough deficient signs symptoms sources supplements-min

Which foods can you get Folate from?

  1. Liver – Whichever your preferred choice of animal, you’ll get a great amount of Vitamin B9 from it. Turkey liver, however, is the richest source, with 173% of your daily need of Folate in just 100g.
  2. Spinach – leafy greens are another fantastic source for Vitamin B9, with spinach as the forerunner. In 1 cup of cooked spinach, you’ll get 65% of your daily need of Folate.
  3. Beets – If you’re looking for a Folate-rich vegetable, beets are your best friends. 1 cup of raw beets covers 37.1% of the daily need of Vitamin B9. Beet salad, roasted beets, beet soup – the choices are endless!
  4. Romaine lettuce – When preparing a green salad, opt for romaine lettuce. 2 cups of this crunchy salad will provide 32% of your daily Folate need.
  5. Asparagus – In springtime, one of the best sources for Vitamin B9 is asparagus, providing 37% of your daily need in a 100g serving.
  6. Papaya – For an exotic dessert, reach for a papaya. In just one fruit, you will get 28.9% of your daily intake need of Vitamin B9.
  7. Avocado – Yet another reason for having a daily avocado is its Folate content. One cup of mashed avocado (time for guacamole?) amounts to 29.6% of your daily need of Vitamin B9.
  8. Cauliflower – For a Folate-rich change to those beets, reach for cauliflower. In 1 cup of raw cauliflower, there’s 15.2% of your daily Folate need. And it’s a delicious snack when eaten raw!

What else do you need to know about Vitamin B9?

Vitamin B9 is not very stable, and its content undergoes a relevant loss in the case of non-airtight storage, overcooking and reheating of food. In addition, green and black teas counteract the absorption of the vitamin and thus should be minimized if you focus on Vitamin B9 consumption. However, animal products that contain folate are more stable when it comes to cooking than plant products, so you shouldn’t have a problem if you focus on those. Luckily there’s no lack of them in the Paleo Diet!

So, do you think you should focus more on Folate consumption in your food? Maybe you have some experience related to it? Please share it in the comments!

Bengali Spiced Lamb Chops paleo diet recipe primal dinner lunch-min

Recipe: Bengali Spiced Lamb Chops

There’s something about the heat of this spice blend that intensifies the tender sweetness of the lamb. Although they require minimal effort, there are two key points to watch out for here. The first is to score the lamb chops well, so the spices reach all the way through the meat. The second is not to heat the oil too high; if you do so, the spices will burn and tarnish the earthy flavours.

Bengali Spiced Lamb Chops Ingredients:

  • 8 medium sized lamb chops
  • 4 garlic cloves, crushed
  • 2 tsp ground cumin
  • 1 tsp black mustard seeds, crushed
  • 1 tsp ground coriander
  • 1 tsp ground ginger
  • 1 tsp black pepper
  • ½ tsp sea salt
  • ½ tsp ground cinnamon
  • 1 tbsp coconut oil

Bengali Spiced Lamb Chops How To:

Crush the garlic cloves with the sea salt to form a paste. Combine well with the remaining spices. With a sharp knife, score the lamb chops with 3 – 4 incisions on each side.

Lay the spice mixture out on a plate and coat the lamb chops well on both sides, rubbing well into the slits.

Heat the coconut oil in a large frying pan to a medium heat. Fry the lamb for 2 – 3 minutes each side, depending on thickness. They should be a rich, golden colour on the outside, but still juicy and pink within.

Bengali Spiced Lamb Chops paleo diet recipe primal dinner lunch-min

Paleo Diet Primal living in a permanent summer September equinox-min

Living in a Permanent Summer

Today is the September equinox, where the sun is directly over the equator, meaning the length of day and night is equal; 12 hours each – and the seasons on either side of the world are the exact opposite.

In Australia and the Southern hemisphere it is the Spring equinox – and in the Northern hemisphere today represents the Autumn (or fall) equinox.

This seems like a timely reminder about the importance of our natural our circadian rhythms and the seasons. Time and seasonality are so important for so many health reasons, yet in the modern world it is all too easy to live a 24 hour life and barely notice the season.

Seasonality

By being aware of the changing length of day and intensity of the sun our bodies know what season it is. When our ancestors lived they would have experienced a far greater availability of food in the summer months. Fruit and vegetables would have only been in season for relatively short periods of time, so they would have been likely to consume as much as they could, when they could. This would have been converted to sugar and stored as fat, for sustenance during the harsher winter months. Today there is barely a week in the year, when almost all types of fruit and vegetables are not available. It makes sense that eating as though it's summer all year round might not be the best idea biologically, don't you think?

In terms of Vitamin D, the sunshine vitamin, our ancestors would have been outside most of the time. This would have given them far better levels of Vitamin D than we have today, thanks to our indoor, sun-fearing lifestyles.

Paleo Diet Primal living in a permanent summer September equinox-min

Day and Night

Another big problem with our modern lifestyles, is our bodies not getting the correct signals of day and night. Our ancestors would have had no artificial exposure to the blue light we are now inundated with. Without blue light melatonin, the sleep hormone, is produced when the sun goes down. This triggers sleep. When the sun comes up, melatonin production halts rendering us alert and awake. With artificial lighting, TV and computers in the evening giving out as much blue light as sunlight, it is little wonder so many people struggle to sleep – and struggle to wake up in the morning.

I’d love to hear your comments about seasonality and day and night. Do you live in an artificial summer all year round?

Happy equinox!

Fresh Tuna and Mango Salad paleo diet recipe primal lunch dinner ideas-min

Recipe: Fresh Tuna and Mango Salad

Quick, light and zingy, this tropical inspired tuna and mango salad is perfect for Al Fresco dining. When buying tuna steaks, always select sushi grade and enjoy the full flavour the meat has to offer when cooked rare.

Tuna and Mango Salad Ingredients:

For the tuna

  • 2 medium tuna steaks
  • 2 cloves garlic, crushed
  • 1 green chilli, deseeded and finely chopped
  • 3cm fresh ginger, grated
  • 1 tbsp fresh coriander, finely chopped
  • Juice ½ lime
  • 1 tbsp olive oil
  • Sea salt and black pepper

For the salad

  • 1 large handful Asian greens, i.e. rocket / mizuna
  • 100g fine green beans
  • 1 small, ripe mango, peeled and chopped into cubes
  • 8 – 10 small cherry tomatoes, halved
  • Small handful fresh coriander, torn

Tuna and Mango Salad How To:

In a small bowl, combine all the marinade ingredients. Rub into the tuna steaks, and leave to marinade for at least half an hour.

Meanwhile, toss together all the salad ingredients and divide into two salad bowls.

Heat a griddle to a very high heat. Drizzle with a little olive oil, wait until it starts to smoke, then throw the tuna steaks on. Flash fry for 1 minute each side, so still pink in the middle. Dice and divide into the two salad bowls.

Fresh Tuna and Mango Salad paleo diet recipe primal lunch dinner ideas-min

Paleo Diet Primal Shampoo No Poo Kombucha SLS Paraben Ingredients Chemicals-min

What’s in Your Shampoo?

As people become more aware of the damaging chemicals contained within everyday products (like shampoo, conditioner, make up and lotions), it is a natural instinct to start looking for natural alternatives – or even making your own products so you know exactly what has gone into them.

Cleansing products we use everyday such as shampoo offer contain sodium laurel sulphate (SLS) and Parabens, which seem to be very damaging, both to our health and the environment.

SLS is a favourite of manufactures, as it helps to make their products lather and form a thick constituency – but it can be very irritating, not to mention toxic. With the skin being our biggest organ, and able to absorb whatever we apply to it, it makes sense to be very cautious about the products you use.

Avoiding Chemical Shampoo

Increasing numbers of people are going “no poo” – that is, going without shampoo entirely. For some, this might be a step too far – in which case, have you considered cleansing your hair with Kombucha?

For a simple, chemical free hair rinse, all you need is some water and some Kombucha. Although it is often drunk as a tea for its health benefits, it also has some beauty applications.

Using Kombucha will give the hair a natural sheen without the need for chemicals, and make it easier to control oily hair.  Kombucha will also make the hair lighter and easier to control.

Paleo Diet Primal Shampoo No Poo Kombucha SLS Paraben Ingredients Chemicals-min

The Kombucha should be diluted with one- two parts water before being used as rinse.

Herbs can be added to the mix to give a delicate scent. Herbs such as camomile and lavender will work well with normal, dry/itchy and oily hair. Camomile will also help to lighten blonde hair. For dark hair, rosemary will work well. The herbs can either be added directly to the hair rinse or lighted boiled first.  When it comes to quantities of herbs, just add a small handful, enough to give some fragrance, but not so much that the herbs swamp the water.

Another way to cleanse the hair naturally is to use baking soda. Just apply the baking soda to a brush and brush it through the same way you would a dry shampoo or wet your hair with a cup of water and then apply the baking soda.

How do you wash your hair – or do you go without? Are you careful to avoid certain ingredients in commercial shampoos and hair care products? Please leave your comments or share your recipes below.

Paleo Diet Recipe Primal Sautéed Vine Tomatoes and French Beans-min

Recipe: Sautéed Vine Tomatoes and French Beans

So, whilst green beans and French beans are technically legumes, they are more pod than bean and contain less phytic acid and lectins than other legumes. So on that basis, if they're local, fresh and in season, many people choose to enjoy them on a Paleo diet. What do you think about beans?

This is a wonderfully summery side dish, the crunch of the French beans works wonderfully with the juicy, full bodied tomato.

Sautéed Vine Tomatoes and French Beans Ingredients:

  • 500g French beans, tails removed
  • 2 shallots, finely chopped
  • 1 garlic clove, crushed
  • 2 large vine tomatoes, deseeded and chopped
  • 1 tablespoon fresh parsley, finely chopped
  • Olive oil
  • Sea Salt and Black Pepper

Sautéed Vine Tomatoes and French Beans How To:

1)     Boil some water in a pan, then add the French beans and simmer for two minutes. Drain, then rinse the beans under cold water.

2)     Heat a little olive oil in a non stick frying pan over a medium heat. Add the finely chopped shallots and garlic, and sauté for 2 minutes until slightly softened and golden. Add the French beans to the pan, coating well with the existing contents. Sauté for a further minute or so to heat through.

3)     30 seconds or so before you are due to serve, add the chopped tomatoes so as just to heat them through but not damage the texture. Season with the salt, pepper and parsley, then serve.

Paleo Diet Recipe Primal Sautéed Vine Tomatoes and French Beans-min

Vitamin B6 Pyridoxine Paleo Diet deficiency supplement symptoms sources signs-min

Vitamin B6 (Pyridoxine) & the Paleo Diet

Who doesn't want healthy nerve and muscle cells? Of course you do, and this is where Vitamin B6 – also known as Pyridoxine – becomes especially important. In addition to that, it plays a part in converting carbohydrates and protein into energy, together with other B-complex vitamins, and has a role in the production of insulin, both white and red blood cells, and DNA. That means it’s pretty important!

Luckily, Vitamin B6 deficiency rarely occurs, because it’s contained in many foods. But sometimes it does, usually caused by a poor absorption of nutrients that can be a result of chronic alcoholism or chronic diarrhoea.  Fatigue, anaemia, skin disorders (like eczema and seborrheic dermatitis), convulsions and seizures – these are symptoms that may point to a deficiency in Pyridoxine.

But even if there’s no full-blown deficiency, there are a number of medical conditions that may be prevented or treated with better levels of Vitamin B6, including adrenal function, asthma, kidney stones, PMS, cardiovascular problems like atherosclerosis and hypertension, nervous system issues like carpal tunnel syndrome, depression, autism and epilepsy, and skin conditions like acne and eczema. The best approach in any case is to turn to whole food sources of Vitamin B6, of which there is abundance in the Paleo Diet.

How much Vitamin B6 do you need in your diet?

The daily recommended amount of Vitamin B6 is 2mg.

Vitamin B6 Pyridoxine Paleo Diet deficiency supplement symptoms sources signs-min

Which foods can you get Pyridoxine from?

  1. Liver – Not surprisingly, the nutrient dense liver is the first on the list. While any animal liver will provide a good amount of Vitamin B6, turkey liver is the richest choice with 52% of the daily need in a 100g portion. Pate, anyone?
  2. Tuna – The best fish source for Vitamin B6, tuna provides 52% of your daily need in a 100g portion. So if liver is not your thing, but you’re focused on the consumption of Pyridoxine, a good tuna salad or tuna steak for dinner is a great choice for your health.
  3. Summer squash – Great for grilling, salads, stir-fries, and even refreshing soups – summer squash provides 12.5% of your daily need of Vitamin B6 in 1 cup when measured raw.
  4. Banana – One of the best carb sources around, the banana is also good for Vitamin B6 with 21.5% of your daily need in one fruit. Of course bananas are great to munch on just by themselves, but if you’re feeling like a treat, why not prepare a Vitamin B6-filled one-ingredient ice-cream? Just toss some frozen banana pieces into a blender and watch the magic unveil.
  5. Pistachios – For a snack full of Vitamin B6, go for a handful of pistachios. In 100g you’ll find 85% of your daily Pyridoxine need.
  6. Blackstrap molasses – if you’re looking for a healthy sweetener, blackstrap molasses provides the best mineral and vitamin content. In just one tablespoon you’ll get 7% of your daily Vitamin B6 need. The taste of blackstrap molasses might be an acquired taste for some, but if you’re fond of it and are looking for something sweet, it’s a great solution.
  7. Paprika – Sometimes all it takes is some herbs and spices to perk up the micronutrient content of your food. Paprika is a great addition when it comes to Vitamin B6 – one tablespoon packs 14% of your daily need. Great reason to browse through some Hungarian recipes – no lack of paprika there!

What else do you need to know about Vitamin B6 consumption?

When cooking Vitamin B6-rich food, it is the acidity of the food that usually determines how much of the vitamin is retained. Thus, if you’re especially concerned with the Pyridoxine content, don’t add much acidic components to your food. In addition, processing and freezing cause a loss in the vitamin content. As the Paleo diet promotes the eating of fresh unprocessed whole foods, it is a great approach to get all the vitamins you need – fresh vegetables win over canned ones any day!

So, did reading this make you think more about Vitamin B6 consumption? Do you have any recipes to share with the specific ingredients? Do share in the comments!

Slow Roast Pork with Orange, Sundried Tomatoes and Bay Leaves paleo recipe dinner Sunday lunch primal-min

Recipe: Slow Roast Pork with Orange, Sundried Tomatoes and Bay Leaves

This slow roast pork dish is oh so comforting. Enjoy it as a treat for the whole family every once in a while.

I experimented a little when making this recipe, and browned my pork in the sundried tomato oil rather than normal olive oil. The result was a meat of incredible flavour, and I’m definitely going to cook in ‘infused’ olive oils more often. I'm also going to start making my own, so watch this space!

Slow Roast Pork Ingredients:

  • 750g lean pork shoulder, diced into cubes
  • 400g shallots, peeled and chopped
  • 250ml organic red wine
  • 1 x 400ml can chopped tomatoes
  • 200ml homemade chicken stock / water
  • 2 red peppers (capsicum), deseeded and cut into wedges
  • 4 garlic cloves, crushed
  • 3 bay leaves
  • Zest and juice of one orange
  • 100g sundried tomatoes, plus extra oil
  • 50g black olives, pitted
  • 500g peeled sweet potatoes, cut into chunks
  • Salt and pepper
  • A few sprigs of thyme

Slow Roast Pork How To:

Preheat the oven to 150C / 300F / Gas mark 2.

In a pan, heat 1 tbsp of the sundried tomato oil to a high heat. Season the cubes of pork, then fry in 2 separate batches for a couple of minutes until coloured. Transfer to a large bowl and set aside.

Heat another tbsp of the oil, and lightly sauté the shallots, garlic, sundried tomatoes and half of the fresh thyme for 5 minutes. Pour the oil over the pork, and toss well to combine.

Combine the red wine, orange and bay leaves in a large, hob-safe casserole dish. Bring to the boil and simmer for 5 minutes. Return the meat to the dish.

Add the chopped tomatoes, chicken stock, peppers, olives, sweet potatoes and the remaining thyme. Stir well, and cover with a lid. Leave to cook in the oven for 2 ½ – 3 hours, or until the pork is tender enough to cut with a spoon. Spoon off any excess fat before serving (save it to cook with later!)

Slow Roast Pork with Orange, Sundried Tomatoes and Bay Leaves paleo recipe dinner Sunday lunch primal-min

Paleo Diet Recipe Primal Raw Chocolate Caramel Torte dessert sweet treat pudding cake 680 min

Recipe: Raw Chocolate Caramel Torte

Delightfully decadent chocolate cream, layered on top of rich caramel and a crisp, buttery biscuit base in a beautiful torte. Sound like the kind of thing you can only eat in your wildest, non-paleo dreams? Think again! The power of almonds, avocado, cacao and coconut make this treat as good for your body as it is for your soul.

I used maple syrup as my sweetener in this recipe, but I’m sure raw honey will work just as well!

Raw Chocolate Caramel Torte Ingredients:

For the base:

  • 1 cup ground almonds
  • 1 cup unsweetened, finely shredded coconut
  • 2 tbsp coconut oil
  • 2 medjool dates, pitted
  • 1 tbsp raw honey / maple syrup

For the caramel:

  • 50g almond butter
  • 1 tbsp coconut oil
  • 4 medjool dates
  • 2 tbsp raw honey / maple syrup
  • A dash of almond milk
  • A little vanilla extract and sea salt (optional)

For the chocolate:

  • 1 avocado, skinned and pitted
  • ¼ cup raw cacao powder
  • ¼ cup raw honey / maple syrup
  • 1 tbsp coconut oil
  • 1 handful cacao nibs (optional)

Raw Chocolate Caramel Torte How To:

Line a 6 inch round cake tin with some baking parchment.

To make the base, combine the ground almonds with the coconut in the food processor. Add the coconut oil, dates and maple syrup, and whizz together until combined. Press the mixture into the cake tin, and put straight into the freezer for 10 minutes to set.

Meanwhile, make the caramel by combining almond butter, coconut oil, dates, honey, vanilla and sea salt. Whizz together in the food processor until a smooth, thick paste is formed. Gradually add a little dash of almond milk to thin down to your desired caramel consistency (I used about 2tbsp). Spread evenly over the biscuit base, then return to the freezer for another 10 minutes.

Make the chocolate topping by combining all ingredients in the food processor. Smooth evenly over the caramel, top with cacao nibs if using, then leave to set in the fridge for an hour (if you can wait that long!)

Paleo Diet Recipe Primal Raw Chocolate Caramel Torte dessert sweet treat pudding cake 680 min

Paleo Diet Primal Chromium Levels Mineral Supplement deficiency overdose-min

How are your Chromium Levels?

Chromium is an important mineral that you've probably not paid much attention to, but with its links to glucose – it’s crucial.

What Does Chromium Do?

The main use within your body is to help metabolise fats and carbohydrates in the digestive system. It boosts fatty acid and cholesterol synthesis, which are vital for healthy brain function. Chromium is also involved in the metabolism of insulin, and scientists have found links between low levels of chromium in the blood and type 2 diabetes. Low levels of chromium are also associated with several factors for cardiovascular disease.

People with chromium deficiency have limited glucose tolerance, and you often find it in people with type 2 diabetes. This is particularly common in older people or infants with protein-calorie malfunction. Supplements can help to manage these conditions, but they are not a substitute for other forms of treatment.

Fortunately, it is difficult to overdose in chromium due to the low absorption and high excretion rates.

Paleo Diet Primal Chromium Levels Mineral Supplement deficiency overdose-min

Food Sources of Chromium

Out of all the different sources of chromium, the best is undoubtedly brewer’s yeast. However, foods made from yeast, such as vegemite and marmite, are very processed – and not exactly Paleo!

Many meats are also good sources of chromium, particularly chicken and beef, as well as eggs. Liver also has high concentrations – another reason to get more offal into your diet!

Certain fruit and vegetables are also high in chromium. These include:

  • Green capsicum (bell peppers)
  • Black peppers
  • Apples
  • Bananas
  • Grapes
  • Broccoli
  • Spinach

In general, foods that have high concentrations of simple sugars, such as sucrose and fructose, are usually low in chromium.

Problems with Chromium Intake

As low chromium levels link to diabetes, it is important for any diabetics following the paleo diet to ensure they have a sufficiently high intake. If you are concerned about your chromium intake, you can improve the absorption rate on the body by consuming vitamin C and vitamin B3 (niacin). High consumption of simple sugars will increase the excretion rate from the body – so it’s great that a Paleo diet is naturally low in sugars.

Infection, exercise and stress can all reduce levels of chromium in the body and potentially lead to deficiency. When this happens, the body is unable to use glucose efficiently to meet all its energy requirements and more glucose is required.

Have you ever had your blood levels tested?