There’s much buzz at the moment about the Paleo diet. Some of it painfully pious. Some of it fascinatingly valid. I’ve written a little about it here and shared some Paleo recipes here. I keep getting asked to share my thoughts, and am often asked by recent sugar-free converts, “should I be quitting all carbs?”

Photo by Lee Blaylock...a stylist I'm working with!

To be honest, I’ve been reluctant to wade into things too much because I’ve been experimenting with this way of eating myself, and forming my own opinion slowly. I don’t like to opine until I’ve tried and researched.

But recently the big names in the Paleo movement got together for an online Paleo Summit. I mention it because I think it’s possibly the best overview of the science, techniques, controversies and so on behind the thinking and it certainly helped me get to the bottom of what the eating approach/lifestyle is all about. Some of the names on the lineup you might recognise from on this blog (Chris Kresser who I’ve interviewed here, and Nora Gedgaudas who I interviewed here.)

For those of you who’re interested you can get the package of podcasts and videos and other bits and pieces here. Those of you who have noooo idea what I’m talking about…next week I’ll be doing a bit of Paleo 101 rundown. Tune back in.

Meantime, some of the more interesting guff that’s ticked off at the Summit:

How to do the Paleo dance with kids and a family

Are some carbs OK to eat? Nora Gedgaudas’ presentation is friggen great. She argues that no starches are safe. Others at the summit argue some rice and sweet potato is cool…all the evidence is laid out in both directions so you can make your own mind up.

Does Paleo help with autoimmune and inflammation? Neurosurgeon Dr. Jack Kruse speaks about how leptin resistance lies at the root of inflammation, obesity, and chronic disease. He also shared how he lost 60kgs in a year. Dr. Thomas O’Bryan, a gluten sensitivity expert, gives the rundown on how allergies work.

How to Win an Argument with a Vegetarian. Denise Minger, Author, Death by Food Pyramid, is a legend. She breaks down the China Study argument…with facts. I’m not sure who points this out, but most people who eat this way eat more vegetables than a vegetarian.

I tweeted recently about how funny it was that family photos for anyone who was a young kid in the ’70s are identical – same props, same setting, same clothes. Let’s see what I mean…

Sunday after church shot. In good "clobber" and thongs

Any of these so very random captures familiar to you?

* you and sibling(s) in a wheelbarrow

* first day of school shot. You’re in uniform; younger sibling is wearing a pirate outfit (or vice versa). Perhaps they’re holding their capgun. Or sporting a batman cape. Whatever. It’s convincingly competing with your uniform. You’re smiling. They’re looking well grumpy.

* you as a toddler holding a beer can. Better still, an over-sized beer can.

* you as a toddler with a plastic ice cream bucket on your head

* family photo, often taken after church (when you’re all in your good clobber, knees scrubbed; thongs washed; BMX tee tucked into Rugger shorts). Me, I was mostly holding the youngest (and have wonky hips to show for it now…that one on my lap above…almost 12 lb when he was born!).

* wearing corduroy overalls with a coloured skivvy. That every other sibling also wore at some point.

* in a bath. With your brothers. And your cousins. It’s Christmas time and you’re so very not happy about the arrangement.

I studied to be a health coach with the Institute for Integrative Nutrition a while back and it’s helped me a huge deal with building the knowledge I now share on this site.

I get asked almost daily for more information on how the course works, whether it’s accredited, would I recommend it to yoga teachers/bloggers/stay-at-home-mums/three-legged dogs…

For the sake of efficiency I’ve answered most of the questions here in this webinar.

It’ll take you 28 minutes of your time to view.

I’ve been as brutally honest about it as I can be with my assessment.

And full disclosure: as I mention in the webinar and elsewhere, I do get a commission for introducing people to the course. I thought you should know this. That said, I do only get the commission if you mention my name when you enrol. If you’re comfortable with this, I’d love you to remember to drop my name to the INN people when you speak to them!

And anything I’ve missed, you can probably find here or here.

I think the most useful link is this one, to the speakers who lecture in the course. You’ll recognise a lot of the names: Sally Fallon, Mark Hyman, Walter Willett, Andrew Weil, etc.

Also, you might like to download this INN ebook…it contains a bunch of recipes and information and will provide a good insight into what the course offers. And. Hey. It’s free.

Good luck with your decision!

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