MOUNT KATAHDIN, ME APPALACHIAN STATE TRAIL photo by: JESSE JAMES PIONTEK

Around Christmas week, I took time to stop at the local public library. I came across some books about Paleo dieting, keto dieting, and eating whole foods. I checked out 5 books about these topics and took them home to study up on the dangers of processed food and the chemicals that are used in the American food industry. Of course, I know that Paleo food companies, Keto food companies, and Organic food companies are out there to make money. The authors of all 5 books are also out to make money. So common sense is to gather information, research online for contradicting information, and then form your own personal opinion about what is “real” and what is not.
My conclusion of what I read in these books and the arguments against paleo and keto diets is pretty simple - eat whole, REAL foods and avoid processed garbage. Also what I really found interesting is the fact that grains are not necessary in a human diet, and in many situations cause major health problems. What sparked my interest in these books was not a goal of weight-loss, it was a goal of health. I lost all faith in our complete failure of US health care that instead of curing illnesses encourages you to eat painkillers like they are bags of candy at a movie theater.
My conclusion of what I read in these books and the arguments against paleo and keto diets is pretty simple - eat whole, REAL foods and avoid processed garbage. Also what I really found interesting is the fact that grains are not necessary in a human diet, and in many situations cause major health problems. What sparked my interest in these books was not a goal of weight-loss, it was a goal of health. I lost all faith in our complete failure of US health care that instead of curing illnesses encourages you to eat painkillers like they are bags of candy at a movie theater.
KAYAKING IS A HEALTHY WAY TO ENJOY THE OUTDOORS AND RELIEVE STRESS. PHOTO BY:SMALLCRAFTOUTFITTERS

I have had an irritating heart pain for almost a year at this point (which appears to be simply irritated rib cartilage) and have been battling brutal migraines since my early 20’s. The migraines become so severe at times that it has sent me to the hospital on a few occasions and caused me to vomit. These migraines can control your life at times, and have had me near losing a job at one point. From the age of 21-35, I was dealing with migraines about 5 times a week. I looked into a chiropractor in Menomonie, WI and the improvements have been amazing. I have reduced my 20+ migraines a month to anywhere from 0-2 per month. This has been achieved by visiting Red Cedar Chiropractic about every 2 weeks on average. I have kept the migraines reduced for the past 5 years and it has been life-changing, thanks to Dr. Clint & Dr. Nora Moses. This is an issue that our standard health care would not address for me. I believe my migraine triggers are primarily sleep-related, but I was also willing to see if any diet changes would help lower the migraine occurences even more.
After reading these whole food books, studies are showing that migraines, acne, arthritis, cancer, birth defects, and much more can be caused by the toxic chemicals put in our food by the industry that pays off the government and the health care system. This “BIG FOOD” industry tell us to eat more grains, when the reality is that we don’t need them, as they are the cheap “money-makers” in the industry. The more grains we buy, especially wheat flour and corn syrup, the more they make.
After reading these whole food books, studies are showing that migraines, acne, arthritis, cancer, birth defects, and much more can be caused by the toxic chemicals put in our food by the industry that pays off the government and the health care system. This “BIG FOOD” industry tell us to eat more grains, when the reality is that we don’t need them, as they are the cheap “money-makers” in the industry. The more grains we buy, especially wheat flour and corn syrup, the more they make.
FRESH-CAUGHT BLUEGILLS COOKED IN ANIMAL FATS, GHEE, AVACADO, OR COCONUT OIL IS A DELICIOUS WAY TO A HEALTHY LIFESTYLE

I then decided to give it all a try. My fear was that I would over-spend at the grocery store and wouldn’t be able to sustain a healthy diet financially. I know that healthier food costs more, as they have lower yields when produced. What I read in Wheat Belly by Dr. William Davis is that our grains give us the feeling of addiction, and after a brutal 10-days of withdrawals and illnesses from the lack of chemicals and grains, your feeling of constant starvation will slowly leave. In my case, thats EXACTLY what happened. Instead of waking up craving food to the point that you are in pain, my appetite lowered and I could take the time to prepare real food the right way. And now that I eat less naturally, my grocery bill isn't changing much even though my items are more expensive. My trip to the grocery store was strange, as 90% of the food on the shelves contained wheat and a list of chemicals. I had to keep it simple, meats, fish, nuts, fruits, vegetables, etc. Basically I was trying to eat what cavemen lived on. But I added some dairy because I like it and I am not giving it up. I switched to whole fat dairy like grass-fed dairy yogurt, whole milk (non-homogenized) off of a real pasture, and cheese. The rest of my diet was pretty much fruits, vegetables, fish that I caught off the lake, and grass-fed beef or venison that I hunted. Within 4 weeks I lost 10% of my body weight, and definately had the withdrawal symptoms, for way more than 10 days. My migraines were almost daily just from giving up wheat. But after a few weeks, I felt better and better, and lost a few pounds of what I assume is mainly fat at a steady pace, as I remained physically active in the outdoors during this change in eating. Remember, I was not trying to lose weight, but I naturally fell back to where my body was supposed to be. I am hovering my weight right where I spent most my early adult life now, and I believe it will stay put as I live a healthier, balanced lifestyle.
HIKING IS ONE OF MANY SAFE WAYS TO STAY ACTIVE IN THE OUTDOORS PHOTO BY:JESSE JAMES PIONTEK

So you may ask, what is the point of this article about the “outdoors” when this author just rambled on forever about a new diet? Well here is the neat thing, I never worked out in a gym, never went running, I got healthier by spending time being active in the outdoors. The paleo “caveman” mentality isn’t to run 20 miles a day, it is to stay active naturally in the outdoors, as humans were food collectors and hunters in previous times. Pounding on your joints over and over can cause issues if you run too much, and since I have had 4 brutal surgeries on my guts, I can no longer lift weights and actually sold all of my equipment off a few years ago. But I can put on 20 lbs of heavy heated winter clothes and walk around a swamp with a rifle or shotgun looking for coyotes and small game on a cold winter day. I can drag a sled and a hub-style ice shanty (with heat) across a frozen lake and catch a few meals of panfish. When most of the hunting seasons close, it becomes a great opportunity to look for deer sheds and scout deer patterns. If you don’t own land there is public land all over that you can scout out, or even hiking trails to adventure on. In the summer time, you don’t need a boat to fish. I bet more people relieve stress in canoes and kayaks than anyone with a fancy boat, and these anglers can do it in remote lakes with limited access. There are lakes with island camping so you can get away from all the others and enjoy yourself with relaxation. The Turtle Flambeau Flowage is the first to come to my mind.
ISLAND CAMPING AND FISHING ON THE TURTLE FLAMBEAU FLOWAGE IS AVAILABLE BY KAYAK OR CANOE PHOTO BY: JESSE JAMES PIONTEK

In conclusion, if you feel like your life is in a “rut” and you catch yourself eating “convenience” food on a daily basis (or on the way to the fishing hole) take some time to do some research on eating whole foods, cut back on drinking alcohol, buy some chickens if your village lets you so you can eat real eggs on a daily basis, visit a real butcher to buy real meat, use simple fresh herbs and garlic for seasoning, visit a farmer’s market or an organic produce department, visit a chiropractor or massage therapist, give yourself more time to sleep, and spend as much time outside as you can. You will probably find a healthier life, happier as I may have just stumbled across all while enjoying the outdoors and eating super delicious fish and wild game. Natural healing and whole, unprocessed foods will probably give you more in life than our FAILED health care system that is the most expensive (yet, last-ranked) in all industrialized nations.
THE HIGHEST POINT IN MAINE - MT. KATAHDIN PHOTO BY: JESSE JAMES PIONTEK