Northshore magazine showcases the best that the North Shore of Boston, MA has to offer.
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130 | MAY + JUNE 2015 nshoremag.com 130 nshoremag.com November 2012 130 in-depth LIVE Foods in Swampscott. One of her responsibilities was to test and approve gluten-free foods. Despite avoiding gluten, she was still prediabetic, and her triglycerides were much too high, as were her cholesterol levels. "I couldn't go more than two hours without eating." Eventually, she found herself living at Green Mead- ows Farm in Hamilton, where she managed the farm stand. She recalls how customers asked questions for which she didn't have answers. Ultimately, she decided to go back to school to study nutrition with the Nutri- tional Therapy Association. "They are very into whole foods—butter, whole milk, whole grains, meats." For her final assignment, she read and reported on Robb Wolf's The Paleo Solution. "I decided to give it a try, even though the idea was so scary to me." Today, she sees that revolutionary book as a good introduction to the idea of trying the Paleo way of eating for 30 days. CHALLENGES WHEN SWITCHING TO PALEO Cost comes up as an inhibiting factor. People want it to be "convenient, easy, and cheap," the very reasons processed foods came along to begin with. Americans, as a percentage of income, spend much less on food than most other countries, according to Rodgers. "Crappy food is artificially cheap," she says, noting people have a hard time spending more on high-quality food. Their priorities are elsewhere. "Being proactive about your health is just not something our society values very much. It's a definite mental shift for a lot of people." Buying grass-fed meat, for example, does cost more than conventional meat, but Rodgers recommends leveraging the cost by buying less expensive cuts and buying in bulk from a local butcher. "If you value your health, it's an important change [to make]." Another stumbling block: Sugar and gluten activate the opiate receptors in the brain, making them addictive. As with any addiction, it can be hard to break. But there are ways to enjoy sweet treats now and then. For many people, giving up all alcohol is also a roadblock. For those who end up follow- ing the "80/20" regimen—80 percent of the time is devoted to a strict Paleo diet, and the other 20 percent is more leni- ent—plant-derived spirits like Paleo to Go, based in Beverly, and Grassy Roots in Wenham both offer many Paleo-friendly (and delicious) dishes. Paleo to Go Beverly 910-315-5452 Grassy Roots 152 Main St. Wenham 978-468-5200 grassyrootsgourmet.com WHERE TO EAT PALEO LOCALLY (Offer Expires November 1, 2015) Now open in Boston! Grand Opening Offer: Free Hair Removal! PAIN-FREE! Stop wasting time shaving and waxing. CARE Laser brings virtually PAIN-FREE laser hair removal to everyone using the latest diode laser technology. 45 Bromfield Street, Boston 1060 Osgood Street, North Andover Book a FREE consultation today BUY ONE GET ONE FREE www.care-laser.com/northshore (844) 5-LASER-4-U