Hello! Welcome to Flawed yet Functional! I’m Emily, and I’ve been working for two years to improve my health and manage type 1 diabetes to the best of my ability. If you’ve been reading here long, you know I’ve seen amazing results (insulin-free for 19 months!) by changing my diet. Do my results seem too good to be true? They aren’t, and today I can show you evidence from the lives of 25 experts in the Paleo or AIP field who have allowed me to share part of their story of the benefits of eating healthy. It’s pretty impressive. Check it out!
Before we jump into the amazing stories of these experts, let me share the impact changing my diet has had on my health.
Upon being diagnosed with type 1 diabetes as a 33-year old, I furiously dug through medical journals looking for the likelihood of misdiagnosis. While I did not find support for my theory of misdiagnosis, I did find numerous articles pointing to gluten as a possible cause of autoimmune diseases.
What did I have to lose? I stopped eating gluten that day, and the result was immediate and impressive. Immediately, I could stop taking fast-acting insulin with meals, and I weaned myself off long-acting insulin over the course of a week. I remained insulin-free for 19 months!
In December 2018, I resumed long-acting insulin as my pancreas must have died a little bit more and could no longer keep up. After 2 years on an AIP/Paleo diet, I am in the best health of my life with very high insulin sensitivity (meaning my insulin dose is very low). My energy is through the roof, and I am able to handle all mental challenges tossed my way.
Food is incredibly powerful. Eat what your body needs, and you will notice a change!
That’s my story! Now let’s dig into the leading experts in the field. I asked each expert to elaborate on these two questions:
- What is the single biggest improvement you’ve seen in your health as a result of changing your diet?
- How has that improvement most impacted your life?
Are you ready to be amazed? Keep scrolling for astounding stories of life and health benefits of eating healthy food!
Trevor Connor
Biggest Improvement in Health
I raced the professional cycling circuit in North America in my late 20s and early 30s. For most of my career, I ate a very traditional sports nutrition diet which meant very high quantities of refined carbohydrates. Most dinners were pasta, and I ate cereal every morning. I initially ended my career in my mid-30s because I was getting sick frequently. Five or six times per year in my last few seasons, I would come down with what I thought were viruses that would last upwards of two to three weeks. It had such a big impact on my training, I felt I had no choice but to retire.
Two years later, when I was 38, I took Dr. Loren Cordain’s class at Colorado State University. There I learned about the Paleo Diet and gave it a try. Pasta gave way to salmon and vegetables; breakfast switched from cereal to eggs and fruit. The difference was remarkable. Even though I was a fulltime student with a coaching business, I found I could train as hard as I used to, but I wasn’t getting sick and I recovered better. That year I traveled to several big domestic races again including Canadian Nationals where I broke away and just missed getting third place. By the year I turned 40, I was racing the full domestic professional circuit and finding myself on podiums again. It was one of my best years and that was entirely due to the changes in my diet.
How Has That Impacted My Life?
I think mostly it has allowed me to continue to live what I consider a full life. I’m in my late 40s now, but I can put in big weeks at work (which I thoroughly enjoy), train hard in the evenings and weekends, and still race with guys half my age. I definitely do not feel like or act like I always thought I would by the time I hit this age. The combination of a good diet and hard exercise has really changed my notion of aging. I used to fear being 50. Now I find it almost humorous because I feel better than I did in my 20s.
Bio: Trevor is the CEO of The Paleo Diet LLC where he researches the effect of the Paleo diet on autoimmune diseases, particularly Crohn’s Disease. In addition to his research, he also runs Fast Labs, LLC which runs cycling training camps and helps cyclists from World champions to local enthusiasts.
Cheryl Malik
Biggest Improvement in Health
By changing my diet, I have noticed that I have more energy, mental clarity, less inflammation, better sleep, and I am all-around more productive.
How Has That Impacted My Life?
This improvement has impacted my life by making things a lot more enjoyable, my menstrual cycle has improved, and I am getting better sleep so that means I’m more well-rested!
Bio: Cheryl is the whole-food recipe creator behind 40 Aprons. She has used Whole30 and the Paleo diet to address sleep issues, jaw pain, and postpartum weight loss.
Melissa Joulwan
Biggest Improvement in Health
The biggest benefit, besides consistent energy and super-clear skin, is that the quality and quantity of my sleep has improved dramatically. Prior to Paleo, I woke up repeatedly throughout the night and had difficulty falling back to sleep. I rarely got more than 5 hours per night, and it was interrupted. Now, I sleep 7 to 8 hours per night, and if I wake up, I fall back to sleep within a few minutes.
How Has That Impacted My Life?
EVERYTHING in my life is better now that I’m rested. I recuperate better from my workouts, and when I wake up in the morning, I feel energetic and ready to face the day. It’s easier to make good food choices when I’m not tired (and craving sugar because of it), and I don’t need coffee in the morning to get me going. Plus, worrying about sleeping was causing me a fair amount of anxiety at bedtime and in the middle of the night. Now bedtime is truly peaceful because I know I’m going to get a restful night’s sleep.
Bio: Melissa can be found at Mel Joulwan where she writes about her triumphs and failures in the gym, in the kitchen, and in life. She has battled with her thyroid for years through food and medication. Be sure to check out her journey!
Elana Amsterdam
Biggest Improvement in Health
The single biggest improvement in my health as a result of a healthy diet is I am no longer suffering from symptoms of Celiac Disease.
How Has That Impacted My Life?
As a result of that, I have more energy, and I feel good in my body.
Bio: Elana can be found at Elana’s Pantry where she shares Keto and Paleo recipes as well as health research. She is a mother, research expert, and serial entrepreneur. She has overcome challenging health diagnoses of celiac and multiple sclerosis.
Eileen Laird
Biggest Improvement in Health
I no longer live with excruciating pain from rheumatoid arthritis!
How Has That Impacted My Life?
It took a health crisis to inspire me to change my diet. I went from being a healthy, active woman who worked full-time and hiked on the weekends, to someone who was disabled within just a few months.
The inflammation started in my feet but soon spread body-wide. Excruciating pain was now an everyday experience. I limped crossing my living room, and I no longer had the strength in my hands and wrists to wash dishes.
It was a terrifying time in my life. On an intuitive level, I knew that food had an impact on health, so I started experimenting with different diets. Paleo was the first diet that successfully had an anti-inflammatory effect. After months of increasing pain, it finally started to decrease, slowly but surely. And with that improvement, I started regaining abilities I thought I had lost forever.
After 5 months of Paleo, I went AIP to discover the final food triggers that reduced my pain to a minimum. I was able to return to work and even to the mountain hikes that I love. Diet wasn’t a cure for me. I learned I also need medication to help keep my disease in remission. But the combination is a powerful one! By following a healing diet, I help my medication work better. And together, they help me live my fullest life.
Bio: Eileen can be found at Phoenix Helix where she shares all she’s learned (and continues to learn) about living an empowered and healthy life with autoimmune disease. Diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis, she now lives in victory of that diagnosis through the Paleo Autoimmune Protocol diet and conventional medication.
Cristina Maria Curp
Biggest Improvement in Health
I was able to put Hidradenitis Suppurativa (a pretty gnarly auto-inflammatory skin condition) into remission.
How Has That Impacted My Life?
I live pain-free! I have energy, confidence, and freedom!
Bio: Cristina can be found at The Castaway Kitchen where she shares her passion for food as medicine. After battling obesity and autoimmune diseases, she dove headlong into the world of ancestral health and learned how to optimize her diet for health.
Alaena Haber
Biggest Improvement in Health
The single biggest improvement I have seen in my health since adopting the Paleo/AIP lifestyle is restoring my fertility and naturally conceiving two healthy daughters in the last 3 years. It took a solid 18 months on AIP to restore my fertility after almost 8 years without a menstrual cycle.
How Has That Impacted My Life?
Outside of being grateful to fulfill the motherhood role, I found confidence in my body and a renewed focus on helping other women in their wellness journeys.
Bio: Alaena can be found at Grazed and Enthused where she seeks to help women and their families love their healthy, allergy-friendly food. Diagnosed with Hashimoto’s and later infertility, she discovered the Paleo diet and stress reduction to heal her body and other hormonal imbalances.
Raj
Biggest Improvement in Health
Since adopting a Paleo lifestyle, the biggest improvement that I see on a daily basis is I no longer get “h-angry”. With my blood-sugars more level and avoiding typical insulin highs and lows that you get with the Standard American Diet, I’m way more even-keeled.
How Has That Impacted My Life?
Obviously, I’m way easier to be around when I’m not hangry. I’m also more productive since my stomach isn’t aching to be fed sugar every few hours!
Bio: Raj can be found at The Primal Desire where he writes about fun, healthy food and holistic wellness. Raj supports real food for everyone. He likes to say he’s “foodie first, Paleo second.”
Michele Spring
Biggest Improvement in Health
I now have steady energy all day. Prior to changing my diet, I was beyond exhausted every day, no matter how much I slept or rested. Now I have plenty of energy to do the things I want to do.
How Has That Impacted My Life?
I’m able to keep up with my kids. The final straw that had originally caused me to change my diet was having to tell my kids for the umpteenth time that I couldn’t play with them. I was too tired. Now I’m able to run around with them, go camping, hiking, and drive them all over the place.
Bio: Michele can be found at Thriving on Paleo where she uses diet and lifestyle to live free of autoimmune symptoms. Through changing her diet and lifestyle, she has put Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis and Celiac Disease in remission.
Irena Macri
Biggest Improvement in Health
I remember when I first started following a Paleo-type diet, my energy levels throughout the day increased significantly, and I wasn’t getting tired in the afternoons. There is always an adjustment period initially, so I always encourage my Paleo reset program participants to be patient for the first week. Once your body adjusts to less sugar and refined carbs and more fat and protein as fuel, you will start to feel amazing.
How Has That Impacted My Life?
Having more energy means I feel more productive and more focused. When I eat real food, I find I also stick to my workouts. I am more efficient at ticking off my to-do list, and I have a very clear mind so I can make decisions better.
Honestly, when I go back to eating more refined carbs or sugar (we all have those stressful weeks of travel), I notice the difference in how I feel. I become distracted, easily fatigued, irritable, moody and so on. I hear this from my readers too. Their goals starting out are always about weight loss, improving digestion, and their metabolic function. These things happen, of course, but they are always surprised about the changes to their mood and life outlook.
Bio: Irena can be found at Irena Macri where she shares delicious recipes with a focus on vegetables. She is a regular chick who is passionate about real, whole, natural food.
Holley Marth
Biggest Improvement in Health
Sleep improvements!
How Has That Impacted My Life?
Overall, I have more energy and the ability to cope with what life throws at me.
Bio: Holley can be found at The Primal Desire where she shares her passion for promoting healthy lifestyle choices. She believes real food should be fun and delicious and creates mostly Paleo-based recipes.
Andrea Wool
Biggest Improvement in Health
Energy!
How Has That Impacted My Life?
Having more energy gave me the boost I needed to begin exercising again and in a way that is healthy for my body.
Bio: Andrea can be found at Get Autoimmune Strong where she shares fitness for people with autoimmune disease, fibromyalgia, and chronic pain. Diagnosed with fibromyalgia and other autoimmune diseases, she pursues healing through food and movement.
Megan Flynn Peterson
Biggest Improvement in Health
I feel so much better when I eat real foods. My anxiety is more manageable and my body, in general, is happier.
How Has That Impacted My Life?
Learning how to nourish my body and see food as a positive thing is more valuable than I ever could have imagined. I used to believe food was something that I would constantly have to think about or battle with.
Bio: Megan can be found at Freckled Italian where she shares her life as a mom, writer, and recipe developer. Her Paleo and Ketogenic recipes focus on simple ingredients to help you achieve a healthy diet.
Jefferson Webster
Biggest Improvement in Health
The single biggest improvement for me is the stabilization of mood, clarity of thought, and rational thinking.
Background info: I substantially changed my diet back in 2012 and found Paleo. Once I removed sugars, grains, and inflammatory fats from my diet, a cloud was lifted, and I felt like I started living. I was only 21 years old at the time! I feel so blessed to have found it when I did.
Amy (partner at Hunter & Gather Foods) has always been coeliac, since birth anyway and changed to a gluten-free diet back in 1994. She has since optimized her health by also being predominantly Paleo.
How Has That Impacted My Life?
Interpersonal relationships have deepened and strengthened. I can think critically and rationally enabling obstacles to be overcome. My creative ability has exponentially increased, and my motivation for movement and exercise dramatically improved with the consistency of mood. Above all, without the change in diet, Hunter & Gather would not have been born as the ability to create and think on a higher level did not exist previously when consuming the standard western diet.
Bio: Jefferson is the Co-Founder and Chief Experimenter at Hunter & Gather Foods where he focuses on creating healthy, nutrient-dense products for you to enjoy no matter what your lifestyle choice. Eating real food free from grain, sugar and seed oils has been revolutionary for Amy and Jeff. They want to share this knowledge and way of life with others.
Jo Romero
Biggest Improvement in Health
The single biggest improvement I’ve noticed since eating more healthy is in my mental health. I suffered from long term anxiety and depression since my teenage years.
How Has That Impacted My Life?
The fact that my depression has largely subsided has had a huge impact on my life. I have a new confidence, motivation to get new projects completed, and love and gratitude for life. I always thought that a healthy lifestyle could heal my body, but healing my mind was one of the more unexpected benefits!
Bio: Jo can be found at Comfort Bites where she shares her love of food and cooking. Diagnosed with psoriasis at a young age, she found health and healing through the Paleo Autoimmune Protocol.
[thrive_leads id=’6866′]Joanna Frankham
Biggest Improvement in Health
If I’m honest – it’s very hard for me to quantify this because the improvement has been profound – and not just physically. I suffered from my chronic, shameful and extremely painful skin condition for over 20 years without a diagnosis. I never talked about it because it was revolting and embarrassing. I hid it from everyone. It prevented me from being an active participant in my life. Despite seeing numerous medical doctors throughout the years, nobody could give me answers. For a long time, I thought I was alone in suffering from this disease. Since embarking on an AIP approach to my diet, and also making lifestyle changes, my 20+ years of Hidradenitis Suppurativa (HS) is almost completely in remission. It has changed my life.
How Has That Impacted My Life?
I think the biggest impact has been the way I navigate my way through life. There has been a very personal change in perspective. As a result, I’m so much more comfortable in my own skin. And, my horrible skin affliction no longer rules my life.
Bio: Joanna can be found at JoannaFrankham where she is a health coach who encourages her readers to make sustainable, incremental changes to their health. After suffering from Hidradenitis Suppurativa (HS) for years, she healed her gut through the Autoimmune Protocol and lifestyle changes that brought her autoimmune diseases into near-complete healing.
Alissa Frazier
Biggest Improvement in Health
I’ve seen numerous physical improvements from changing my diet, but I think the biggest change has been that I am now so much more aware of my body and it’s reactions. Changing my diet was the first step in “quieting the noise”, so to speak, which allowed me to hear and feel when something wasn’t quite right for my body.
How Has That Impacted My Life?
This has impacted my body in so many ways. Like I mentioned above, I am able to hear and feel my body’s reactions to various things, both positive and negative. That has saved me time as well. Instead of wasting time on something that isn’t quite right for me, I stop and change to something else.
Bio: Alissa can be found at Liss MS where she helps women who have been diagnosed with a chronic illness or autoimmune disease through health coaching. She uses the Autoimmune Protocol diet to help manage her MS, and she works with her clients to find the best diet for them.
Samantha Teague
Biggest Improvement in Health
Fatigue! It’s way reduced these days, and I have more energy than I thought was possible.
Oh man, I used to barely be able to get out of bed and would have to do it in steps:
- First, awareness of being awake
- Next, accept that I needed to open my eyes
- Cry
- Sit up and stare at the wall for a good while
- Realize I was going to be late if I didn’t get a move on
- Scoot-slide to the edge of the bed and dangle my legs over the side for a bit
- Finally, stand up….panting really hard and our of breath and totally NOT ready to take on the day, let alone battle the whole showering situation.
How Has That Impacted My Life?
The decrease in my fatigue has brought so much more joy and
accessibility to my life. I can actually squat or stoop to pick something
up and not be out of breath when I stand back up. I can climb a flight of stairs without having to stop 1/4, 1/2, and 3/4 of the way up (‘scuse me, neighbors!). I have more stamina to work from home at my desk sitting upright, rather than be slumped over on the couch hunching over a laptop. My posture has improved a ton. I have more energy to spend with my family and loved ones, and I am able to enjoy the hobbies and things I love to do in this life…my original ultimate goal.
Bio: Samantha can be found at The Unskilled Cavewoman where she shares wellness tips and recipes on her blog and podcast. Diagnosed with multiple chronic diseases (Hashimoto’s, IBS, and Fibromyalgia to name a few), she uses primal food to promote wellness.
Erin Cox
Biggest Improvement in Health
Through the Paleo Autoimmune Protocol (both diet and lifestyle changes), the largest improvement for me was finally getting to a place where I keep three autoimmune diagnoses (psoriasis, psoriatic arthritis, and Raynaud’s) well-managed.
How Has That Impacted My Life?
I’ve learned so much about my body’s response to certain foods and how important sleep and stress play a role in my personal health. Full disclosure: I’m continually working on the sleep part (I’ve talked about that on my blog), but I am not experiencing flares currently. When life gets hectic or I am feeling run down, I am aware of the tools I need to best recover. Having this newfound self-awareness and self-compassion is the ultimate win for me.
Bio: Erin can be found at Real Food and Love where she shares her love of real, whole food and how that fits with family. She manages her autoimmune diseases through the Autoimmune Protocol diet with reintroductions.
Whitney Ross Grey
Biggest Improvement in Health
It is hard to know the single biggest improvement because I’m dealing with MS. It is very frustrating to not know if things would be different if I wasn’t so vigilant. I can walk, would I be walking? I have good bladder and bowel control, would I have that? In MS forums I read comments from people with chronic fatigue, vertigo, pain, etc. I don’t have any of that. I can’t run anymore, and I can’t walk more than a mile or two. Is that from not being vigilant enough? Controlling disease with diet and lifestyle can be maddening if you let it! One thing that is a huge relief is that I go through life with little worry about other common things women my age start to worry about because my health is so good in every other aspect. I have exceptional blood work, biomarkers, etc.
How Has That Impacted My Life?
My sleep, organ meat consumption, breath work, and meditation are on point. I’ve even quit drinking. Meal planning and sugar consumption are definitely a struggle, but as one mentor says, “there is always something to work on.”
Bio: Whitney can be found at Nutrisclerosis where she shares links, books, and articles to help those diagnosed with MS. She has found relief from her autoimmune symptoms by changing her diet and implementing healthy habits.
Maria Krummen
Biggest Improvement in Health
I have Hashimoto’s disease and my TSH levels used to be very unstable (jumping up and down a lot) before the AIP. As soon as I eliminated allergy-provoking foods, especially dairy, soy, and gluten, my TSH became much more stable and easier to control.
How Has That Impacted My Life?
My disease is easier to manage now as I don’t have to re-pass blood work very often, and I have fewer visits to my endocrinologist. Besides that, many of my symptoms subsided.
Bio: Maria can be found at Zesty Paleo where she shares links, books, and articles to help those diagnosed with Hashimoto’s and other autoimmune diseases. She has found relief from her autoimmune symptoms by changing her diet and implementing healthy habits.
Stacey Venancio
Biggest Improvement in Health
It is SOOOO hard to pick the single biggest improvement in my health. I want to list 10 or 15 things! If I HAVE to pick one, I will say my energy levels. I used to need 9-12 hours of sleep, now I am okay with 8 hours. I can lead a normal life with a busy schedule and don’t feel like laying down or taking a nap all of the time. There is more, so much more, but this has probably been the most dramatic change overall.
How Has That Impacted My Life?
Having more energy impacts EVERY part of my life! I am able to fit in my workouts, meal preps, social life and everything else without feeling overwhelmed or tired. It makes me a happier more pleasant person to be around! I get more done, and I feel less stressed.
Bio: Stacey can be found at Real World AIP where she is dedicated to helping you implement the Autoimmune Protocol with recipes, lifestyle inspiration, and easy-to-digest information. Diagnosed with Celiac and other autoimmune diseases, she found real solutions to her ailments when she changed her diet.
Astrid Fox
Biggest Improvement in Health
The single biggest improvement in health by changing my diet is surprisingly more on my mental state, I now appreciate that sense of empowerment after learning how to take care of my health, instead of leaving it in the hands of others. Becoming more solution-driven instead of being trapped in the confines of limiting beliefs is the best lessons through my journey.
How Has That Impacted My Life?
My healing ignited the passion to learn more about my body and the human body, to share my message, and to be a pillar of support to others on similar paths. I’ve learned to trust the process and push pass a fear-based attitude to be patient with healing.
Bio: Astrid can be found at Heal Me In The Kitchen where she shares AIP recipes and inspiration for living a whole, healthy life. She is a whole food advocate, wellness blogger, ferment fanatic, essential oil lover, mother, wife, artist, and entrepreneur.
Tina Christoudias Spyrou
Biggest Improvement in Health
Simply put, changing my diet changed my life. After giving birth to my daughter 8 years ago, I was depressed. I had brain fog, and I got frequent headaches. I gained weight, and I could not concentrate. I pretty much lost my zest for life. Although I am a Harvard-trained registered dietitian, it was not until an integrative doctor really taught me how to eat to improve a chronic issue that I realized that my training was flawed. When I cut out gluten and dairy from my life, my brain fog lifted. I lost weight, and my zest for life returned. The change this time around is my mission to educate that each of us holds the power to change our health for the better.
How Has That Impacted My Life?
Nutrition not only helped me to get better, but it was the inspiration I needed to catapult my career in an amazing direction. I help patients to achieve optimal health as an AIP Certified Coach and a Functional Medicine Certified Practitioner. I feel great and that feeling inspires me to help others to feel the same! I am loving my job and my life!
Bio: Tina, a clinical dietician and nutritionist, can be found at The Thyroid Dietician where she coaches others on their journey to optimal health. Diagnosed with Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis, she has used integrative and functional nutrition to relieve the symptoms associated with autoimmune diseases.
Tara Grant
Biggest Improvement in Health
The biggest improvement I’ve seen is effortless weight maintenance and the reversal of all disease, autoimmunity, and depression.
How Has That Impacted My Life?
My life was all about losing weight and getting fit. Now that I’m doing that effortlessly, I can concentrate on other things. I have so much time now that I’m not obsessing about what I eat or how much I work out!
Bio: Tara can be found at Primal Girl where she shares the radical transformation food made in her life and provides assistance and education for others to do the same.
Biggest Takeaways from Eating Healthy Food
- Diminished or complete disappearance of autoimmune disease symptoms
- ENERGY – and lots of it!
- Improved quality of sleep
- Weight loss
- Regaining motor function
- Return to activities that bring joy
Are you unhappy with how your body feels? Do you lack good, sound sleep? Have you had to quit activities you love because your body can’t keep up?
If so, you are in good company, and if you read through the stories above, you’ll find hope in real, nourishing food. Food is more powerful than you think!
Are you ready to get started? Take the first step by signing up for 7 AIP Dinner plus a grocery list to get started eating better food today!
[thrive_leads id=’6866′]I hope you find hope for your current health situation as you read through these stories. Food is real, true healing to the body. Flip back through that list and note all the different types of autoimmune diseases that were significantly healed: MS, Type 1 Diabetes, Hashimoto’s, Hidradenitis Suppurativa, etc. The benefits of eating healthy food are significant: more energy, mental clarity, and relief from pain to name a few. Don’t settle for how you feel today. Make today the beginning of eating whole, unprocessed food that will nourish your body.
[thrive_leads id=’8031′]Thank you to all the bloggers, coaches, entrepreneurers, and trainers that allowed me to share your story. It took time from your busy schedules and lots of vulnerability to share your personal health struggles and victory. Thank you for inspiring us today!
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