The Paleo Approach: Reverse Autoimmune Disease and Heal Your Body 1st Edition

I'm writing this review, but I do so as the purchaser and fiance of the person who's read through it cover to cover multiple times, and changed our diet as a result.

Background: we're both healthy, athletic, low sugar, nearly zero synthetic anythings in our diet. Paleo based diet for ~10 yrs for me, history of celiac in my family. History of severe celiac in her family, and she's had her thyroid removed with radiation. It was when she was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis that we started to seek out anything we could to delay it's onset... and I know this sounds like some tinfoil hat hug a tree BS, but after about 8 weeks on the diet we've shaped as a result of this book, her last *2* bloodworks came back as inconclusive on one, and negative on another for RA. Her normally wish/wash complexion is arguably better than mine (and mine is fine) and her energy levels have leaped.

It'd be one thing to say we "feel" this or that. But I'm telling you I dont feel anything. I'm observing it, and her bloodwork is proving it.

As far as night time reading, lord no. You have to be an MD or very very interested in health to read this thing. It strikes me as something you'd see a pre-med student reading. But, get through it, and the results are working for my future wife. We couldnt be happier.

Regarding the resulting diet in the end: its not bad. It's restrictive, and a huge PITA if you travel, but not bad. I tell people if you didnt have expendable income, it'd be pretty tough, as your resulting diet would be kind of what I ate in college: chicken and frozen veggies. If you do, though, the dinners you can come up with are still great. We have guests and serve meals that are compliant with this book, and nobody's ever commented on it. No "oh well its not bad for _____ free food" or disclaimers. Coconut based deserts, good meats, good veggies. Life is good!

There is a lot of information in this book on why you should follow this protocol if you have an autoimmune disease. She includes a lot of scientific data to prove her point. All that is good.

She then gives information on how to start the program, which foods to avoid and which are ok. Then how to re-introduce foods that you have eliminated from your diet. Also good. (Kindle/tablet readers see my warning below)

Then information on lifestyle change, also good.

I think there was too much scientific information...at least half the book as it related to paleo and auto-immune disease. Then more when discussing lifestyle change in the second half.

I would have preferred less science and more details on how to actually use the diet. I would have liked examples of several meal plans, I would have liked more specific information on how much to eat of each food group. I use My Fitness Pal to keep track of my daily intake of all foods and their nutritional vakues. I still am sometimes eating more carbs than fat or protein, sometimes the protein is more than fat. Because I am guessing as to quantity/ serving size. My understanding is fat should be the highest percentage of calories, then protein and then carbs, but I am not sure how to get there. I need that type of detail.
There are NO recipes in the book.

WARNING. I purchased the Kindle edition. The lists of foods are basically unreadable. Parts of words are scattered all over the page. This is true of 90 % of all the lists in the book. I had to go online to get food lists from other sources. So that part of the book was worthless to me. But did not base my review on that, but certainly left a bad experience. That should be one of the most important details, but could not be read.
I feel like I did not get my money's worth with the Kindle edition.

Update 7/13/2015

While I am not thrilled with the Kindle edition of this book, I am very pleased with the Paleo Autoimmune Protocol diet. I have been following it religiously for just over 4 months now and can attest to its effectiveness. I have Myasthenia Gravis, a rare autoimmune disease that causes muscle weakness.
Prior to starting this diet, I was so weak that some days I could barely walk, had problems swallowing, breathing and severe double vision. On good days, I could go to one store with my husband and help with laundry and at times some light chores. Now 4 months later, I play golf twice a week, can drive myself to stores and actually shop. I am back to doing all the cooking, laundry and many other household chores. I also walk 1 to 1.5 miles a day. I do have to rest often and I need a handicap flag when playing golf. I still require routine medication for this disease. But instead of getting weaker each month, I am now getting stronger.
My husband says this diet is a miracle and I agree.

It is not a 'fun' diet to be on. It is very restrictive and I miss a lot of my favorite foods, plus it can be a little more expensive. But in my opinion all that is worth being able to participate in life again and feel better while doing it. All my physicians have reviewed the diet and all have 100% approved and encouraged me to stick with it. For some reason I found that surprising. I assumed at least one would have some doubts or concerns. But it was just the opposite.

Just thought I would share my experience.