The Paleo Diet Cured My Allergies

Yes, the heading is rather sensational, but it is, nonetheless, true.

I started living the Paleo Lifestyle - also known as the Caveman Lifestyle/Diet, the Primal Lifestyle - six months ago. I have cut out all processed food, nearly all dairy, all grains, legumes, refined sugar and starchy vegetables (except parsnips).

As well as losing 20lbs of extraneous fat and being full of energy and vitality, my skin cleared up, my hair is shinier and I sleep better. But it wasn't until March that I noticed the most startling difference: no allergies.

I've suffered with extreme hayfever since I was a toddler. I have always been allergic to grass pollen, tree pollen and blossom, flower pollen and the falling leaves in autumn. I come out in hives if dry grass/hay touches my skin. I sneeze continually, my eyes go red and sore and the roof of my mouth and throat become covered in ulcers from inhaling pollen. It's not a pretty sight.

This spring has been the warmest in the UK for years. Trees, shrubs and flowers have exploded into bloom all at the same time. I was dreading it. Yet, apart from the occasional sneeze and a very mild itching of the eyes, I HAVE NOT HAD A SINGLE SYMPTOM. I have boxes of allergy tablets sitting unopened in the medicine cabinet. I've been able to go out without wearing sunglasses to cover up my puffy eyes and face. I've been able to SIT IN THE GARDEN.

At first I thought perhaps I'd been mistaken and there wasn't much pollen in the air. Then I noticed other people sneezing and blowing their noses. I walked through a park full of flowers and had the mildest itching in my nose, sneezed once. Other people looked like they'd had a face full of Mace.

The only lifestyle change has been my diet - by eating primally, I have cut out processed foods and grains, which our species did not evolve to eat. By consuming fresh fruit and vegetables, nuts, seeds, eggs, seafood and meat I have detoxified my body.

The health benefits of the Paleo lifestyle appear to outweigh any minor difficulties in giving up bread, rice and pasta. The thought of eating a sandwich and my hayfever coming back is enough to put me off bread for life.