Embarking on the 30-Day Primal Blueprint Challenge: A Journey Towards Wellness and Hope for MS

Starting today, I am publicly committing to a thirty-day journey following a specific adaptation of the Paleo diet known as the Primal Blueprint. This declaration isn’t just a personal choice; it’s a pledge made public to ensure accountability, a powerful motivator that leaves no room for turning back. My incentive for wholeheartedly embracing this commitment stems from a deeply personal place.

Many years ago, my beloved daughter, Kim, received a diagnosis of Multiple Sclerosis (MS). While she largely functions day-to-day, her life is punctuated by unpredictable relapses and a relentless, ongoing search for the “perfect” medication to manage her symptoms and slow the progression of this challenging autoimmune condition. Witnessing her struggles has been a driving force for our entire family to seek out alternative avenues for health and well-being beyond conventional treatments alone.

The Inspiration: Jen’s Success and Dr. Wahls’s Remarkable Recovery

The spark for this thirty-day challenge ignited with Kim’s younger sister, Jen. For several months now, Jen and her husband, Steve, have been diligently following a Primal/Paleo eating program. Their experience has been nothing short of transformative. They consistently report feeling incredibly energetic, vibrant, and generally fantastic. What particularly impresses them—and us—is the vast array of delicious food choices available within the diet. They never feel hungry or deprived, which is a crucial factor for long-term adherence.

During her extensive research into holistic health and dietary interventions, Jen stumbled upon a truly inspiring story: that of Dr. Terry Wahls. Dr. Wahls, a medical doctor herself, was once completely disabled by secondary progressive MS, a severe form of the disease. Years ago, she received a grim prognosis, being told she would never walk or work again. Yet, Dr. Wahls refused to accept this fate. Leveraging her medical knowledge and an unwavering determination, she embarked on a personal mission to heal herself through nutrition.

Her dedication led to the development of what is now widely known as the Wahls Protocol, a highly nutrient-dense, Paleo-inspired diet designed to support mitochondrial health and neurological function. The results were astounding. Today, Dr. Wahls is not only fully functional but also requires no medication for her MS. Her story, moving from a wheelchair to riding a bicycle, is a powerful testament to the potential of food as medicine. It’s a compelling reminder that the adage “we are what we eat” holds profound truth, particularly when facing chronic health challenges.

Our Primal Blueprint Challenge: A Focused Approach

Inspired by Jen’s personal success and Dr. Wahls’s extraordinary journey, Jen challenged us, her family, to join her in this quest for a more healthful way of living. She has thoroughly researched the science behind these dietary approaches and firmly believes that this way of eating holds the potential to significantly improve Kim’s life and future prognosis. The prospect of Kim gaining a sense of control over her health through diet fills us with immense hope.

For this initial thirty-day period, we will not be following the full Wahls Protocol, primarily because of its very restrictive nature. The Wahls Protocol eliminates all dairy and eggs, as well as nightshade vegetables such as eggplant, potatoes, tomatoes, and various peppers. While Kim may explore additional eliminations in the future based on her progress, our immediate goal is to make the transition manageable and sustainable. We are optimistic that the fundamental removal of sugar and grains will be sufficient to bring about a marked improvement in her general well-being and symptom management.

Instead, we are adopting the Primal Blueprint eating plan, a philosophy developed by Mark Sisson in 2009. The core principle of the Primal Blueprint revolves around an ancestral approach to diet and lifestyle. In essence, it advocates consuming only those foods that our primal ancestors, during the Stone Age, would have realistically eaten and thrived on. This means focusing on whole, unprocessed foods that are biologically appropriate for human consumption, mirroring the diet that shaped our genetic makeup over millions of years.

Key Principles of the Primal Blueprint:

Elimination of Processed Foods and Refined Sugar: A cornerstone of the diet is the complete removal of all industrially processed foods, artificial ingredients, and refined sugars, which are widely implicated in modern chronic diseases.
Grain-Free Living: We will strictly avoid all types of grains, including wheat, corn, rice, oats, and barley. This naturally leads to the elimination of gluten, a common inflammatory trigger for many, and especially relevant in autoimmune conditions.
Focus on Nutrient-Dense Foods: Our meals will emphasize high-quality protein sources (grass-fed meats, wild-caught fish, pasture-raised poultry), natural and healthy fats (avocados, nuts, seeds, olive oil, coconut oil), and an abundance of organic vegetables and fruits. These foods provide the essential vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants necessary for optimal cellular function and inflammation reduction.
Occasional Dairy and Legumes (in moderation): Unlike stricter Paleo diets or the Wahls Protocol, the Primal Blueprint allows for the inclusion of some full-fat dairy (preferably raw or fermented) and certain legumes for those who tolerate them well. For our challenge, we will generally avoid legumes, but may consider some dairy as a less restrictive starting point compared to Wahls.
Importance of Lifestyle Factors: While primarily a dietary framework, the Primal Blueprint also integrates essential lifestyle components for holistic health, such as regular low-intensity movement, occasional high-intensity exercise, adequate sleep, sufficient sunlight exposure, and stress management. These elements contribute significantly to overall well-being and complement the dietary changes.

For those interested in delving deeper into the philosophy behind this lifestyle, I highly recommend exploring The Primal Blueprint 8 Key Concepts on Mark Sisson’s website, as well as an informative overview of the Primal Diet found on Healthline.com. After reviewing Mark Sisson’s comprehensive philosophy, I can honestly say I’m not intimidated in the least. Of course, it’s easy to feel confident on day one, but genuinely, the possibilities for delicious, satisfying, and health-promoting meals within these guidelines are truly endless.

Our Journey and the Power of Community

Over the next thirty days, I plan to regularly post updates and, importantly, share only recipes that align with the Primal Blueprint guidelines. My greatest hope is that my daughter, Kim, experiences a noticeable and positive shift in her general health. Beyond physical improvements, I hope she discovers a profound sense of accomplishment and empowerment by actively taking control of her future through conscious dietary choices. This journey is as much about regaining agency and confidence as it is about physical healing.

I am absolutely thrilled that Kim has embraced her sister’s challenge with such enthusiasm—a truly proud mom moment for me! And I’m equally delighted to announce that my wonderful good friend, Judi, will also be joining us in this exciting endeavor. The power of a supportive community cannot be overstated when embarking on significant lifestyle changes. Having Jen, Kim, Judi, and myself all committed together will undoubtedly make this journey more enjoyable, sustainable, and successful.

To help anyone considering a similar path, I’ve put together some helpful hints in my challenge cheat sheet. It offers practical tips for getting started, navigating the initial phase, and maintaining motivation. For now, let me offer a glimpse into the deliciousness that can be enjoyed while following this program, demonstrating that eating Primal is far from boring or restrictive.

A Taste of Primal Delight: Our Colorful Veggie Platter

This vibrant appetizer platter is a perfect example of how satisfying and appealing Primal eating can be. It’s bursting with colors, textures, and flavors, making it ideal for snacking, entertaining, or as a light meal. Here’s how you can create a similar dish:

I began by prepping a colorful medley of fresh vegetables: tender asparagus, sweet carrots, crunchy cauliflower florets, and cubes of sweet potatoes (being mindful that sweet potatoes, while allowed in Primal, are higher in carbs and should be consumed in moderation, especially if closely monitoring carbohydrate intake).
These vegetables were then lightly sprinkled with high-quality olive oil, a generous helping of fresh dill for aromatic flavor, and seasoned with a dash of salt and freshly ground black pepper.
They were roasted to perfection in a 400°F (200°C) oven for approximately 35 minutes, allowing them to become tender-crisp and subtly caramelized, enhancing their natural sweetness.
Once cooled, I elegantly arranged them on a large serving platter, alongside a dollop of prepared hummus. (While legumes like chickpeas in hummus are often limited in strict Paleo, the Primal Blueprint can be slightly more flexible for those who tolerate them. Alternatively, you could use a Primal-friendly dip made from avocado, tahini, or pureed roasted vegetables.)
To elevate the platter’s visual appeal and flavor profile, I added bright green olives, juicy cherry tomatoes, cubes of tangy feta cheese (again, optional for those avoiding dairy or for a stricter Paleo approach), fresh figs for a touch of natural sweetness, and a scattering of vibrant cherries. The combination offers a symphony of tastes and nutrients.

Of course, incorporating more raw vegetables would work beautifully here as well, especially since raw, enzyme-rich foods are highly recommended in the Primal philosophy for maximum nutrient absorption. Think crisp cucumber slices, bell pepper strips, or crunchy radishes. The possibilities for customization are truly endless, allowing you to adapt to seasonal produce and personal preferences while adhering to the Primal guidelines.

Serve this delightful platter with some grain-less crackers (many health food stores, like Whole Foods, offer fantastic options made entirely of seeds and nuts) or crispy, hearty beet chips for a satisfying crunch. These alternatives ensure you enjoy the textural variety without compromising on the Primal commitment.

The Road Ahead: Hope and Invitation

This thirty-day Primal Blueprint challenge is more than just a diet; it’s an exploration into the profound connection between food and health. We anticipate that the positive outcomes will be so compelling that we may consider extending this experiment for a longer term, or even integrating these principles permanently into our lives. The journey is just beginning, and the potential for enhanced vitality and symptom improvement for Kim is a powerful motivator.

Who knows what incredible transformations await us? We are approaching this with an open mind, an optimistic spirit, and the unwavering belief in the body’s capacity to heal when provided with the right nourishment. We invite you to follow along with our progress, discover delicious Primal recipes, and perhaps even find inspiration for your own health journey.

But for now, the commitment is thirty days. Are you ready to embrace the power of ancestral eating? Anyone care to join us in this exciting quest for improved health and a more vibrant future? We’d love to hear from you!