So when Grok (the OG Caveman) went about his daily life, did he faithfully take fish oil and other supplements with his meals? An article in Mark’s Daily Apple addresses the role of supplements in a Paleo eater’s lifestyle.

The problem with comparing our lifestyles (apples) to Grok’s (oranges) is that all things are not equal. We are deprived of sleep, we spend little time in natural sunlight, we take medicine that counteracts our bodies’ natural immune system, we shower in water that’s too hot (guilty), and we don’t have consistent access to what he calls “ideal foods.”

So, where does that leave us? Mark recommends a few categories of supplements to consider:

• Antioxidant Booster: Grok’s access to foods unadulterated by today’s aggressive farming techniques enabled him to get the necessary amount and range of antioxidants in his diet. Antioxidants are responsible for a host of good juju, but in short: they keep us from getting sick and keep us younger longer.

• Probiotics: Since Grok ate dirt, he was exposed to all sorts of good (and some bad) bacteria that helped him better digest food and fight infections.  We don’t eat dirt.  We wash, sanitize, thus neutralizing the good bacteria that we need.  So, taking probiotic supplements on occasion is helpful to restoring your body’s good bacteria population.  Mark says we only need it every so often because they tend to flourish and multiply on their own.

• Fish Oil: Need we say more?  See Marcus’ post for a refresher.

• Protein Powders: Should they take the place of your good protein sources (meat, fish, & eggs)?  No, but it’s better to include a good whey protein powder than to deprive your body of it because you don’t have access to meat.

WOD 12.04.09

Press 3×5 @ 70% of 1RM

“Death by Thruster”

Using an empty bar (45 for men, 33 for women), perform 1 thruster in the 1st minute, 2 thrusters in the 2nd minute, etc. until unable to perform all thrusters within the minute.