I've been hearing about the Paleo Diet for a while. I knew it was based around whole foods, but I didn't know much else about it. As it turns out, I've been eating a very similar diet for a while. I would like to take the opportunity to introduce the Paleo Diet, its benefits, and a few recommendations on how to enhance it.
Given the significant rise in the use of insecticides/herbicides and GMOs in farming, as well as the use of dangerous preservatives and artificial ingredients like sweeteners, food dyes, and food fillers, the Paleo Diet was introduced as a means to return us to a more natural diet.
The Paleo Diet eliminates all refined and processed foods due to the chemical additives and often poor nutritional content. It is a whole foods diet. The significant rise in use of processed foods, which are loaded with fat, salt, and sugar, are a huge reason behind the rise in obesity and disease in this country. Eliminating processed foods will have a huge impact on your diet. However, there are other areas to consider as well.
Grains and beans are also to be avoided. The human body is not designed to digest or utilize nutrients from these foods. This is because they have high levels of phytic acid and lectins, which can keep the body from properly absorbing the nutrients and can cause autoimmune and digestive issues as well.
Dairy is the only area of the Paleo Diet without strict guidelines. Some people consume it while others don't. Those who don't consume it, avoid it because we are not designed to drink milk beyond infancy, and certainly not from other species. Human adults continue to drink milk because we can and because the powerful dairy lobby has convinced us that it is good for us. My research suggests otherwise, but that is the subject for another article.
So what can you eat? Organic fruits, vegetables, and tubers like sweet potatoes are a key part of the Paleo Diet. Grass-fed and organic meat and poultry, along with wild fish, are major components as well. Nuts, seeds, and oils, like olive or avocado, are to be eaten in moderation. Some recommend that fruit be limited, particularly if you are trying to lose weight. I think fruit is an important nutrient and recommend at least five servings per day.
Many believe the Paleo Diet is something similar to the Atkins' Diet, because Paleo is often referred to as The Caveman Diet. Paleo is not an all-meat or low-carb diet unless you apply the guidelines improperly. It is recommended that every meal has both protein and carbs from fruit and vegetables. I recommend a 40/40/20 breakdown of macronutrients, although some will recommend that fat intake can go above 20% to as much as a third of your caloric needs. If the additional calories are coming from nuts and seeds, it is probably not bad, but I would try the 20% limit first.
I recommend trying the Paleo Diet or at least learning more about it with the hopes you will eventually consider trying it. The diet is clean, nutritious, and will give you an energy boost while helping you lose weight or maintain a healthy weight.
Given the significant rise in the use of insecticides/herbicides and GMOs in farming, as well as the use of dangerous preservatives and artificial ingredients like sweeteners, food dyes, and food fillers, the Paleo Diet was introduced as a means to return us to a more natural diet.
The Paleo Diet eliminates all refined and processed foods due to the chemical additives and often poor nutritional content. It is a whole foods diet. The significant rise in use of processed foods, which are loaded with fat, salt, and sugar, are a huge reason behind the rise in obesity and disease in this country. Eliminating processed foods will have a huge impact on your diet. However, there are other areas to consider as well.
Grains and beans are also to be avoided. The human body is not designed to digest or utilize nutrients from these foods. This is because they have high levels of phytic acid and lectins, which can keep the body from properly absorbing the nutrients and can cause autoimmune and digestive issues as well.
Dairy is the only area of the Paleo Diet without strict guidelines. Some people consume it while others don't. Those who don't consume it, avoid it because we are not designed to drink milk beyond infancy, and certainly not from other species. Human adults continue to drink milk because we can and because the powerful dairy lobby has convinced us that it is good for us. My research suggests otherwise, but that is the subject for another article.
So what can you eat? Organic fruits, vegetables, and tubers like sweet potatoes are a key part of the Paleo Diet. Grass-fed and organic meat and poultry, along with wild fish, are major components as well. Nuts, seeds, and oils, like olive or avocado, are to be eaten in moderation. Some recommend that fruit be limited, particularly if you are trying to lose weight. I think fruit is an important nutrient and recommend at least five servings per day.
Many believe the Paleo Diet is something similar to the Atkins' Diet, because Paleo is often referred to as The Caveman Diet. Paleo is not an all-meat or low-carb diet unless you apply the guidelines improperly. It is recommended that every meal has both protein and carbs from fruit and vegetables. I recommend a 40/40/20 breakdown of macronutrients, although some will recommend that fat intake can go above 20% to as much as a third of your caloric needs. If the additional calories are coming from nuts and seeds, it is probably not bad, but I would try the 20% limit first.
I recommend trying the Paleo Diet or at least learning more about it with the hopes you will eventually consider trying it. The diet is clean, nutritious, and will give you an energy boost while helping you lose weight or maintain a healthy weight.
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