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.
The purpose of the Paleo Diet is to take eaters back to the natural diet of our ancestors before grains, added sugar, artificial preservatives and sweeteners, pesticides, genetically-modified organisms were loaded into or onto our foods, and gluten and dairy intolerances were nonexistent.
It is essential to avoid processed foods that are loaded with added sugar, sodium, fats, and other dangerous food additives. The lifestyle diseases and negative health conditions associated with chemically-induced processed foods and refined sugar and salt are well known. Just adhering to a diet that prohibits these foods would be a huge improvement for many people, however, there are a few other areas that might not be so intuitive or mainstream.
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 hope you give the Paleo Diet a try. It is one of the cleanest, healthiest diets I've ever come across. Outside of possible detox issues you may experience (mainly headaches) when you first wean yourself from dangerous chemicals, I think you will find it to be more energizing than any other diet you've tried.
The purpose of the Paleo Diet is to take eaters back to the natural diet of our ancestors before grains, added sugar, artificial preservatives and sweeteners, pesticides, genetically-modified organisms were loaded into or onto our foods, and gluten and dairy intolerances were nonexistent.
It is essential to avoid processed foods that are loaded with added sugar, sodium, fats, and other dangerous food additives. The lifestyle diseases and negative health conditions associated with chemically-induced processed foods and refined sugar and salt are well known. Just adhering to a diet that prohibits these foods would be a huge improvement for many people, however, there are a few other areas that might not be so intuitive or mainstream.
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 hope you give the Paleo Diet a try. It is one of the cleanest, healthiest diets I've ever come across. Outside of possible detox issues you may experience (mainly headaches) when you first wean yourself from dangerous chemicals, I think you will find it to be more energizing than any other diet you've tried.
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