The Paleo Diet – Everything you ever wanted to know!
The Paleo Diet has many names – the term Paleo is short for ‘Paleolithic.’ You might also have heard this diet being referred to as the ‘Caveman’, ‘Hunter-gatherer’ or ‘Stone Age diet.’ It is suggested that our bodies, and more particularly our digestive systems, have not evolved at all from our ancestors in the Stone Age, therefore the basic principle of the Paleo diet, as these names suggest is that you eat the food of our ancestors before agriculture. The core theme of the Paleo diet being that our bodies have not adapted properly to modern refined foods which then cause us a range of health problems ranging from food allergies to obesity. The Paleo diet is low in carbohydrate but high in animal fat and protein. It is also a very socially responsible diet as all food on the Paleo diet should be as close to its natural state as possible and not intensively farmed, so that nutrient content is preserved. The Paleo diet advocates the elimination of grains, excess sugar, vegetable seed oils, legumes and dairy. Many who follow the Paleo diet report huge improvements in an array of health limitations.
What to expect on the Paleo Diet
Followers of the Paleo diet often report increased energy and rapid, sustained weight loss. Others report additional positive benefits such as increased mental clarity, natural positive attitude, higher sex drive, deep and restful sleep, clear and smooth skin and increased strength, endurance and performance.
However, when you think about it, this may not be such a surprise. The key principles behind the Paleo diet underpin a lot of modern diets and healthy eating advice. Namely, the Paleo diet is a low carb diet with plenty of meat, lots of healthy vegetables and other natural foods. By looking at the types of food allowed in the Paleo diet it would be viewed as being very healthy in anybody’s book!
Health Benefits of the Paleo Diet.
Studies have shown that communities that follow a diet similar to that of our ancestors, namely the Paleo diet, often are reported as being free of the diseases found in more affluent parts of the world such as type 2 diabetes, cancer, coronary heart disease, obesity, hypertension and gout. This is not an exhaustive list, but it demonstrates some of the health issues you could avoid by following the Paleo diet. Initially the Paleo diet was developed specifically for people with chronic digestive problems such as Crohn’s Disease, Irritable Bowel Syndrome and Colitis and has actually been around since the 1970s. The Paleo diet is not a fad diet, it is a healthy eating plan to follow for life. All followers of the Paleo diet from these original studies reported significant improvements in their symptoms and some even found that their maladies went away completely. You do not have to look far to find these type of stories from people of all different ages and backgrounds who have successfully improved their health by following the Paleo Diet. It is certainly a diet that creates raving fans! By improving your diet, huge health benefits can be achieved.
The Paleo Diet in the Modern Day
Whilst following the Paleo diet in its purest form may be difficult in the western world – for example the extreme version of the Paleo diet calls for wild plants and non-domestic animal meats. However a good alternative to this is obviously organic fruits and vegetables and organic, free range meat. If you can source all of your ingredients locally that is also the preferred option. The Paleo diet is not a raw food diet, therefore all foods may be cooked. There is such a thing as the ‘Raw Paleo Diet’ which you can research if you are interested, but this was not part of the original study. With regards to drinks, it is recommended that followers only consume herbal teas and water whilst on the Paleo diet.
What to eat on the Paleo Diet
As a quick overview (this list is not exhaustive) of th Paleo Diet we have listed out below the types of foods that are allowed and not allowed on the Paleo diet. This may seem a little vague but we have listed out things by food group rather than going into detail.
Foods to eat on the Paleo diet: Seafood, meat, poultry, game, mushrooms, fruit, vegetables, spices, herbs and eggs.
Foods to avoid on the Paleo diet: Caffiene, dairy products, grains, legumes (e.g beans) refined sugar, processed oils, alcohol, and salt.
Considering following the Paleo Diet?
Make it tasty and easy by going to our Paleo Diet Recipe book for 372 Paleo Diet recipes! You will also get 4 bonus including a Paleo Diet Dessert Cookbook and a Paleo Diet Plan.
As always, you are advised to speak to your health practitioner before following any new diet or health plan.
