Paleo Diet – Eating Like A Caveman
The Paleo Diet is an interesting new diet, based on the Hunter Gatherer premise. The Paleo diet is essentially based on the notion that consuming foods that prehistoric people consumed. It has been designed to help people lose weight and give optimal health benefits at the same time as repairing the immune system.
Overall, the Paleo diet helps lower the risk of chronic diseases.
What are the Main Factors of the Paleo Diet?
Low Glycemic Index and Lower Intake of Carbohydrates
The main source of carbohydrates are fruits and vegetables that are low in starch. Ensuring that the fruits and vegetables are low in glycemic index is important. This makes sure that they are low in sugars and process slower through the body and do not spike blood sugar levels.
Low Sodium and High in Potassium
Foods that are not heavily processed contain anywhere from five to ten times more potassium than it does sodium. Potassium deficient foods are known to contribute to the risk of heart disease, high blood pressure and stroke.
It is important to consume the right amount of potassium as it is essential to the health of kidneys, heart and other important organs to work in the most optimal manner. Sodium also contributes to heart disease, high blood pressure and stroke. Consuming foods that are potassium rich and low in sodium are beneficial for improved health.
High in Fiber
The best place to find the best amount of fiber is in fruits and vegetables that aren’t starchy. These vegetables contain up to thirty one times more fiber than refined grains and eight times more than whole grains. Non starchy fruits can contain eight times more fiber than whole grains and nine times more than refined grains.
High in Protein
The Paleo Diet features a high protein premise. In prehistoric times, people consumed a diet that was anywhere from nineteen to thirty five percent protein. Foods such as seafood, meat and poultry are key foods within the Paleo diet.
High in Minerals, Antioxidants and Vitamins
Free range or grass produced meats, vegetables and fruits are the best choice in your diet. The Paleo Diet is based around a higher intake of naturally occurring minerals, plant phytochemicals, antioxidants and various vitamins.
Enriched with Omega 3 and 6 Fatty Acids
The type of fat, not the quantity of fat you consume, plays a large part in the overall health of the body. By cutting down the amounts of saturated fats in a diet, and balancing the Omega 6 polyunsaturated fats, there is a decreased risks for heart disease, diabetes and cancer.
Balancing Dietary Acids
Acids are present in meats, grains, fish, salt and cheese. Fruits and vegetables are alkaline foods. A diet high in acidity can increase your risks for certain diseases and bone density issues. The Paleo Diet helps to balance out your dietary acids, leaving your body in an alkaline state.
The Benefits of The Paleo Diet
Studies have shown that people living in the prehistoric age were typically free of many different ailments, that plague the population today. Over the years however; this is no longer the case. People are struggling with many different health ailments and in my instances life threatening ailments.
The benefits of the Paleo diet are vast and include protection from the following:
- Gout
- Acne
- Type 2 Diabetes
- Macular Degeneration, Glaucoma, Nearsightedness
- Cancer
- Osteoperosis
- High Blood Pressure, Stroke, Heart Disease
- Diverticulitis, Varicose Veins, Hemorrhoids
- Obesity
Tips to Incorporate the Paleo Diet into Your Lifestyle
Preparing foods ahead of time will help ensure that you are not wavering from your diet, as well as make it easier to consume the foods necessary on a busy day.
Portion out your snacks ahead of time as well, ensure that you are preparing things that are not only easy to grab and go, but also prepared using the fresh ingredients.
The Paleo Diet is an interesting approach to health and weight loss and may be very beneficial to your health and well being. Ensure that you are sticking to it, and chances are you will see a huge change in how you look and feel in no time.
Safe Foods for the Paleo Diet
The basics are simple to follow, there are food items that you should be consuming as well as food items you should be avoiding entirely.
Consume:
- Seeds and Nuts
- Fish and Seafood
- Grass Produced Meats
- Flax seed, Olive, Walnut and other Healthy Oils
- Eggs
Avoid Consuming:
- Dairy
- Potatoes
- Cereal Grains
- Refined Oils
- Salt
- Processed Foods
- Dairy
The Paleo Diet is a diet method that continues to grow in popularity. With the right guidance and instruction it is a diet option that can work for just about any individual. It is always highly recommended to discuss with a doctor before beginning any diet regimen so please ensure this is done before beginning this dieting option.