The Benefits and Recommended Foods Of The Paleo Diet

Following the food diet for which your body is designed is the basis of the paleo diet. This diet has been around for around 2.6 million years and is closely related to the food habits of our ancestors. Loren Cordain wrote a book titled “The Paleo Diet” that gained huge popularity. Afterwards, several authors have written about this type diet.

Around 10,000 to 13,000 years ago modern agriculture was not available. Our ancestors used tools made of stone, wood, and bone. Hunting and gathering was their livelihood, and their sources of food were fish, wild animals, shellfish, seeds, fruits, vegetables, and several other fresh foods. These were nutritious, non-toxic, and fresh foods.

In modern times, a dramatic change happened with food over the last 50 to 100 years. With modern technology, many advanced processed foods have become available with commercial packaging. These foods contain preservatives and additives and harmful chemicals.

We have plenty of healthy choices now, but is the food we eat now healthier than the ancient paleo diet? About two-thirds of the total population are at risk of several chronic diseases like cancer, Type 2 diabetes, and cardiac diseases, and this affliction has increased over the last 50 to 100 years just from our food habits.

The paleo diet has received a great deal of media attention over the last few years. The supporters of this diet have claimed that eating like our ancestors can play a great role in losing extra weight, lowering high blood-sugar, and controlling blood pressure. It can also eliminate the risks of cancer and heart disease.

People who live by this diet are living longer, healthier, and more active lives. Here are some suggestions from the paleo diet that closely resembles that of our Paleolithic ancestors.

What to Eat from the Paleo Diet

• Proteins in the form of seafood, meat, or whole animal consumptions like organs, cartilage, bone marrow, etc.
• Animal products like eggs
• Moderate amount of good fats like coconut oil, butter, avocados, olive oil, seeds, and nuts
• Fewer carbohydrates in the from sweet potatoes, yams, non-starchy vegetables, plantains, taro roots, and fruits
• Maple syrup and raw honey for natural sugars

What Not to Eat from the Paleo Diet

• All grains and dairy
• Potatoes (allowed by some versions of paleo)
• Legumes, like peanuts and beans
• Salt and refined sugar
• Coffee
• Commercially processed foods
• Alcohol
• Processed oils like soybean, canola, and corn
• Trans fats

You must be confused about the positive effects of this unusual diet. Here are some benefits of the paleo diet as described in these quick points.

Benefits of Paleo Diet

• The foods suggested from the paleo diet are nutrients the body actually needs. Organ meats, for example, are very nutrient-dense. Pastured eggs, seafood, seeds, fruits, nuts, fresh vegetables, and herbs contain enough nutrients to sustain your body, and they are not responsible for extra weight gain. Your weight will stay in control if you eat these foods in moderate amounts.
• Modern meals are based on unhealthy foods such as desserts (like cakes and cookies), deep-fried foods, yeast breads, sweetened beverages, pizza, or alcoholic drinks. By reducing how much of these you eat, you will be on a much healthier diet.
• In contrast to low-fat diets, high-carbohydrate foods cause a high risk of diabetes, high cholesterol, obesity, and other types of inflammatory diseases. People who follow the paleo diet are able to lower their blood-sugar, LDL (bad) cholesterol, triglycerides, and blood pressure levels. They also can lose weight and belly fat very easily.
• Paleo is a kind of grain-free diet, and it is suitable for people who have Celiac or non-Celiac gluten sensitivity. Such individuals need to strictly avoid gluten-containing grains such as barley, wheat, and rye. The paleo diet is perfect for them.

As mentioned above, the paleo diet has benefits that are helpful for keeping your body fit and healthy. You will not be able to follow this diet strictly in one day, so you will need to change your lifestyle and food habits gradually according to this diet. Gradual change will help the diet stick long-term because if you change your dient all at once, you will soon get tired of it and revert back to old habits. So, approach it slowly and live a healthy, long life.