The Paleo diet includes meat, fish, eggs, vegetables, fruits, nuts, seeds, herbs, spices, healthy fats, and oils (. Foods to avoid include processed foods, sugar, soft drinks, artificial sweeteners, and trans fats. Foods to limit include cereals, most dairy products, and legumes (. Eggs are allowed because they are high in protein, B vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants.
They are also affordable and easy to prepare. Buy organic, cage-free eggs for a higher omega-3 content than eggs from cage-raised hens. Nuts and tree seeds are full of healthy fats, fiber, and proteins. In addition, they were collected in prehistoric times, so you can load your car with them.
Keep in mind that peanuts are not considered paleo because they are technically legumes that grow underground. As you can imagine, the exact diets of our ancestors varied depending on where they lived and the food they could get. However, on a large scale, a paleo diet focuses on eating whole, unprocessed foods and avoiding packaged and processed foods. The premise behind the paleo diet is that today's Western diet contributes to the increase in chronic diseases such as obesity, heart disease, and cancer.
The Paleo diet encourages a greater concentration of proteins and an abandonment of sugars, but it does ask dieters to reduce or completely eliminate some food groups. That's why it's okay to consume them in moderation and it's best to minimize them if you're trying to lose weight, according to paleo experts. However, as the International Food Information Council Foundation explains, researchers have shown that our ancestors probably ate cereals and legumes during the Paleolithic era. Eliminating processed foods is also ideal, as it can reduce the risk of diabetes and cardiovascular disease.
Research shows that the paleo diet can help lower blood pressure and cholesterol, since foods high in fat and sugar are eliminated. You'll also be able to follow it more easily because your cravings to eat other foods will decrease over time. Paleo diet advocates claim that eating this way can reduce inflammation, improve workouts, increase energy, help you lose weight, stabilize blood sugar, and even reduce your risk of chronic diseases. Treat those foods like you would sugar anywhere else, and instead, eat raw, whole foods for most meals and snacks.
Paleo is about learning from ancestors, but it's mainly based on modern science and a bit of common sense. This list is quite extensive and you'll have to say goodbye to some food groups that you can eat regularly every day. If this is your first time trying a paleo diet, we've summarized everything you need to know before you start. The paleo diet can help you achieve your short-term wellness goals, but in the long term, you should consider an option like the Mediterranean diet, which focuses on well-balanced meals.
