If you’re looking for a new healthy diet but don’t want to starve yourself or follow a trendy diet that you can’t stick with, it may be time to get back to your caveman roots. The Paleo or Caveman Diet should be called a way of life instead of a diet. It’s a healthy choice to revert back to the Palaeolithic diet because you cut out the additives, preservatives and processing that’s found in modern day foods. Here we will explain the benefits of the Paleo diet and how you can get started.
What is Paleo?
A Paleo diet is one that is comprised of foods that are whole, natural and available prior to modern agriculture or food processing. Lean meat, fish, vegetables, fruit, nuts and seeds can all be enjoyed while following the Paleo diet. The foods that should be cut out are ones that have to be altered before they are consumed like, grains and legumes, dairy products, refined salt or sugar, processed oils, white flour and alcoholic or fermented drinks.
There are no restrictions to the quantities that you can eat on the Paleo diet as long as you are sticking to the allowable foods. Because you’re still able to eat as much food as you desire, the Paleo diet is a great option for weight loss without resorting to a starvation diet. This diet is also suitable for Athletes because it helps to create a lean body while still building muscle. When paired with the right exercise program the Paleo diet and help transform your body.
Benefits
There are many benefits to the Paleo diet including the ones mentioned above. Here we will explore more the reasons why a Paleo diet is suitable for a wide range of people. Foods allowed in the Paleo diet have a high nutritional value with no preservatives or additives. Some believe that the additives in our food may be one of the causes of certain types of Cancer, so it’s beneficial to cut these ingredients out of your diet.
If you stick to lean meat, the diet is also low in fat but high in protein. The protein you consume will help build lean muscle while in turn increasing your metabolic rate. Your body will still get the healthy fats needed to function properly through foods like oily fish, avocado and nuts.
Another benefit to following the Paleo diet is that you cut out many of the foods that cause sensitivities or allergic reactions so there is a smaller chance of developing food related allergies or digestive problems.
As you can see, weight loss is not the only benefit to eating Paleo foods. Although weight loss is the most visible benefit, other advantages include prevention of heart disease, diabetes and other weight or diet related illnesses.
Getting Started
It may seem overwhelming to completely overhaul your diet but changing your eating habits for the better can easily be done by following a few simple steps.
If you’ve never followed a diet plan like this before its best to start slowly. Ease into the Paleo diet by eating Paleo meals two days a week to start. Keep adding one more day every couple of weeks until you’ve cut out non-paleo foods all together. You’re more likely to stick with these healthy eating habits if you don’t jump straight in, cutting out all the foods you’ve come to love in one fowl swoop. If you don’t want to completely cut out non-paleo foods then choose one day a week that you eat modern day foods. You’ll still get all the benefits from the Paleo diet if you eat that way 6 out of 7 days.
For recipes and Paleo tips or meal ideas there are many books available on the subject, including Paleo specific cook books. There are also plenty of online resources available if you need advice or support with sticking to this way of life.
If you’re ready to lose weight and improve your health through diet then it might be time to look into the Paleo diet and how it can benefit you.
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