The people that keep it say they’ve never felt better in their lives. You may have heard about it, but today we are going to reveal the facts. What is the Paleo diet?
The Paleo Diet is more popularly known as the ‘Caveman Diet’ or the ‘Stone Age diet.’ That is the clue to its origin; it is named after the Paleolithic Era, which started around 2.5 million years ago, and finished some 10,000 years ago,
The diet is based on an assumption of what our ancestors ate until the end of that era. They had to exist on what they could kill, or what they could find growing naturally. So, yet another name for this form of nutrition is ‘The Hunter-Gatherer’ diet.
The development of agriculture slowly created a radical change in eating habits. The major differences were in the production of milk based products, and the growing of grains, such as wheat and corn.
The Paleo diet is about more than just healthy eating, it’s about a well rounded, energy filled and empowered lifestyle
As the saying goes ‘you are what you eat’, and Paleoists are certainly big believers in that philosophy. They say that after keeping Paleo for just a few weeks you feel like a new person, full of energy, slimmer and glowing. The ‘Paleo glow’ is what they refer to when the skin actually radiates, allegedly, and a noticeable change is abundantly clear.
Many people claim that it is these ‘new foods’ that have brought about the ‘diseases of civilization’, such as diabetes, cancer, and heart disease. Some allege that they are also to blame for obesity, infertility, depression and, even, Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s diseases.
What is the secret of the Paleo Diet, and why has it gained so many followers worldwide?
The answer is that it appeals to a belief in the benefits of ‘natural produce.’ It is a primal diet, that takes a person back to their roots, literally! They hold that human beings are not supposed to eat food that needs to be processed, so barley, wheat and beans are all off the menu.
So, what is allowed, and what isn’t?
You CAN eat:
Fruits
Vegetables
Lean Meats – (poultry and grass-fed cattle)
Fish and Seafood
Nuts and Seeds
Eggs
Fungi
Healthy Fats – (mono-unsaturated)
You should NOT eat:
Any Dairy Products
Grains – (e.g. wheat and corn, so no bread or pasta)
Any Processed Foods & Sugars
Legumes – (e,g, Peas, Beans, and Lentils)
Starches
You should drink ONLY water. Alcohol is absolutely forbidden!
Here is a short informative video about the Paleo diet with some recipes. Courtesy of PaleoDiet Dorrn
Are you now clear what the Paleo diet is? Have you tried it? Do you know anyone who has? Share your experiences with us in the comments below.
