The paleo diet is when an
individual eats foods that basically a caveman would eat, such as meat, fish,
fruit, and veggies. This type of lifestyle has gotten a lot of publicity
through popular sites like Pinterest and Facebook with in the past few years, although
there are research articles dating back all the way to 1997 for the Paleo diet.
There are also many celebrities who swear by it (such as Jack Osborne, Jessica
Biel, Megan Fox, Matthew McConaughey, etc.) However, just because a celebrity
endorses a product or diet/lifestyle doesn’t always mean you should hop onto
the bandwagon. Be smart and do your research first (which is what
you’re about to read!)
The Paleo lifestyle is one that
can be altered. Some individuals prefer to go extremely low carb (higher
protein and fat diet), while others need those carbs in their diet such as
potatoes, rice, or extra fruits and veggies.
There are two main rules I
found while doing my research with the paleo diet.
First, eat whole and nutrient
dense foods at all times. No, you do not have to act like a caveman, that’s
just the “mascot”. You want to eat foods that are more healthful than harmful
to your health. For example, your diet should consist of grass-fed meat and eggs,
fresh veggies and fruit, as well as nuts and seeds in moderation.
Secondly, avoid all the processed
and sugar added foods out there. Really try to stay out of the middle isles
(however- I always like to get my beans, corn, and some other canned veggies
that I just rinse under water). You also want to avoid gluten,
dairy, and other sugar or white carb type of grains while on this diet.
You may be thinking to
yourself, this sounds great! Or you may be thinking, “this sounds terrible”…
either way, here’s some of the benefits and consequences of going paleo.
Benefits:
-
Adapting an extremely clean lifestyle
-
Rich in nutrient-dense food
-
No calorie/macro counting, no grey area.
- Paleo-style
eating emphasizes whole foods, lean proteins, vegetables, fruits,
nuts, seeds, and other healthy fats, which is a massive improvement
over the average Western diet.
-
You may end up losing weight, gaining clearer skin, and overall
feeling better. This is simply because you are eating right and getting
rid of processed foods. However, you may feel fatigued at first when you
switch over to a Paleo Lifestyle. This is why I
always recommend to switch SLOWLY!
-
The paleo diet truly shows you how awful packaged and
processed foods are
Consequences:
-
You eliminate entire food groups, making yo more likely to
binge eat them or develop intolerance to it, as well as lacking in a
certain mineral. For example, you cannot eat dairy. This may work well for
some, however this means no yogurt, cottage cheese, or milk! These things
that contain protein and calcium are vital to your diet, and you must find
these nutrients elsewhere. Another example is that if you give up dairy
for an entire year, you could develop intolerance to it.
-
It may be harder to eat out, although most of the time
restaurants are more than willing to accommodate your needs.
-
This is not a “one-size-fits-all” diet. Some people need
dairy and legumes in their diet more than others. Find what works for YOU!
Personally, I need some type of starchy carb (sweet potato, quinoa, or
couscous) in my lunch or else I will be a hangry monster
looking to feast the rest of the day.
Overall, what do I think? I
think this is your choice! Paleo is such a great way to get acclimated in the
clean eating world, or it's a great way to spruce up your diet! However, I
choose to just eat clean. I believe that there are no good or bad foods when it
comes to legumes, quinoa, couscous, dairy, etc. The only “bad” foods I try to
stay away from are processed junk food like chips, baked goods, candy, etc.
Remember that if you do want to go on a paleo diet, you MUST start phasing out
all your processed foods for at least a week! You need to slowly phase these
bad foods out so you do not put your body into shock and develop headaches,
stomachaches, fatigue, etc. And if you feel the Paleo Lifestyle isn’t right for
you, adjust slowly. Start phasing foods back into your diet to avoid bloating,
headaches, stomachaches, etc.
Tip: Although I am not
following the paleo lifestyle, (I feel that other than eating dairy, I
follow it loosely) I love to search paleo recipes. These will
typically be the cleanest and easiest recipes! Below is a chart that I
feel represents the way I eat vs. Paleo. Tell me what you think!
