The paleo diet now seems to be known by a lot of people. The result is that lots of “experts” have their opinions ready on the list of foods approved for the paleo diet, some of which are quite conflicting. What everybody seems to agree on, however, is that the paleo diet is about eating the same as our paleolithic (cavemen) ancestors. Those people were hunters and gatherers. If they wanted to eat, they would have to pick, scavenge, or kill it themselves, regardless of whether they wanted to eat seeds, nuts, vegetables, fruits, seafood, or meat. There were no supermarkets they could go to, and there was no farming either. This means that there were no grains or rice, nor was there any dairy. Judging from that, you are likely to already get an idea of what will not be included on the list of foods approved for paleo diet.
The Theory Behind the Paleo Diet:
The key to a successful paleo diet is to not eat anything that is packaged or processed. Those were things cavemen didn’t know, so you should avoid them as well. Additionally, you must avoid any meat that is high in fat, including spam, bacon, cold cuts, pork sausage, deli meats, and chicken wings. There are no caveman paintings of everyone sharing a can of spam, after all!
Avoid Products from Modern Agriculture:
Modern agriculture has only been around for about 10,000 years, a mere blink of the eye in human evolutionary terms. This means that people haven’t yet evolved to have bodies that know how to manage agricultural foods. It is also for this reason, according to scientists, that there is now such a thing as celiac disease, with people actually being intolerant to grains, which are post-agricultural revolution products.
So what foods are you allowed? On the face of it, the paleo diet seems pretty restrictive, but there are actually many different delicious ingredients to choose from. Consider eggs with diced tomatoes, peppers, and mushrooms. Snack on as many fruits and vegetables as you want. Make dipping sauces from olive oil and fresh herbs. Have a barbecue using grass fed beef. All of those foods are lean and healthy, and they mean you no longer need to get your energy from starches, carbohydrates, and bad fats.
Benefits from the Paleo Diet:
One of the biggest benefits of following the paleo diet is that it will eventually change your digestion. This is also one of its greatest difficulties, however. Many people find that, in the first week or so of following the diet, they feel exhausted and lethargic. This is because the body is desperately searching for carbohydrates to convert into energy, and it needs to relearn how to get energy elsewhere. But once you get use to it, however, you will find yourself full of positive energy and you will have no more difficulties in staying alert and awake either. Best of all, you will suddenly find that you only eat when you are truly hungry. It is no surprise, therefore, that those who live the paleo lifestyle are so toned and trim.
