The Paleo Primer: All About Paleo Dieting

If you’ve even been in a used bookstore or thrift store and visited the book section, you can see a graveyard of popular diet books.  It seems that at any given time, somewhere on the bestseller list there will be a diet book selling the next “big thing” in weight loss.  If you follow diet trends, you’ve probably heard of the Paleo Diet, and might be wondering why so many people think it’s so great.

 

The Paleo diet is similar to low and no-carb diets, but there is to be no consumption of grains or gluten.  Central to the eating plan is lean proteins (meat, fish), fruits and vegetables in season, and nuts, seeds, and oils.

 

Those who promote the Paleo way of eating argue that it is beneficial for the body, and especially good for preventing diabetes and cardiovascular disease.  Paleo eaters contend that the general focus on reducing saturated fat in our diets is misguided, and that many of our health problems can be attributed to excessive carbohydrate consumption.

 

One research paper found that the Paleo diet reversed the symptoms of insulin resistant Type 2 diabetes in many patients, whereas the Mediterranean diet showed no symptom changes in participants.  This is not to say that the Mediterranean diet is an unhealthy way to eat, but it definitely says something interesting about the benefits of the Paleo diet.

 

Paleo eating can be modified to meet your needs, as long as you follow the basics of the diet.  Introducing grains, legumes, or gluten into your diet is definitely a no-go, but you can experiment with various fruits, vegetables, and proteins to find the right mix of foods for you.

 

Paleo dieters report a host of health benefits with the adoption of this eating plan.  Blood lipid number improvement, weight loss, fewer headaches and pains, better sleep, and improved autoimmunity are all reported benefits of Paleo eating.

 

Paleo dieting is ideal for athletes in training, with lean protein a part of every meal.  Healthy proteins such as lean beef, chicken, turkey, pork and seafood contain Branched Chain Amino Acids, which help in muscle recovery post-workout.  Adding a Paleo-friendly carbohydrate to your protein intake will aid in replenishing glycogen to the muscles.

 

The Paleo diet may be a good fit for you, and if it sounds intriguing, proponents encourage dedicating 30 days to a Paleo plan.  Within 30 days, you should be able to experience the many benefits of Paleo eating, and decide if it is right for you.