Everything You Need to Know About the Paleo Diet

The Paleo Diet or Paleolithic Diet (also known as the Caveman Diet) is part of a nutrition plan that has its origins in the diet that was consumed during the caveman era, which was based on the consumption of wild plants and animals. This pertains to the Paleolithic period, which lasted approximately 2.5 million years and concluded when agriculture became popular. Basically, the Paleo Diet focuses on the use of foods from that time, such as: meat, fish, fruits, vegetables, nuts, and roots. It excludes the consumption of grains, legumes, dairy products, salt, refined sugars, and processed oils (everything as we know it today). One of the explanations that determine the Paleo Diet as a good option for weight loss is that the consumption of carbohydrates and fats today is much higher than in the Paleolithic era, as foods were not processed like they are now. Furthermore, today the human body has the following system for obtaining the energy that makes us function daily: + Its quickest energy resource is sugar (carbohydrates), which it converts into glycogen and uses for strong and explosive efforts as well as for sustained efforts over long periods. + The slower resource is fat, which is used as an energy source in less demanding activities (walking, jogging, etc.). The current problem is that the body can only store a small amount of carbohydrates in a way that they are ready to be used as quick energy (because your body is designed to live in an environment where there were very few carbohydrates). Thus, when you wake up in the morning and have coffee with sweetened bread or cookies, you already fill your sugar reserves. The rest of the carbohydrates you consume are converted into fat that is stored in your body for use as energy in the future. In those Paleolithic times, people only ate plants and animals to obtain all the nutrients they needed. They also ate much more sporadically, since they did not have a constant supply of food as we do today. That is why humans adapted to store energy as fat to use it in times of scarcity. Currently, most people, by eating excessive amounts of carbohydrates daily, store much more fat than they expend, so by following a proper diet, you can change this and have this system work in your favor, maintaining an optimal level of body fat and stabilizing your appetite and energy levels. What to Consume With the Paleo Diet, it is recommended to consume vegetables (the basis of this diet). Additionally, meat, fish, and eggs should be consumed. As a third level of foods, fruits, nuts, seeds, and olive or coconut oils, spices, and herbs should be considered. What Not to Consume Now, the foods that should be eliminated in the Paleo Diet are sodas, sugars, chemically altered fats, and highly processed foods. Moreover, other foods are generally accepted as healthy or energetic even though they are equally poison in our diet: processed grains (cereals, wheat, flour and its derivatives, bread, pasta, corn, etc.). These should also be avoided. Results Implementing and following this diet causes significant changes regarding the daily diet that is currently followed. Something to consider is that this diet generates a sudden and important change in your daily food consumption, so you should keep in mind that you may fail in its implementation, as it requires a lot of willpower not to relapse into the consumption of the foods that are not allowed. Therefore, it is recommended to gradually eliminate these non-permitted foods. All in a gradual manner so that you get used to it and allow your body not to undergo changes that could harm your health. It is recommended to consult a nutritionist before starting this diet. Recommended Recipes Here are some recipes that can help you start with the Paleo Diet (click on the one that interests you the most to see more details) Green Smoothie Chef: Sandra Cardozo This green smoothie will help you detoxify due to its high fiber content, in addition to having a rich flavor. Try this recipe, you will love it. Carrot Salad with Raisins Chef: Paloma Carballo Enjoy this simple recipe that is easy to prepare, with an exquisite homemade dressing flavor. Don’t hesitate to share it with all your friends. Nopales a la Mexicana Chef: María Fernanda Hernandez Nopales a la mexicana is a delicious dish that you can use as a side for your favorite meal. Grilled Eggplants with Spices Chef: Blanca Breton Easy, dietary, and very healthy grilled eggplant recipe with spices, you can make it as a light dinner or a side dish.   If you need to know more recipes for your diet, click here.