The Paleo Series Part 1: An Introduction
- Olivia Borer
- Sep 16, 2015
- 4 min read
Maybe you've heard or read about the Paleo (short for Paleothic) diet in the news. It seems to be all the rage right now, with various people praising or demonizing it, depending on their beliefs. Either way, As I eluded to in my last post, I have found that following the Paleo lifestyle works for me and my goals. Therefore, I am starting a three part series based on the Paleo lifestyle, starting with today's post: an introduction to the Paleo diet.
But, before we go any further, a disclaimer on my part: I am not advocating that everyone needs or must be following the Paleo diet to be healthy. The views that I express on my blog are my opinions on health and wellness. Each person is entitled to his or her own opinion. Thus, it is perfectly fine if you do not agree with the points I make in regards to the Paleo lifestyle. That being said, I do feel that the overarching principles surrounding the Paleo lifestyle are health-promoting and worth the time to research on your own accord.
In addition, from this point on, when I refer to the Paleo diet, what I really mean is Paleo template, meaning that each person's version of Paleo might be slightly different. What works for one person may not always work for another.
So, with all that said, should we begin? (If you aren't excited, you should be- this is good stuff!)
What is the Paleo Diet?
The Paleo diet is a diet and lifestyle based on that of our ancestors. It focuses on a real, whole-foods approach to nutrition that includes high-quality meats, seafood, vegetables, fruits, nuts, seeds, and healthy fats and oils. Additionally, it helps improve one's overall health and well-being through the elimination of processed foods, refined sugars, grains, soy, and dairy.
What is included on the Paleo Diet?
Many may see the Paleo diet as super restrictive and impossible to achieve. However, oftentimes looking at what is included, instead of focusing solely on what is eliminated or avoided, is the way to start. So, what is included? Here's a basic list to start with:
Meats - pork, bison, beef, veal
Seafood
Poultry - turkey, chicken, eggs
Nuts and Seeds
ALL Vegetables
ALL Fruits
Fats - ghee, coconut cream, tallow, lard
Oils - avocado, walnut, olive, coconut
One of the main focuses of the Paleo diet is to include as many nutrient-dense vegetables as possible. This premise is a far cry from traditional nutrition standards, which advocate nutrient-depleting grains as the basis of the diet. The nutrient-dense foods that are included in the diet help heal the body and work with the body, rather than against it, to help it achieve optimal health. These foods are full of micronutrients that are bioavailable and in the perfect package for our bodies to accept and use to carry out bodily functions. Additionally, these foods reduce inflammation and taste amazing when properly prepared.
What is eliminated on the Paleo Diet?
Because the roots of the Paleo diet are in that of our ancestors, the new, processed foods of our modern society are eliminated for several reasons (fakenfoods, as I like to call them). Firstly, these foods contain very few nutrients, and if they do have vitamins and minerals, they are often synthetic forms of the nutrients added back in after processing. Secondly, these foods are highly processed and often contain numerous artificial colors, chemicals, and additives. Lastly, these foods are nutrient-depleters. They can harm the body, especially your gut, and produce large levels of inflammation.
None of that sounds great does it? We want our bodies to be performing at their optimum capacity, not subpar at best. So what foods are actually included in this list?
Grains and Pseudograins - gluten, wheat, quinoa, oats, amaranth, buckwheat, rice, barley, corn, etc
Legumes - peanuts, lentils, beans
Dairy - yogurt, milk, cheese (don't worry - many people find that after time, they can reintroduce high-quality, organic versions of dairy products without severe symptoms!)
Unhealthy Oils - corn, peanut, canola, soybean, sunflower, cottonseed, and all forms of vegetable oil
Refined and Artificial Sugars
Soy and Soy Products - tofu, tempeh, soy sauce
ALL Processed Food, Food Products, and Additives
Want a comprehensive list? The Paleo Mom has a fabulous downloadable resource here.
Why should you go Paleo?
Following the Paleo lifestyle has been proven reduce inflammation, improve cardiovascular disease, and promote weight loss (or weight gain in those who may be undernourished). When we focus on adding foods that are rich in nutrients to our diet, we naturally begin to cut out those foods that are unhealthy and causing detrimental effects to our health. These nutrient rich foods support all of our body's systems, including the digestive, endocrine, and immune systems. When all of our bodily systems are performing optimally, we not only look better, but we also start to feel better. (See The Paleo Mom's guide here for more insights)
I know - your brain is overwhelmed with information with what you can or can't eat. You may be thinking "Why do I need to eliminate all of those foods anyway? I feel just fine." Well, I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but you may not be so fine. Over time, our bodies become adapted to common ailments and we may begin to see them as our normal. For instance, maybe your energy has been slowly decreasing over the years, so much so that you no longer remember what it's like to have abundant energy. Having low-energy is has become your normal.
But that could all change.
You have the power to change your health at any time that you choose.
You do not have to feel poorly for the rest of your life. You can change your health for the better, and it this change can start today.
How do you implement these changes? What steps are the best to take to get started? I'll provide all the details in Part 2: Simple Steps to Implement the Paleo Lifestyle.
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