What’s the Dish on the Paleo Diet?
KW: Paleo Diet
Paleo? Is this another type of fad diet that promises temporary weight loss like the others?!
With so many fad diets out there, some people might have doubts accepting this thing called the Paleo Diet. As we know, the word “diet” has gained some bad rap over the past couple of years. And the truth is, we at OPC aren’t huge fans of fad diets!
So what’s the dish on Paleo? Is this legit for your overall health and weight loss goals?
Well, if we didn’t think that Paleo is legit, you won’t hear anything about it from us. But we sure do LOVE Paleo, because of all the diets out there, it holds the most sense!
So What is Paleo?
The Paleo Diet, otherwise known as the “Caveman Diet”, is based on the concept of eating real, whole unprocessed foods just like what our hunter-gatherer ancestors ate thousands of years ago. Although it was a long time ago, our genetics are pretty much the same to our loin-cloth predecessors; hence, we should consume what they ate in the past.
The modern diet has evolved so much that people are becoming fatter and sicker than ever. Compared to us now, humans thousands of years ago had lean, strong, and athletic built because they had adapted best to whole foods, such as meat, plants, and seafoods- all of which are jam-packed with nutrients!
So why did we forget about Paleo?
It’s because agriculture happened. Ten thousand years ago, farming came on the scene that turned our hunter-gatherer predecessors into farmers and from there, we progressed into eating grains and processed foods! Instead of sticking to simple nutritional foods, we’ve loaded ourselves with grains, pasta, bread, rice and all those foods that are not in their original form.
The downside with grains is that our bodies have never adjusted to eating it, as well as processed foods. Our genetics haven’t evolved that much. It’s not a coincidence that many diseases have sprung up in the modern world, including, obesity, cardiovascular diseases, type 2 diabetes, and autoimmune disorders.
But before eliminating everything in the fridge, you must know what to stock in the fridge next time first:
What to Eat:
- Vegetables
- Fruits
- Lean Meats
- Healthy Fats
- Seafood
- Nuts &Seeds
What Not to Eat:
- Grains
- Processed Foods
- Refined Sugar
- Dairy
- Legumes
- Starchy Vegetables
- Alcohol
The listed foods to avoid cause inflammation to our systems, wreck havoc to our guts, and disrupt our metabolic processes. Whereas Paleo foods, as found out by scientists, researchers, and biochemists, improve our general health, body composition and energy levels! By turning to Paleo, we can reduce our risks to lifestyle diseases associated with an unhealthy diet!
What’sReally Wrong with Grains?
First of all, grains are composed of carbohydrates and as we know, grains are turned carbohydrates, which are turned into glucose in our system to provide us with energy and help us in our bodily functions. Any glucose that isn’t used for energy will be stored as fats! So if you are not that active and you consume too much carbs, the extra glucose will turn into fats.
Next, most grains are made of gluten and lectins. Most people don’t know that they are actually gluten-intolerant, and so when they continue to consume gluten, they can develop an array of medical problems, such as reproductive problem, acid reflux, dermatitis, and so on. Lectins, on the other hand, are toxins found in grains. Grains have evolved and naturally made these toxins to keep themselves from being eaten. Hence, they prevent the gut from repairing itself from its daily grind, which causes damage to our digestive system.
If you aim to lose weight and avoid developing medical conditions fromgrain consumption, you might want to eliminate grains from your diet and adapt a Paleo eating habit.
So Where Can You Get Your Energy?
If you ever decide to eliminate grains from your diet, you are also eliminating carbs by doing so. If that’s the case, where are you supposed to get your energy from?
Hey! Our ancestors were able to survive without grains thousands of years ago, right? They even had the energy to hunt in the wild, chasing and killing what crossed their paths! Simply put, our bodies are originally designed to function even on a lower amount of carbs, so eating less of it won’t make a huge difference on your energy supply.
The good news is that, without so much carbs on your system for energy use, your body will take stored fat and burn it for energy! Your body will consider fat as its alternative fuel source. With that being said, you are actually accelerating your fat loss efforts!
Paleo Won’t Make You Fat!
Whole, unprocessed vegetables and meat are so nutritious and filling; hence, you’re less likely to overeat! You can eat junk food all day without never really feeling full, and what do you get in the end? Extra fat and an array of bad diet diseases!
If you want to avoid overeating and stay on track with your calorie deficit, better load up with foods that are Paleo-approved. Losing weight in a few weeks is easy when you go 100% Paleo. Combine it with High Intensity Interval Training and strength training, you are sure to see your fat losses and muscle gains in no time!
Try the Paleo Diet for 30 days and see for yourself. If you hardly notice any improvements, then you can go back to your beloved junk foods or any fad diet your friend’s friend told you.
If you don’t how to get started with your nutrition and exercise, Oxford Performance Centre is here to help!We can help you optimise your diet and achieve your fat loss goals fast, book a free BioSignature consultation with us today. We’ll check your BioSignature to effectively manage your body’s imbalances through a combination of effective diet, exercise, and targeted supplementation programme.