What Is The Paleo Diet And Is It Right For Me?
The paleo diet has received much attention in the recent years. However, there are so many diets out there today that it is hard to choose which one is right for a person. If you are struggling to find out which one will work with your own personal diet goals and expectations, this article will help address that and find out if going paleo is right for you.
What Is The Paleo Diet?
The paleo diet or as some call it “The Caveman Diet” is a very simple to follow way of life more than a diet. The lifestyle does suggest eating certain things and only these, but it is not necessarily a weight loss driven plan. The goal of the paleo diet is simply to help you live a healthier life, by utilizing only foods that would have been able to be acquired during the paleolithic era.
The overall effect, as described by many, is a more mentally alert and healthier state of being in general. Depending on your current eating habits, weight loss very well may be in the cards, so to speak, but is not the main goal. The main goal is to cut out all the extra chemicals, food coloring, food perspectives and junk that is currently being added to the most common foods of today.
Is The Paleo Diet Gluten Free?
Everything that works in the paleo diet is considered to be gluten free. There are many gluten free meals and recipes out there that are fair when following the paleo diet and some people with celiac disease find it to offer even more relief because it cuts out almost all grains. If you are looking for gluten free, this is by far the best option out there. It makes it easy to stay away from processed foods that may be gluten free and still can cause irritation to the body and bowels in particular.
What Can’t I Eat On The Paleo Diet?
There are a few different sources for what you can and what you can’t eat. The list provided below is a generally accepted “no no” list.
- Dairy products
- Sugary fruit juice
- Soda and other soft drinks
- Energy drinks
- Grains and legumes
- Processed meat
- Snack food
- Unnaturally salted food
- Candy
- Any food that has additives, preservatives or food coloring
When you look at the list, it seems like a lot to cut out, but in reality most of the things on this list shouldn’t be on your daily diet list in the first place.
Why Would I Want To Use The Paleo Diet?
The quick answer is that it is naturally healthy. Our bodies have not evolved to process all the chemicals that are now commonly found in food and beverages. There are many reasons that this diet makes since to people. Cutting out these foods will of course assist with weight loss. Reduced allergy symptoms is another huge benefit many find. Reducing blood pressure, depression, joint pain, cholesterol levels, diabetes and even the risk of certain cancers are other benefits many studies suggest.