The Beginner’s Guide to Paleo Diet

So what is the paleo meaning? Simply put, Paleo comes from Paleolithic, and it represents the Paleolithic era – also known as the “days of old.” And we all know how healthy the Paleolithic men were before junk food came into the mix.

Quick Navigation to the Paleo Diet
What is the Paleo Diet?
Paleo Diet Results
What Are the Types of Paleo Diets?
What to eat on the paleo diet?
Paleo Vegetables to Consider

What is the Paleo Diet?

Paleo diet or caveman diet means a diet that consists of natural products that could be found when our ancestors lived in caves. It consists of consuming fruits, vegetables, roots, nuts and meat (accessible foods) while avoiding processed foods.

Food like grains, salt, processed oils, dairy, coffee is also avoided because they fall into a category of processed food. Paleo diet can be best summarized this way: you must pick food that can be found easily nearby, on the ground or in the trees. Also, this type of food must require no chemical process to make it edible.

The more natural and fresh the food is, the better.

Paleo Diet Results

Paleo diet is known as one of the healthiest diets created, and it is usually used for losing weight. It is also used by athletes who want to have a lean body.

This diet is so famous because it promotes clean eating. Natural, unprocessed food works better with the human body, as opposed to processed food.

Because of this diet, paleo users live a healthier and simpler life. They also don’t need to count calories like in other diets because most of what they eat is natural and low in calories.

Other benefits include low blood sugar, clear skin and better teeth. Individuals can also burn fat faster and reduce allergies. Eating paleo also improves workout energy, so it’s ideal for gym goers or athletes.

What Are the Types of Paleo Diets?

There are mainly three types of paleo diets: normal paleo, strict paleo and primal. Within these three forms of the paleo diet, you can have different foods being restricted or accepted, depending on the food or category.

Here are some examples:

  • Meat is allowed in all three categories, while cocoa is not accepted in strict paleo. In the other groups where cocoa is used, only chocolate with 70% cocoa or above is allowed.
  • Grains are not accepted in strict and normal paleo diets. In the primal one, you can use white rice, but only occasionally.
  • Legumes and gluten are not allowed in all three categories.
  • When it comes to dairy, grass fed butter is accepted in strict paleo while in normal paleo ghee is allowed in small amounts, and so is grass fed butter. In the primal category fermented dairy is allowed.
  • Sugar is not allowed in the strict paleo diet, but maple syrup and honey are accepted in both normal and primal paleo versions.
  • When it comes to alcohol, wine is the only product allowed in normal and strict paleo, while primal paleo allows wine and hard liquor like whiskey, brandy, scotch, etc.
  • Salt is accepted across all three categories as long as it is natural.
  • Nightshades are excluded from the strict paleo while normal paleo allows all forms of nightshades except potatoes. Primal diet accepts white potatoes but in moderate amount.
  • Fats and oils are allowed in the strict paleo diet as animal fats, olive, coconut oil. The normal paleo includes all the fats mentioned above plus ghee, occasionally. The primal paleo diet allows everything included in the normal paleo diet plus grass fed butter sometimes.

Looks easy, doesn’t it? You can choose anything to eat, as long as it’s part of your paleo diet type.

What to Eat on the Paleo Diet?

While the paleo diet can be strict, the general idea is to eat basic food that doesn’t need many processes to be edible. Avoiding processed food that is full of chemicals is the right idea, but keep in mind to always buy meat, fruits, and vegetables from the freshest sources.

If you can grow your vegetables, fruits, and animals for food, you don’t need to worry about preservatives and chemicals anymore.

Here is the paleo diet food list:

  • You can eat: Seeds, nuts, eggs, fresh vegetables, fresh fruits, grass-fed meats, fish or seafood, and natural oils.
  • Avoid eating: Processed foods, refined oils, junk food, refined sugar, dairy, legumes, cereal grains

If you don’t know how to start, it’s best to ask a dietitian for advice. While this diet is healthy, it can be dangerous if done incorrectly. You dietitian will give you a paleo diet plan, and you will have to respect all the paleo diet guidelines. After a couple of months, you can experiment more with information gained from the Internet.

You can update your paleo meal plan however you want, and you can give advice to others who are looking to improve their paleo diet.

Paleo Vegetables to Consider

A subject of big debate is the one regarding the paleo vegetables. Usually, when people think of any form of diet, they think mostly of vegetables because they are healthy and easy to digest. However, that is not the case here.

Accepted Vegetables

The vegetables that are accepted in the paleo diet are the following: broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, peppers, carrots, spinach, celery, asparagus, avocado, green onions, and a moderate amount of beets, sweet potato, yam.

Prohibited Vegetables

The vegetables that are not accepted in the paleo diet are the following: potatoes, yam, beets, acorn squash, butternut squash. They are excluded because they are high in starch.

Along with dieting engage in your physical activities for a Healthy life.

Healthy eating is the fundamental choice if you want to lose weight or maintain a certain weight. But, in order to achieve a better lifestyle, feel better and be healthy, this diet should be accompanied by at least half an hour of exercise per day. It will not only improve weight loss, but it will also boost your mood.

By exercising, your fat burning process will double in its intensity, and your skin will look better.

Besides exercising, having a positive mindset will also keep you focused on the diet and this new lifestyle. This particular diet is not easy but it’s very rewarding if you have the support of your friends and family, so stay positive.

The paleo diet is one of those diets that are hard to maintain but are very rewarding when you start seeing the results. Take a friend with you on this life changing diet and work your way to a brighter and healthier future.