SWITCH TO THE PALEO DIET FOR A BETTER AND

HEALTHIER LIFE

By Sheila Rae D. Opulencia

SWITCH TO THE PALEO DIET FOR A BETTER AND HEALTHIER LIFE

BY SHEILA RAE D. OPULENCIA

What is the Paleo Diet?

In the Paleolithic era, people were considered to be hunters and gathers. This meant, whatever

they ate was either hunted or gathered. None of what they ate was cultured, genetically grown,

processed, and of course, man-made. They lived on what was available at the time. In short,

their diet composed of food that was rich in natural vitamins and minerals.

Paleolithic people were carnivorous by nature. They hunted animals for meat and fished for

seafood. These provided for the fat, protein, and carbohydrate needs of their bodies. They

gathered fresh fruits and vegetables from the forest to compliment their meats and that provided

them with vitamins and minerals.

In general, the Paleo Diet is all about eating the right kinds of food to prevent the development of

life threatening diseases. This diet is all about only eating food that existed pre-agriculture. That

means dairy products and other food types that contain additives are strictly prohibited. Some

doctors believe that prescribing this diet to those already suffering from such disease will greatly

improve their condition when practiced religiously.

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A Short History on the Paleo Diet

The Paleolithic or Paleo diet is one of the most controversial diet regimens today. Dr. Walter L.

Voegtlin, one of first to popularize this diet, stated that if people who lived in the Paleolithic era

had longer life spans and didn't suffer from diseases of civilization, the health of people today

would greatly improve if they ate the same way. Being a gastroenterologist, he supported his

theory by prescribing treatment plans based on what he believed to be the diet of people in the

Paleolithic era.

In 1989, the Kitava Study was initiated by Dr. Staffan Lindeberg. This study involved surveying

the population of Kitava, Papua New Guinea. These surveys showed that the people living in

Kitava did not suffer from cardiovascular diseases and the main reason was their diet, which

consists mainly of food that existed before the invention of agriculture. By the 1990s, many

medical practitioners have been advising their patients to practice a healthier diet and that

means going back to what people in the Paleolithic era ate.

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Why the Paleo Diet Works

The Paleo Diet is a high-protein diet that consists mainly of lean meats, seafood, and fresh fruits

and vegetables. Since the idea is to eat like the very first humans, everything that is assumed to

have not been available during that era is off limits. That includes dairy products, condiments

such as salt and pepper, and food grown through agriculture. This can be a problem especially

for people who are used to having pasta, rice, and breads in their meals because the ingredients

of these all came post-agriculture.

However, there are a lot of benefits to going on the Paleo diet chief of which is the prevention of

life threatening diseases. Most food types that are available today have undergone some sort of

chemical enhancement. Commercially sold fruits and vegetables are usually grown in a

controlled environment where they are fed fertilizers so they can be available even when it is off

season. The same can be said for most meats and seafood being sold in supermarkets because

animals are fed with vitamin supplements and growth enhancers. What most consumers don't

know is that these chemicals affect the quality and nutritional value of the meats and produce.

value.

Aside from that, consumers are also subjected to these chemicals when they eat these types of

food and that leads to the development of life threatening diseases. When one goes on the

Paleo diet, it is important that these types of food are avoided and the best way to do that is to

buy organically grown meats and produce. They may be a little more expensive that regular

types of meats and produce but their nutritional benefits are unmatched. Furthermore, a lot of

money can be saved from future medical bills that can be incurred when life threatening

diseases start to manifest. 4

How to Start on the Paleo Diet?

The choice to live healthier can be life changing and this is especially true when one decides to

start on the Paleo Diet. You see, it does not only affect one's diet but also his way of life. For this

reason, it is important to first seek medical advice before pushing ahead because there are

individuals that are not suitable for high-protein diets. Aside from that, sudden changes in one's

diet may cause the body to react negative thus making it important to have one's overall health

status checked so a proper diet plan can be drawn up.

Perhaps one of the things that intimidate people about the Paleo Diet is the fact that meals are

prepared without any condiments thus they can be assumed to be bland. The truth is, organically

grown meats and produce are generally better tasting thus eliminating the need for taste

enhancers. Meats for example, are cooked without adding oil because the fat present on the

slabs will be enough. Since the taste is not altered by cooking oil, one can enjoy the full flavor of

the meat.

Aside from that, there are hundreds of recipes available online for those under the Paleo Diet.

One does not have to worry about being food deprived because there are a lot of ways to enjoy

the different types of food allowed on this diet. However, one would have to be ready to give up

cakes and pastries completely and learn how to enjoy fresh fruits for dessert. This goes for vices

such as smoking and drinking as well.

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What to Expect

Those considering on going on the Paleo Diet need to understand that people in the Paleolithic

era were extremely active. They were always on the move, hunting and gathering food to eat.

This allowed their bodies to burn off calories and prevent the accumulation of fat. For this

reason, people of today have to keep in mind that they would also need to complement their diet

with the right exercise if they want to see positive results. It is recommended to work with a

fitness trainer that is familiar with the Paleo diet so a right workout plan can be devised.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Sheila_Rae_D._Opulencia

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Other Paleo Resources you might enjoy…..

Paleo Recipe Guide- 370 delicious

taste-tested paleo recipes

Practical Paleo: A Customized

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Foods Lifestyle

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