Paleo DietPrimal NutritionThe Paleo diet is the newest diet to hit the blogosphere. Can we really refer to it as new? Primal Nutrition, a primal diet and paleo recipes are gaining notoriety and rightly so! It's the "original human diet" and to refer to this as a fad is quite absurd really.The Paleo Diet consists of a combination of lean meats, eggs, seafood, vegetables, fruits, and nuts. Professor Loren Cordain of The Paleo Diet states: "By eating the foods that we are genetically adapted to eat, followers of the Paleo Diet are naturally lean, have acne-free skin, improved athletic performance, and are experiencing relief from numerous metabolic-related and autoimmune diseases." I have experienced great success following this style of eating myself as well, prescribing it to my clients suffering from a variety of ailments and auto-immune disease. It is restrictive, but it works and it is do-able even in social situations or restaurant outings. So many might say "I can't be that restrictive!" But you can. Why? Because the noticeable health changes are so dramatic that you can't imagine eating any other way. You really grasp the concept "Eat to Live" rather than "Live to Eat". Some benefits that so many of my clients have experienced include:
The Paleo Diet is actually quite close to my Restricted Phase I plan but it is a bit more liberal so if you find Phase I too restrictive, try Paleo/Primal instead! Those that are currently promoting this way of eating even go so far as to say that it can and will prevent diabetes, cancer, heart disease, auto-immune disease and a myriad of other inflammatory responses. For me, one of the most noticeable changes in some of my clients has been the leaning out effect after a diet plateau. This interview conducted by Robert Crayhon MS best describes the positive benefits and aspects of the paleo diet in a nut shell. (pun intended!) What is the difference between Paleo and Primal? Many Paleo followers generally exclude night shade vegetables and dairy while Primal followers usually eat these two food groups. Raw and cultured dairy sources will always be your best Primal Diet choice and I never promote pasteurized milk. It is very high in sugar and any beneficial immune properties and enzymes have been destroyed by pasteurization. There are hard core Paleo followers who hunt their own game and exclude eggs as well as cured foods such as bacon. Don't be too dogmatic in your new lifestyle rather experiment and figure out what works for your biochemical individuality, lifestyle and personal taste. No one dictates your menu but you. I frequently tell others when asked about my diet, "I have taken a little of this and a little of that and put them into my dietary basket". I consider myself a bit more primal than paleo due to my consumption of heavy whipping cream, a bit of yogurt and eggs. I refer to my dietary choices as lower carbohydrate Contemporary Paleo. The rules are simple. Eat only the foods on the list, obtain them from clean sources focusing on the following:
There are varying degrees of belief regarding saturated fat and many who promote paleo/primal agree that saturated fat from traditional and tropical sources is benign and even necessary for good health. These fats & oils include:
You can eat meat and most vegetables in any quantity. The fruit and nuts on the other hand should be used as necessary in smaller quantities. Fruit is sugar and sugar promotes insulin which promotes fat storage so you want to be careful with your fruit choices. Berries for example are the lowest in sugar and high in fiber. Nuts are heavy in omega 6 and as I've stated before, an abundance of omega 6 in the diet is inflammatory. If you're trying to lean out, drop the fruit and nuts and consume more olives, avocado and coconut flakes if you find the need to fill in for those lost choices. If the grass fed/organic aspect is out of reach for you budget, begin with conventional and be mindful of your future purchases striving to purchase the cleanest and most humanely raised food as possible. Be sure you are supplementing with Omega 3 fatty acids in the form of fish oil because this is the imbalance that also contributes to inflammation. I can honestly say that conventionally raised animal proteins are still by far healthier than grains and legumes as your protein sources. Toxins are stored in the adipose tissue of the animal so if you are consuming conventional, you might consider trimming the fat prior to consumption. If you suffer from an auto-immune disease, you might consider eliminating eggs, night shades and any dairy. Check out my sponsors to the right. Order your paleo recipes, primal nutrition and fun T-shirts that express your new evolving lifestyle. You can even have Paleo Brands Gourmet Meals delivered right to your door!
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