Here’s what you need to know about the paleo diet

The paleo diet is one of the oldest diets that has been inspired from the prehistoric period. The dietary plan of the paleo diet is based on foods that are similar to what people ate during the Paleolithic era, which can be dated back to approximately 2.5 million years ago. A paleo diet consists of anything that could obtained in the past by hunting or gathering such as lean meats, fruits, fish, vegetables, seeds, and nuts. Moreover, foods such as legumes, grains, and dairy products are also include in this diet. Other names for the paleo diet are stone-age diet, Paleolithic diet, caveman diet, and hunter–gatherer diet.

Purpose of the paleo diet

The paleo diet aims at making people eat more natural foods and less processed foods. As farming came into existence, there came about a change in the types of food people consumed during the prehistoric age. Foods like dairy products, grains, and legumes were introduced and became an essential part of people’s staple diet. However, with the advancement in technology, processed foods are easily being made available and these have different types of chemicals in them to ensure their freshness and enhance their shelf life.

Popular benefits of following the paleo diet

There are many benefits of following the paleo diet; some of them have been mentioned below:

• Losing weight
• Building a strong immunity
• You can also manage your appetite in a better manner
• You can also manage your blood sugar and cholesterol levels and develop better glucose intolerance
• Avoiding health conditions that are caused by certain diets and lifestyle choices
• Maintaining a good health and avoiding health-related problems that come with age

Foods included and excluded in the paleo diet

There are important guidelines that come with the paleo diet and these must be followed to reap its benefits. As mentioned above, there are certain foods that are included in the paleo diet including vegetables, nuts and seeds, fruits, fruit oils, nuts oil, and lean meats.

However, in a paleo diet, there are also certain foods that should be excluded including salt, potatoes, legumes (beans, peanuts, peas, lentils, etc.), refined sugar, and high-processed foods

Paleo diet menu

The paleo diet breakfast ideally comprises cantaloupe and broiled salmon. Lunch includes boiled lean meat with salad. Dinner includes lean beef meat roasted with steamed broccoli along with salad. For snacks, the foods include oranges, carrot sticks, or celery sticks.

Other than the food intake, the diet includes plenty of water consumption to stay hydrated. You should also carry out physical activities.

Getting started with paleo diet

One can start a paleo diet without consulting a physician, doctor, or a nutritionist. However, it is possible that one may have some underlying medical condition and getting a consultation from a doctor before starting any new diet can be beneficial.

It is possible to do an extensive research and make a paleo diet plan without consulting a dietitian as well. A web search can help with various recipes that follow the paleo diet.