Weight loss, according to the American Council on Exercise, requires you to eat fewer calories than your body burns each day. Beyond this simple formula, the specific foods you include in your diet may make weight loss faster and easier. The Paleolithic Nutrition Diet requires dieters to consume only foods that were available to humans during the Paleolithic Era. According to Loren Cordain, author of "The Paleo Diet," eating in this manner can speed fat loss and muscle gain, while reducing your risk of heart disease and diabetes.
Paleo Diet Explained
Paleolithic nutrition refers to the eating habits of early humans. Paleo diet advocates like Cordain believe that many modern health problems, including obesity and type 2 diabetes, can be traced to the over-consumption of processed grains and meats, which did not exist at that time. Cordain asserts that the human metabolic system has not evolved at the same rate as our food production methods, and that an abundance of calorie-dense, processed foods are making us unhealthy and overweight.
Allowable Foods
Paleolithic nutrition is made up mostly of various meats, vegetables, fruits, nuts and seeds. Only whole meats are allowed on the Paleolithic nutrition diet, preferably grass-fed beef and free-range poultry, which are more nutritious than the grain-fed or caged varieties. All leafy greens and most non-starchy vegetable are allowed, as are fruits if eaten in moderation. Whole nuts and seeds are encouraged due to their concentration of healthy fats.
Restricted Foods
The Paleolithic nutrition diet restricts any food that is made available by modern processing methods. Processed meats such as hot dogs, sausages, and most lunch meats, are off limits because they are made with fillers and higher in calories. Breads, pasta and other grain-based foods are also excluded from the diet. Paleo dieters are not allowed sugar, with the exception of the naturally occurring sugar in fruit. Juices, however, are not included because of their high sugar and calorie concentration.
Benefits
By eliminating processed sugars and most starches, the Paleolithic Nutrition Diet is believed by experts like Cordain to control keep insulin levels low, thus stabilizing your blood sugar level and minimizing mood and energy swings throughout the day. Unprocessed foods also tend to be lower in calories and higher in fiber, which reduces calorie intake and encourages weight loss.
References
- "ACE Personal Trainer Manual: The Ultimate Resource for Fitness Professionals": American Council on Exercise: 2010
- "The Paleo Diet: Lose Weight and Get Healthy by Eating the Foods You Were Designed to Eat": Loren Cordain: 2010
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