The Paleo diet, also known as the caveman diet, is modeled after the eating patterns of our ancestors during the prehistoric Paleolithic era. The Paleo diet focuses on lean meats, healthy fats and nonstarchy vegetables. The Paleo diet recommends that you get 20 percent of your daily calories from carbs. You can eat starchy vegetables such as yucca, as long as you avoid eating them in excess. Consult your physician before making a major change to your diet, especially if you have particular health concerns.
Principle
The theory of the Paleo diet is that humans are genetically predisposed to thrive better on foods such as grass-fed beef, wild-caught fish, free-range poultry, nonstarchy vegetables and a limited amount of fruit and nuts. The Paleo diet is moderately low in carbs and excludes foods that contain excess sugars. There is a misconception that starchy vegetables are excluded from the Paleo diet, says Robb Wolf, author of "The Paleo Solution."
Serving
Yucca is a starchy root vegetable similar to a potato. Because starches are converted by your body to glucose, the Paleo diet moderates your intake of starchy vegetables. There is a concern that the modern Western diet, which is rich in starches, contributes to insulin resistance and diabetes. However, the average person is allowed to consume about a half a cup of starchy vegetables such as yucca, explains Wolf. Count starchy vegetables as part of your daily carbohydrate allowance.
Activity Level
Starchy vegetables such as yucca are composed of long chains of simple sugars and are known as complex carbohydrates. Your body breaks down these types of carbohydrates slower than the simple sugars in fruits. For this reason, you can modify your starch intake based on your activity level. Complex carbohydrates provide a sustained fuel source due to slower metabolic breakdown, which is beneficial for active people on the Paleo diet. If you are physically active, you can increase your consumption of yucca and other starchy vegetables such as yams, says Wolf.
Athletes
Athletes on the Paleo diet require more carbohydrates than a sedentary person on the Paleo diet, according to Loren Cordain, creator of the Paleo diet and author of "The Paleo Diet for Athletes." If you are an athlete, you can increase your carbohydrate intake to 40 percent of your daily calories. This means that you can have a larger serving of yucca and other complex carbohydrates per day. Consuming starchy vegetables prior to exercise may be particularly beneficial.
References
- The Paleo Solution: The Original Human Diet; Robb Wolf
- The Paleo Diet for Athletes: A Nutritional Formula for Peak Athletic Performance; Loren Cordain
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