Why Paleo?
Despite being an avid supporter of the ancestral diets like Paleo and Ketogenic, I don’t believe there is any one “perfect” diet, instead I believe that each one of us has our own unique weight loss code. Today I am going to explain why, when starting your journey of uncovering your perfect diet, you should begin with a paleo based template.
“The Paleo diet is the healthiest way you can eat because it is the ONLY nutritional approach that works with your genetics to help you stay lean, strong and energetic! Research in biology, biochemistry, Ophthalmology, Dermatology and many other disciplines indicate it is our modern diet, full of refined foods, trans fats and sugar, that is at the root of degenerative diseases such as obesity, cancer, diabetes, heart disease, Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, depression and infertility. “– Robb Wolf
The Paleo diet is really a diet that is based mainly on foods presumed to be available to Paleolithic humans such as; meat, seafood, fish, vegetables, root vegetables, nuts, seeds and fruit. Basically it is a way to go back to eating real, whole, unprocessed foods that are more healthful than harmful to our bodies.
Why the Paleo Diet works
The paleo diet is not a diet that is full of unrealistic food restriction, insane workouts and starvation in order to help you lose weight. I have been there and done those types of diets my whole life and can speak from experience – they don’t work!!!
The paleo diet is full of foods that force your body into burning fat for fuel instead of sugar. It is geared towards getting you away from the modern day Standard American Diet (SAD) that is so heavy in processed carbohydrates, sugars and unhealthy fats. By eating a paleo diet you can begin to repair some of the metabolic damage from SAD eating, normalize your insulin levels, and reprogram your genes to burn stored fat for energy.
Fat burning beast VS sugar burning disaster
Conventional diets will have you believe that best way to lose weight is by consuming whole grains, low fat and lean meat. Research now tells us that a fat fueled body is the bodies preferred way of eating and can actually help you eat less without feeling hungry all the time. Even when we eat a diet based on carbohydrates (brown rice, oatmeal, quinoa, brown bread) you are still feeding your body sugar. ALL carbohydrates create a glucose spike, stimulating insulin production and will actually de-activate the genes that promote efficient fat burning. Burning sugar for fuel keeps you in that blood sugar roller coaster all day long craving more carbohydrates and sending you into feelings of being “HANGRY” (Have you ever been angry and hungry at the same time?)
Not only that all that excess sugar is the main driving factor to all major disease; heart disease, diabetes, cancer and obesity. A diet that is rich in nutrient dense foods such as vegetables, nuts, fruit, fish and grass fed meats are naturally lower in carbohydrates which will force your body to turn to fat stores to burn for energy. Humans survived on these foods for nearly 2 million years!!! Carbohydrates became our main fuel only 7000 years ago. Our genetic makeup has changed very little since we were hunter gatherers so it only makes sense to give your body what it survived on for the majority of human existence.
The Paleo Template
By starting with a paleo template you will help your body become that fat burning beast it so badly wants to be! Plus, it has been proven to naturally lower hunger levels, repair digestion, lower cholesterol levels, have effortless weight loss, improve respiratory conditions, eradicate inflammation, improve energy, and repair digestive issues.
So why you may be asking wouldn’t someone just follow the paleo diet forever? Well you absolutely can and I have truly seen it work better than anything else that I have tried with my clients. BUT we are all still very unique individuals with our own unique needs. This is why it should be used as a template and if need be, to build upon to see what your body can and cannot tolerate.
There are many people for instance that can thrive on dairy and dairy is a great source of many essential nutrients. Unfortunately, dairy is one of the highest food sensitivities so a lot of people don’t thrive on it. Legumes, another great food that is full of protein and fiber and should be incorporated a few times a week. But legumes have their own dark side like dairy and can be difficult for many people to digest, especially if they have any gut problems. They also contain phytates and lectins which will actually prevent the body from absorbing certain minerals. Some individuals I have seen need more carbohydrates like whole grain rice and quinoa in their diets. While others need a lot less and may need to go to a ketogenic diet. So you can see there are some people that will and can build upon their paleo diet to suit their individual needs.
Paleo diet is a great place to start but the truth of the matter is there is no single formula to follow that will guarantee you results. You can start here and begin to build your own template and discover your own weight loss code.
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