April 2012 – post Whole30 Challenge!
The Paleo Diet
{inspired by my friend Miku’s 60 day Paleo Challenge}
Fad diets are everywhere. Atkins, Fat-Free, Hollywood Diet, Grapefruit Diet, Tapeworm {yuck!}, and the list goes ooooooonnnnn. But the Paleo Diet is pretty interesting. It forces eating habits to regress to those of our ancestors, and helps the human body get in touch with its roots. It rids us of modern conveniences and foods, and forces us to eat as like our ancestors.
I have done some research on the Paleo Diet here and there, but didn’t know anyone personally who had completed the entire Paleo Whole30 Challenge. Until I wrote my story on Miku. {see her incredible life-changing story here} She underwent the Whole30 Challenge, beginning February 2012 and then continued on through March, completing the 60 Day Paleo program.
“The average Homo Sapien back then: was tall, muscular, agile, athletic, and incredible versatile.”
“Today’s “average” Homo Sapien: overweight, out of shape, dying from a myriad of preventable diseases, stressed out, unhappy, and sleep deprived.” -The Beginner’s Guide to the Paleo Diet
Background
For the past 200 years the industrial revolution has changed our diet with the introduction of processed and artificial foods, along with the ability to store foods for long periods of time due to the addition of preservatives. Agriculture has had a major impact on society moving away from hunter-gatherer to farmer, thus creating a lifestyle dependent on grains instead of reliant on earth-grown vegetables and other ‘whole foods.’ Many believe these changes have an incredible negative effect on health and declare they’re responsible for the recent overwhelming epidemics of obesity, heart disease, diabetes, and cancer.
Paleo Diet
Personal opinions and research I have found state the diet is as if you push a “reset” button on your cravings, metabolism, and ability to process food. Cutting out modern processed foods, sugars, grains, and other items that are harsh on the body allows you to gain the nutritional benefits of whole foods. Meals include no processed foods, no unpronouncable ingredients, no dairy, and no alcohol/tobacco. This may seem difficult but its actually easier than it appears. You may have to do more planning and/or shopping on the front end as you learn the plan, but you’ll spend less time cooking, less money on processed foods, and more time eating nutritionally.
Paleo Foods {chew on this}
Many foods in the Paleo Diet are ‘restricted’ because they were not available to our ancestors. These include processed foods, sugar, salt, grains, legumes, dairy products, coffee and alcohol. [Cavemen didn't run out to the 7-11 and grab a pop and kitkat bar after dinner!] I have read many statements of those who have reviewed the Paleo Diet positively, but surprisingly only follow it about 85% of the time. This means they eat approximately 3 meals each week that include “current” foods, but still observe notable, positive changes in their overall health.
Example foods include eggs, nuts, meat {turkey, chicken, lean beef, lamb}, fish {salmon, tuna}, vegetables, and small amounts of natural oils, dried fruits, and honey.
The Whole30 Program {the program Miku followed}
note: I do not have experience personally with a strict Paleo Diet. I have tried some recipes periodically and done research but am writing this mainly from Miku’s experiences. Because I was so impressed with her overall change, I was curious to look into her latest venture of the Paleo Challenge. The internet offers so many resources and reviews, and I encourage you to look into the program she used as well as all the others oavailable.
here are a few websites in addition to the program Miku utilized…
The Paleo Diet
Paleo Diet
Beginner’s Guide to Paleo Diet (this blog has some great, thorough, yet easy to follow info)
