All About the Paleo Diet

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5 Paleo Diet Tips You Must Know

The paleo diet has become one of the latest fitness ‘crazes’ around. Those who have adopted it swear by its effectiveness and extol its life changing benefits. Others however, feel like it is better suited for feral cavemen.

So what is the paleo diet?

The paleo diet, also known as the caveman diet, is a nutritional plan similar to what our early ancestors who lived during the Paleolithic era followed. Basically, the consumption of natural foods such as fish, grass-fed pasture raised meats, fruit, fungi, eggs, vegetables, roots, and nuts. The diet excludes grains, legumes, dairy products, potatoes, refined salt, refined sugar, and processed oils.

Is it effective?

Definitely. It is an extremely healthy diet and the health benefits are many. This article will highlight 5 paleo diet tips you should be aware of to help you get the best out of this fantastic way of life.

1. Use spices effectively and wisely.

Since the paleo diet does not allow for sauces and other refined products, you will need to learn how to use spices effectively to season your food. One of the major causes for people giving up the paleo diet is due to the fact that the food tastes bland.

This is true if you do not use spices to flavor your food. The East Indians are very good at using spices to prepare their dishes. The food is aromatic, tasty and the spices have various medicinal properties too. So, learn how to flavor your food using spices.

2. Vary Your Veggies

Consume a wide variety of vegetables. It is common to just stick with one vegetable and go by a week eating only that. Since most people who adopt the paleo diet buy their food in bulk, it’s so much easier to just dump four large broccolis in the cart and walk to checkout. If you do that, you’ll be missing out the benefits that other veggies will bring you.

Consume different vegetables of different colors. Kale, spinach, cabbage, eggplant, carrots, etc. are all excellent choices. Do try them.

3. Pre-cook Your Food

The best way to stay focused on your paleo diet will be to pre-cook your food in batches and keep them in the refrigerator. It is advisable to cook for 3 or 4 days in advance. Preparing paleo meals is fast and easy. So, you can do this once or twice a week.

When your food is all prepared and ready, it is much easier to just take a pre-prepared meal to work. The idea of cooking daily is can be quite demoralizing. Being unprepared or if you’re suddenly short on time will lead to difficult decisions and you may even have to eat food you’re not supposed to.

4. Don’t Create Temptation

Do not keep junk food such as ice-cream, cakes, chocolates, etc. in your house. You will be tempted and that makes things much harder.

5. Learn To Make Paleo Smoothies and Other Treats

The paleo diet is not a boring one. It is slightly restrictive but there are many recipes available online that will teach you how to make smoothies and even ice-cream to satisfy your sweet tooth.

Learn more and try more recipes out. Knowledge is power and with the knowledge, you will be able to make your paleo lifestyle fun, sustainable and rewarding in the long run.

Want to know more about Paleo? Visit our website at: https://paleoblog.org/

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5 Common Misconceptions about the Paleo Diet

Even though the paleo diet has thousands of followers, seen a surge in popularity and has been around for a few years, there are many misconceptions about this diet. These misconceptions arise through false information, a bad image of paleo dieting and even marketing attempts by other fad diets to discredit the paleo way.

The paleo diet is also known as the ‘caveman diet’. This is due to the fact that the diet somewhat resembles the way our early ancestors ate. This name has caused one of the biggest misconceptions about the paleo diet.

1. It is uncivilized and all about gorging yourself on meat The paleo diet is about eating nutrient rich food that does not contain harmful substances and agrees with our body. It is not a re-enactment of how the actual cavemen ate. Paleo dieters do not go out hunting for boars or deer and roast the meat on a flame.

The diet is about eating the correct foods and excluding the bad ones. Grains, sugar, processed foods, etc. are not allowed. This is due to the fact that these foods are neither natural nor healthy. There are millions of people who have problems with grain based foods. So, the diet is not only about meat. Vegetables, healthy fats and fruit may be consumed too.

2. Paleo dieting is for fat loss Fat loss is one of the benefits of a paleo diet but it is not the goal. Unlike the Atkins diet or other low carb diets, the paleo diet is not overly concerned about weight loss. The concept of the paleo diet is to consume wholesome, healthy food and stop eating detrimental food.

Once this is achieved, weight loss naturally follows. Obesity is a growing trend around the world and it is reaching epidemic proportions. That’s because of poor food choices. The paleo diet is a healthy way to eat and live. It is more than just fat loss.

3. The paleo diet is not practical The paleo diet does require some effort and preparation. That does not make it impractical. You just need to find ways to make it easier for you. Cooking your food for a few days at a time, pre-packing them in containers for ease, etc. If you are truly dedicated, you will find a way.

4. The paleo diet is expensive No, it’s not. You are encouraged to buy your meat and vegetables from farmers’ markets and other suppliers. Usually, you may receive discounts and other special rates. Since you will be doing your own cooking, you’ll be spending less on food. Furthermore, since you can’t consume junk food and processed food, you will not be spending on the usual comforts foods. So, the paleo diet could actually be cheaper.

5. The paleo diet is not for women There are many arguments for this stating that women need more carbohydrates, etc. In cases like this, it would be wise to adapt the diet. For example, if the woman feels lethargic, she may consume more carbs in the form of vegetables. The paleo diet does not have to be rigid. Mix and match and see what suits you.

These are just a few misconceptions. There are many more but pay them no heed. The best way to know about anything is to try it out for yourself. Try out the paleo diet for 3 weeks or a month. If you start looking and feeling better, stay on. If not, you may go back to your previous way of eating. Chances are high that once you go paleo, you’ll never go back.

And if you are craving for some cheese puffs, try the Lesser Evil Paleo Puffs!