Anyone undertaking a change in their diet, such as those who are starting on the Paleo diet might want to start out by understanding the basic premises that underline this particular regimen. Making a change, particularly if it’s a drastic one, can take quite a lot of determination, which means that individuals first need to make sure that it is right for them and that they know precisely what they are in for from the get go.
It Stands for “Paleolithic”
The Paleo diet is so called because it follows the eating pattern of the caveman back in the Paleolithic period. During this time, people were hunter gatherers and nomads, so they didn’t necessarily remain in one place all year round. Since farming had not yet been utilized during this time, most of the food that people ate was opportunistic and gathered from the area in which they were living at the time, or alternatively passing through. According to Jeanne Floresca of Inspire Happy;
…{The} Paleo diet promotes a high protein and fat diet with some carbohydrates derived from fruits and vegetables. Ideally, all food sources are organic, grass -fed, and hormone free.
The diets of these individuals would have had to have been high protein because they hunted their food and combined the meats with certain carbohydrates that they foraged from the ground. These days, individuals don’t have to forage, although they do want to stay away from chemically-laden foods, so it’s best to source out the carbs, fruit and vegetables from local farms.
Anaerobic Exercise Advised
Due to the physical nature of the lives of the Paleolithic man, it is quite logical to assume that they were built quite impressively. The Paleo diet actually advises that individuals commit themselves to anaerobic exercises, which consist of shorter, more intense forms of exercise such as sprinting. The brains behind this diet don’t necessary believe in aerobic exercise, but the anaerobic routine, according to people such as Chris Heskett, has the ability to;
… help you build lean body mass and burn fat.
This alone makes the diet a very appealing option to many, although they shouldn’t assume that just because they’re not committing to an endurance-oriented fitness routine that this is going to be any easier; in fact, it will most likely end up pushing them much harder.
Cut Out the Dairy
Paleolithic man didn’t go about milking wooly mammoths back in the day and this means that Paleo diet enthusiasts should be staying away from milk and all its bi-products. In fact, it is not just milk that is forbidden by this diet but foods that include wheat, rye, corn and barley, as well as just about every other grain available to man. The idea behind this restriction is that the farming that produced this grain on such a large scale didn’t exist until a few hundred years ago, so people weren’t actually designed to consume it.
Food Prepared Naturally
Another important premise of the Paleo diet is that food needs to be prepared as naturally as possible; this means that only natural spices and herbs should be used, and salt is something that should be used with great moderation. It is generally a good idea for individuals to take note of the products that they can and can’t use; vinegar, for instance, is permitted, but dressing oils can’t be used for cooking since the oil is altered during the cooking process.
While some people are quite rigid with regards to following this particular diet, others have chosen to take the 80/20 route (80% Paleo, 20% modern), and so they allow themselves more variety in their meals. Still, whatever path you pick, it is important to understand what it involves so that you can make a decision about whether it’s right for you.
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