Could a Paleo Diet Be an Approach to Optimum Nutrition for Our Species?
Throughout the years, our diets have changed drastically, and not for the better. Long gone are the days of hunter-gatherers and cave dweller mentality, thus, the Paleo Diet. Times change, and so do our habits.
As technological advancements arise, other things must change to accommodate our lifestyles. As our lives have sped up over the years, keeping us busier and busier, convenience became the challenge, putting nutrition to the wayside. With the need for speed, the obesity and diabetes rates have increased exponentially.
And now, we are looking to turn back the clock on the human race and figure out how to go back to lean, healthy bodies. Scientists have begun researching whether the Paleo Diet, amongst others, could be an excellent approach to turning back that clock.
You see, farming made dairy, grains, and legumes a significant portion of our diet. Then the need for more, faster made genetically modified food desirable to a point. The sad news is that the human body just cannot keep up with the changes. We are not supposed to eat fast food, chemicals, preservatives, hormones, and GMOs. So, the question remains… could a paleo diet be an approach you should try to improve your overall health?
Before we answer that question, let’s get into the Paleo Diet’s details and what it truly means for you.
What Exactly is a Paleo Diet?
The Paleo Diet is a dietary plan (not a fad diet) utilizing the whole foods the prehistoric generations would have had readily available. Imagine the caveman days. The humans could only gather what grew on trees or in the ground and catch animals for food. They could not store food for long without refrigeration, so meals were fresh each day. If we were to embrace that prehistoric way of supplying our bodies with food, this lifestyle way of eating would include the following foods.
- Fruits and vegetables
- Nuts and Seeds
- Lean meats or wild game
- Eggs
- Fish, like salmon, mackerel, and albacore tuna
- Natural oils such as walnut and olive oil
Makes sense, right? It is the complete elimination of foods farmed or processed. Dairy products, grains, legumes, beans, refined sugars, salt, potatoes, and processed foods should be cut out.
Now that you know what it is let’s determine why you might decide to try a Paleo Diet/lifestyle change.
Answering the Questions
Could a Paleo Diet be an approach to optimum nutrition for our species? And should you give it a try? Those are the questions before us. Let’s break it down even further. What is the purpose of the dietary adjustment, and what would the results be of making the sacrifice? After all, we get it.
No pain, no gain.
Sacrifice is the key to success.
Nothing worth having is achieved without struggle.
Cliché after cliché, you will not do a thing, whatever it is, without getting something positive out of it.
The Paleo Purpose
The paleo diet’s primary purpose is to return to the way a prehistoric man may have eaten, the way our bodies were designed to eat. Those who hunted and gathered only had what was in front of them to make a meal. Consequently, that is what they ate. It is what was provided by the land.
The idea is that the body is not equipped to handle the foods we introduced and is causing the obesity and diabetes we see today. Therefore, if we eat as we should, we might combat all that. So, what happens if you go to the Paleo way of eating? Keep reading!
Possible Results
According to the Mayo Clinic,
“A number of randomized clinical trials have compared the paleo diet to other eating plans, such as the Mediterranean Diet or the Diabetes Diet. Overall, these trials suggest that a paleo diet may provide some benefits when compared…”
The participants who did not eat things like grains, dairy, and legumes experienced the following benefits and more.
- Improved weight loss
- Reduced waist circumference
- Glucose tolerance
- Reduced inflammation
- Blood pressure control
- Increased HDL of good cholesterol
- Triglyceride control
- Appetite management
- Reduction of liver fats
All those benefits may make it worth a try for those desiring to make a change. And once you have been on the plan for a while, you won’t even crave dairy and grains anymore. In fact, Colorado State University Researcher Loren Cordain, Ph.D., and author of The Paleo Diet claims weight loss on the plan is inevitable because,
“Human genes were shaped in the Paleolithic Era, and we’re still genetically programmed to respond best to the types of food that allowed ancient humans to survive and thrive. There’s now extensive evidence that these foods move us toward optimal health, which includes an optimal weight.” (credit Woman’s World)
The Paleo boasts up to nine times more nutrients than a typical diet. But more importantly, it claims to heal the body from the inside out. So far, it seems to be true. Researchers are continually conducting new trials to verify the claims. However, people all over are having great success healing their bodies with a Paleo approach.
Balanced Nutrition Helps Maintain a Fit Body
Fueling your body is critical to a good fitness routine. Actually, the two go hand in hand. Additionally, good nutrition and fitness are beneficial to your mental health. So, really, it is a win-win. The key is to balance nutrition, fitness, and mental health for overall improved well-being. The right fuel helps the body operate optimally.
The Bottom Line
The promise some flock to is that a paleo diet will help you shed those pounds. The truth is that the results can vary from person to person. Our bodies are all uniquely formed and created with design and purpose. Health and wellness should be your first concern, as it is ours.
That is why Generation Fit is not a big fan of fad diets and rushed success. Instead, we coach our clients on real solutions and healthy life choices. Our team is dedicated to supporting you and your goals to avoid the forever yo-yo of weight loss and weight gain. That said, Generation Fit has come to this conclusion…
The Paleo Diet may just be the answer to increased health and wellness in the human race. Coupled with a supervised fitness routine, you may achieve all the benefits we have discussed. So, we think, YES. Yes, the Paleo Diet is worth a try.
At Generation Fit, we want to help you reach and maintain your goals healthily and steadily.
Let Generation Fit Help You Navigate the Paleo Diet
We think you’ll agree; it is time to take a holistic approach to improve your health and the way you look and feel. Do away with chemicals, preservatives, antibiotics, and hormones and focus on real food meant for human consumption.
The expert nutrition counselors at Generation Fit are here to take you all the way through the process. We can even help you navigate the aisles of the local grocery store, so there is no question about what to get to supply your new lifestyle.
Focusing on fitness, nutrition, and mental health unites mind, body, and soul in the effort to continued health as our bodies age. Generation Fit is the place to get started and achieve your goals.
Contact the staff at Generation Fitness to schedule your fitness and nutrition consultation today.