Diet Programs Exposed

Archive for the ‘Paleo Diet’ Category

There are races of people who are all slim, who are stronger and faster than us. Some health problems such as Arthritis, diabetes, hypertension, heart disease, stroke, depression, and cancer are absolutely rare for them, their secret? Is their diet- these people are the last tribes of hunter-gatherers in the world. Their diet is usually referred to as the “Paleolithic Diet” referring to the Paleolithic or Stone Age era. It is also referred to as the “Stone Age Diet”, “Cave Man Diet” or the “Hunter-Gatherer Diet”.

The Diet:

Paleolithic diet also called as a caveman diet, suggests that you eat what the caveman ate million years ago (which consists of meat, fruits and vegetables, nuts and berries). The foods chosen must be those which a caveman collect and could be eaten without cooking. But as years past by, fire is a recent invention in the evolutionary period of human diets.

The rules of the Paleolithic Diet are very simple: Eat only what was available to the early hunter-gatherers (foods that are edible raw). All other foods should be avoided. In effect this is the factory specified diet.  Paleolithic diet doesn’t count calories or carbs. You eat when you’re hungry and stop when you’re full.

This diet pretty much turns the old “food pyramid” upside-down. But, it works. Look at the growing popularity of Atkins and other low carbohydrate diets. In spite of what other people are saying, others are losing weight and satisfied on these diets. All of these diet plans prohibits high carbohydrate foods (bread, refined sugar, and pasta). Paleolithic Diet ties all the low carb diets together. It explains how they work from the perspective of evolution and genetics.

Foods that are allowed includes: Unprocessed Meats (chicken and fish meat) Honey, Fruits, Vegetables especially root vegetables, but definitely not including potatoes or sweet potatoes) Eggs, Nuts (wall nuts, macadamia, almond) Olive oil, Mustard, Tea and Fresh juices (without additives).Foods that are not allowed includes: All forms of sugar except honey (honey is the only sugar that is allowed but with minimal use), Grains (including bread, noodles and pasta), Potatoes, Salt, Dairy products, Coffee, Mixed nuts and other starchy foods.

Pros and Cons of Paleolithic diet

Pros:

• Paleolithic diet is very simple to follow, no measuring and no counting needed. Just eat on the food lists and that is that.
• Paleolithic diet emphasize on the physical activities. One of the vital parts of Paleolithic diet is increasing activity level.
• Paleolithic diet is nutritious.

Cons:

• Paleolithic diet requires vast adjustments when it comes to their eating.
• Paleolithic diet lacks guidance when it comes to individual adjustment. Since there is no specific food bracket or steps to be followed, dieters will take some time on experimenting on what food combination will be best for them and will work out perfectly on them.
• It lacks on calcium. There are questions on how a certain person can obtain enough calcium if this diet requires no to dairy products.