The paleo diet is an eating plan that is similar to the eating plan of the human beings of pre-historic times. This includes eating whole food that people could gather or hunt. The supporters of this diet do not support the modern diet. This is because they believe that eating what the hunter-gatherers ate would cause much lesser health issues.

There are several benefits of the paleo diet. But this is not safe for everyone. Doctors are still not sure about its effect on pregnant women, kids, and older adults. People who are suffering from certain chronic conditions should also speak to their doctor before starting this diet.

What is a Paleo Diet?

This is the diet that focuses on eating foods that were common in the Paleolithic age. This is also referred to as the stone age diet or the caveman diet. Before the development of modern agriculture, people only ate those foods that they could hunt together. These included lean meats, fish, vegetables, fruits, seeds, and nuts.

With the development of modern farming, the entire concept of diet changed. People started including legumes, grains, and dairy products. The proponents of this diet argue that the human body is not ready to process dairy, legumes, grains, etc. Therefore, eating these foods can increase the risks of certain health conditions like heart diseases, obesity, etc.

Benefits of Paleo Diet

If you have real foods in the right quantity, then it will help you to become more satisfied. They keep your blood sugar levels and hunger hormones balanced. The diets of most people across the world today consist of grains, sugars, and vegetable oils. But when you eat paleo, you avoid eating these foods. It is all about eating foods that are available naturally.

Can Paleo Diet Help You Lose Weight?

If you follow this diet, it will help you cut the extra fat. This diet is rich in protein. It has a lesser amount of carbohydrate. It may also reduce appetite. This lessens down the consumption of sugar and processed foods.

What You Can Eat in a Paleo Diet?

The question that might bother us is, “What foods should you eat throughout the day when you are following a paleo diet?”

Here is a list that can be included as a part of the paleo diet:

1. Lean meats

These include venison, beef, lamb, bison, chicken, etc. Try to eat the meats of grass-fed animals.

2. Fish

Fishes like tilapia, bass, salmon, etc, can be included as part of the paleo diet. Here you can also include seafood.

3. Eggs and Vegetables

Eggs and vegetables can also be included as a part of your paleo diet.

4. Fruits

The fruits that you should eat are berries and less sugary fruits.

5. Nuts

You can also have nuts but it should be in moderation. Make sure you do not include peanuts in your diet.

6. Natural Oils

The natural oils including coconut, olive, and avocado can be a part of your paleo diet as well.

Why Opt for Paleo Diet?

The advocates of the paleo diet say that we should not eat what the hunters and the gatherers could not eat 10,000 years ago. So, no more oreo or twinkies or breakfast cereals. There are different paleo foods available and you can select the ones that you want to eat.

Foods That Can Be Included in Your Paleo Diet

There is not one set of rules you have to follow for the paleo diet. This is because it is more of a framework than an actual diet. The more processed the food is, the lesser paleo is the diet. For example, whole milk is better than 2% milk and again this 2% milk is better than skim milk. Lactose intolerance is spreading worldwide. But we continue eating high amounts of dairy products. Like carbohydrates, dairy also comes on a sliding scale.

1. Grass-Fed Butter

This is considered to be paleo. It is a very good source of fat. This also has a solid omega 3 to omega 6 fatty acid ratio. Therefore, you can include this as a part of your diet. 

2. Yogurt

Whether yogurt can be included as a part of your diet is still a question that needs to be answered. Probiotics can indeed improve digestion. Moreover, yogurt also helps in improving the shelf life of the dairies. But the problem is that most modern-day yogurts contain a high amount of sugar.

3. Cheese

This is another safe dairy product. The process of fermentation removes a lot of lactose. These may bother those people suffering from lactose intolerance.

4. Ice cream

Ice cream is a strict no-no for a paleo diet. This contains too much sugar in it. It is for this reason that you cannot include ice cream as a paleo diet.

5. Legumes

The question that finally needs to be answered is whether legumes are paleo or not. 

Legume is a pod fruit. Some of the most popular legumes include beans, lentils, peas, alfalfa, peanuts, carob, soy, lupins, clover, etc. Legumes are not considered to be paleo.

Understanding which is a Paleo Diet and which is Not

Most of the time, you can clearly understand whether a diet is paleo or not. You can find beef naturally in this world. Therefore, it is paleo. On the other hand, ice cream is manufactured by humans. Therefore, it is not paleo. But at times the boundaries between the paleo and the non-paleo foods can be a little fuzzy. You might feel that peanuts are paleo. This is because nuts are paleo. But peanut is a legume. Legume is not paleo.

There are various ways to find out about the list of foods that are paleo. You can refer to different paleo apps. These will help you to find out about the list of foods that are paleo and the ones that are not.

Summary

Paleo Diet can be immensely helpful. It can improve your overall health and boost your energy. If you are, however, suffering from any chronic diseases, talk to your doctor before starting the paleo diet. Before you start the diet, make sure you understand which is a paleo diet and which is not. Diet and exercise together can help you to stay fit.