SWITCH TO THE PALEO DIET FOR A BETTER AND

HEALTHIER LIFE

By Sheila Rae D. Opulencia

SWITCH TO THE PALEO DIET FOR A BETTER AND HEALTHIER LIFE

BY SHEILA RAE D. OPULENCIA

What is the Paleo Diet?

In the Paleolithic era, people were considered to be hunters and gathers. This meant, whatever they

ate was either hunted or gathered. None of what they ate was cultured, genetically grown, processed,

and of course, man-made. They lived on what was available at the time. In short, their diet composed

of food that was rich in natural vitamins and minerals.

Paleolithic people were carnivorous by nature. They hunted animals for meat and fished for seafood.

These provided for the fat, protein, and carbohydrate needs of their bodies. They gathered fresh fruits

and vegetables from the forest to compliment their meats and that provided them with vitamins and

minerals.

In general, the Paleo Diet is all about eating the right kinds of food to prevent the development of life

threatening diseases. This diet is all about only eating food that existed pre-agriculture. That means

dairy products and other food types that contain additives are strictly prohibited. Some doctors

believe that prescribing this diet to those already suffering from such disease will greatly improve

their condition when practiced religiously.

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A Short History on the Paleo Diet

The Paleolithic or Paleo diet is one of the most controversial diet regimens today. Dr. Walter L.

Voegtlin, one of first to popularize this diet, stated that if people who lived in the Paleolithic era had

longer life spans and didn't suffer from diseases of civilization, the health of people today would

greatly improve if they ate the same way. Being a gastroenterologist, he supported his theory by

prescribing treatment plans based on what he believed to be the diet of people in the Paleolithic era.

In 1989, the Kitava Study was initiated by Dr. Staffan Lindeberg. This study involved surveying the

population of Kitava, Papua New Guinea. These surveys showed that the people living in Kitava did

not suffer from cardiovascular diseases and the main reason was their diet, which consists mainly of

food that existed before the invention of agriculture. By the 1990s, many medical practitioners have

been advising their patients to practice a healthier diet and that means going back to what people in

the Paleolithic era ate.

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Why the Paleo Diet Works

The Paleo Diet is a high-protein diet that consists mainly of lean meats, seafood, and fresh fruits and

vegetables. Since the idea is to eat like the very first humans, everything that is assumed to have not

been available during that era is off limits. That includes dairy products, condiments such as salt and

pepper, and food grown through agriculture. This can be a problem especially for people who are used

to having pasta, rice, and breads in their meals because the ingredients of these all came post-

agriculture.

However, there are a lot of benefits to going on the Paleo diet chief of which is the prevention of life

threatening diseases. Most food types that are available today have undergone some sort of chemical

enhancement. Commercially sold fruits and vegetables are usually grown in a controlled environment

where they are fed fertilizers so they can be available even when it is off season. The same can be

said for most meats and seafood being sold in supermarkets because animals are fed with vitamin

supplements and growth enhancers. What most consumers don't know is that these chemicals affect

the quality and nutritional value of the meats and produce. value.

Aside from that, consumers are also subjected to these chemicals when they eat these types of food

and that leads to the development of life threatening diseases. When one goes on the Paleo diet, it is

important that these types of food are avoided and the best way to do that is to buy organically grown

meats and produce. They may be a little more expensive that regular types of meats and produce but

their nutritional benefits are unmatched. Furthermore, a lot of money can be saved from future

medical bills that can be incurred when life threatening diseases start to manifest.

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How to Start on the Paleo Diet?

The choice to live healthier can be life changing and this is especially true when one decides to start

on the Paleo Diet. You see, it does not only affect one's diet but also his way of life. For this reason, it

is important to first seek medical advice before pushing ahead because there are individuals that are

not suitable for high-protein diets. Aside from that, sudden changes in one's diet may cause the body

to react negative thus making it important to have one's overall health status checked so a proper

diet plan can be drawn up.

Perhaps one of the things that intimidate people about the Paleo Diet is the fact that meals are

prepared without any condiments thus they can be assumed to be bland. The truth is, organically

grown meats and produce are generally better tasting thus eliminating the need for taste enhancers.

Meats for example, are cooked without adding oil because the fat present on the slabs will be

enough. Since the taste is not altered by cooking oil, one can enjoy the full flavor of the meat.

Aside from that, there are hundreds of recipes available online for those under the Paleo Diet. One

does not have to worry about being food deprived because there are a lot of ways to enjoy the

different types of food allowed on this diet. However, one would have to be ready to give up cakes and

pastries completely and learn how to enjoy fresh fruits for dessert. This goes for vices such as

smoking and drinking as well.

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What to Expect

Those considering on going on the Paleo Diet need to understand that people in the Paleolithic era

were extremely active. They were always on the move, hunting and gathering food to eat. This allowed

their bodies to burn off calories and prevent the accumulation of fat. For this reason, people of today

have to keep in mind that they would also need to complement their diet with the right exercise if they

want to see positive results. It is recommended to work with a fitness trainer that is familiar with the

Paleo diet so a right workout plan can be devised.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Sheila_Rae_D._Opulencia

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Other Paleo Resources you might enjoy…..

Paleo Recipe Guide- 370 delicious taste-

tested paleo recipes

Practical Paleo: A Customized Approach

to Health and a Whole-Foods Lifestyle

1000 Paleo Recipes

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