top of page

Have You Ever Wonder What a Paleo Diet Is?


This week we are discussing Paleo Diet 101.

You may have heard of the "paleo" diet. It was the world's most popular diet around 2013.

Scientist and "Paleo Mom" Sarah Ballentyne, Ph.D defines it as:

"The Paleo diet is a nutrient-dense whole foods diet based on eating a variety of quality meat,

seafood, eggs, vegetables, fruits, nuts, and seeds. It improves health by providing balanced and complete nutrition while avoiding most processed and refined foods and empty calories."

The name "paleo" is from the "paleolithic" time when earlier humans (thousands of years ago) were hunters and gatherers. It is thought to represent the era of nutrition before agriculture.

What you can (and can't) eat on the paleo diet

Of course, being a "diet," paleo has food guidelines. The paleo diet was created to increase the amount of whole, unprocessed, nutrient-dense foods; while reducing the number of gut-disrupting, hormone-disrupting, and inflammatory foods.


But this doesn't mean there are only a couple of foods to choose from! There is a pretty wide variety of foods to choose from in the paleo diet.

You can include fruits, vegetables, eggs, nuts, seeds, meat (including organ meats), seafood, healthy fats, fermented foods, herbs, and spices.

The paleo diet excludes processed and refined foods (eg. sugar, vegetable oils, artificial sweeteners, etc.) grains (e.g. wheat, oats, rice, etc..) dairy, and most legumes (e.g. beans, lentils, peanuts, etc.).

The paleo diet can be thought of as more of a "template," rather than a strict set of rules.

It's a diet that seems to be easy to maintain, and with little to not negative side effects. There is no measuring or counting of calories or carbs. And there are plenty of delicious and nutritious foods to choose from.

Many proponents of the paleo diet even encourage experimentation by adding in a few of the (healthy whole) foods on their list of exclusions. High-quality dairy, white rice, or potatoes may be added to less restrictive forms of the paleo diet.

How does the Paleo diet affect health?

Several clinical studies have been done to find out whether there are health benefits of eating this way.

Some of the research has shown that the paleo diet can help with weight loss and belly fat. That alone may be reason enough to give it a try.

Not to mention its effect on several modern-day chronic diseases. For example, it can improve risk factors for heart disease

It's also thought to be "gut-friendly" because it includes a lot of high-fiber foods (i.e. fruits, vegetables, nuts and seeds), fermented foods (which contain gut-friendly probiotics), as well as being full of nutritious natural foods.

Who should consider a paleo diet?

Some people recommend the paleo diet for those with food intolerances or autoimmune disease. Those at high risk for heart disease or diabetes may also be good candidates to give the paleo diet a try.

If you react to gluten or lactose, this diet removes them both by eliminating all grains and daily.

Even if you don't choose to go paleo, the elimination of added sugars, processed and refined foods can (should?) be a goal to move toward.

Conclusion:

The paleo diet is based on what hunters and gatherers ate thousands of years ago. It is a whole-food based, nutrient-sense diet that focuses on fruits, vegetables, eggs, nuts, seeds, meat, seafood, and fermented foods.

Science has shown that it can help some people to lose weight, reduce risks of heart disease, improve glucose tolerance, and reduce inflammation.

At the very least, eliminating added sugars, processed, and refined foods are a great goal, even if you decide not to "go paleo."

If you're concerned, about weekly meal planning or recipes. I can help you in these areas, or where to get started.

For additional information, help with your diet, recipe plans or just life style changes visit:

Recipe (Paleo): Banana Muffins

Serves (12)


  • 3 large eggs

  • 5 mashed bananas

  • 1/2 cup almond butter

  • 1/4 cup coconut oil

  • 1 tsp. vanilla extract

  • 1/2 cup coconut flour

  • 1 tbsp cinnamon

  • 1 tsp baking powder

  • 1 tsp baking soda

  • pinch of sea salt

1. Preheat oven to 350 F. Line 12 muffin cups with liners. In a food processor or stand mixer, blend eggs, bananas, almond butter, coconut oil, and vanilla.

2. In a large bowl mix coconut flour, cinnamon, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.

3. Add blended wet ingredients to dry ingredients and stir until combined. Spoon batter into muffin tins, 3/4 full.. Bake for 15-18 minutes or until golden.

Serve & enjoy!

Tip: You can top muffins with walnuts before baking.

If you are enjoying this information and weekly recipes, to help you and your family stay healthy, please sign up for them to be delivered to you weekly.. You can see more helpful tips, and sign up for my weekly blogs at the website below.

References:

https://www.authoritynutrition.com/paleo-diet-meal-plan-and-menu/

https://www.thepaleomom.com/start-here/paleo-diet?

https://www.authoritynutrition.com/5-studies-on-the-paleo-diet/

#bellyfat #weight #shape #met #highbloodpressure #diabetetes #cholesterol #healthyfoods #lowercholestoral #fats #badcholesterol #goodcholesterol #hearthealth #breakfast #eggs #mealplan #healthy #gut #carrots #IBS #IBD #heartburn #constipation #mooddisorders #nutrientdeficiencies #dates #nuts #nutritionfacts #calories #labels #weightlossmyths #salt #nitrates #kalechips #preservatives #packagedfoods #aging #sushirecipe #stress #labtesting #allergies #wheyprotein #lactoseintolerance #lactosefreeicecream #foodsensitivites #milk #cortisol #Glucose #fermentedfoods #prebiotics #prebioticfiber #caffeine #lowercortisol #digestiveenzymes #bloating #digestivesymptoms #rashes #healthysnacks #hummus #almonds #recipe #Bristolstoolscales #constipated #poop #spinach #VitaminC #VitaminA #VitaminB #RawvsCooked #VitaminsMinerals #matchatea #artificialsweeteners #bloodsugar #coconutoil #healthychocolate #adrenalfatigue #lavenderbath #relaxing #stressed #tired #Cravingsugar #Cantsleep #VitaminD #sunexposure #salmonrecipe #CinnamonApplesrecipe #egbananamuffins #Paleo #Healthymuffins

9 views0 comments

Recent Posts

See All
bottom of page