The paleo diet is centered around eating similarly to the way our ancestors once ate. It’s said to help optimize health, minimize the risk of chronic disease, and help you lose weight. (source)
The main concepts of the paleo diet are to:
- eat high protein foods
- limit your intake of high glycemic and high carbohydrate foods (including grains, legumes, and sugars)
- eat a good amount of healthy fats -mono- and polyunsaturated fats, with some Omega 3 and 6’s
- get loads of fiber in the form of nutritionally dense vegetables
It’s a great diet to follow if you feel the need to follow a specific protocol. Of all the “diets” out there that are gaining popularity, this is the one that I’d recommend to most people.
Why?
Because it is the most nutritionally sound “diet” I’ve seen to date.
It avoids processed foods, white flours and sugars, dairy, limits sugars of any kind, promotes eating tons of vegetables, and eating filling protein to keep your blood sugar stable. Toss in a few healthy fats and you’re satisfied between meals and cutting down on over-snacking (if that’s an issue for you) and major cravings – this is a diet that almost any health expert can get behind.
That said, I don’t follow the paleo diet myself.
The truth is that I avoid diets or specific protocols of any kind. I have eaten a very close-to-paleo diet in the past and it was great. I felt good. I had truly no complaints. But my reality is that I don’t love feeling like I’m ever doing something ‘wrong’ if I’m not following rules.
Also, I actually like to eat grains. I found that when I wasn’t eating them, I was hungry a whole lot more. Even with an increase of my protein intake. I can tolerate grains well, so I eat them – regardless of what other health gurus say.
I also don’t eat eggs right now – and a LOT of paleo recipes are centered around eggs.
Just remember: every person’s body tolerates foods differently. Only YOU know what’s right for you.
I do eat plenty paleo-friendly recipes though. I find it’s a great search term when I’m looking for recipes that already don’t have gluten or dairy included in them – and they’re really focused on keeping foods as whole as possible. Which is always important to me.
There is an off-shoot of the paleo protocol called the Autoimmune Paleo Protocol – and that’s a great option too. It cuts out a lot more foods than the standard paleo diet – including all of the top 8 allergenic foods. It’s helpful for those who are living with autoimmune diseases to help keep chronic inflammation at bay.
The paleo diet so great for gluten-free dairy-free folks, because avoiding gluten and dairy is baked right in.
They completely avoid both – and that makes it SUPER easy to follow.If you’re exploring following a specific diet or protocol to help you on your healthy journey, I recommend checking out the paleo diet.
And if you’re not looking for a specific regime to follow, remember that it’s okay to follow your own body’s cues to let you know what works best for you. I’m doing it – and it’s working out pretty great!
Do you follow the paleo diet? Or do you use it as inspiration for some of your meals?
Patricia Walker says
I have found with my O blood type the Eat for Your Type works well. I would say, for the O blood type, the Paleo and the GF/DF diets are the same as the O blood type diet.
When I read the Beneficial, Neutral and avoids, I found those to avoid are the foods I have problems with. The Beneficial and Neutral foods are ones that do well for me. They are low carb and high protein.
Rachael Roehmholdt says
Very interesting! I’ve only done a little bit of research into the blood type diet, but I’d love to learn more about it. Thanks for commenting and sharing 🙂