What is Paleo? The Paleo, or ‘caveman’ Diet is based on the diets of our hunter-gatherer prehistoric ancestors. Think grassfed meats, seafood, fresh fruits and vegetables, nuts and seeds and healthy, natural fats. It’s got to be the only Diet where bacon and eggs are not frowned upon – in fact, it’s a Paleo breakfast staple! But it does mean cutting out all processed foods, grains, (yes, even corn, rice, quinoa and my favourite gluten-free amaranth cereal), dairy, refined sugar and salt, as well as all legumes including beans and peanuts, and starchy vegetables like potatoes. (But sweet potatoes are okay!) But simply eating Paleo isn’t enough. Living the Paleo lifestyle means living a healthy, happy and active life. It requires regular exercise (weight-bearing and cardio), getting enough sleep and being emotionally well – feeling happy and fulfilled in your relationships, work and home life. This combination fuels the body with optimum nutrition and energy from natural sources that are easily processed and digested. Eliminating grains, dairy and sugar in particular has an anti-inflammatory effect on the body which reduces bloating and that sluggish feeling most of us know all too well. There are a lot of Paleo sceptics, and even ‘studies’ claiming the Diet is dangerous – but most of these are by the companies behind the endless ‘fat-loss shakes’ - all of which are filled with sugar, (some up to 30 grams!) preservatives and even gluten! Everyone is different and different diets work for different people, but if you’re curious, try it for 30 days, and see what happens.
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