Paleo is a way of life. The name and concept of the Paleo lifestyle is based on the idea of eating what our human ancestors subsisted on during the Paleolithic era. Our ancestors were hunters and gatherers who ate only what they could harvest, fish, hunt, or scavenge. Paleo followers believe that our bodies were designed to eat as these early people did, and doing so will enable us to remain healthy, muscular, and fit.
Paleo nutritionists and many other scientists believe that evolution has not caught up with the advances of our society. By consuming the foods that sustained our ancestors (such as pastured meats, sustainable seafood, fresh vegetables, wild fruit, and foraged nuts) rather than those produced by mod- ern agricultural and commercial processing methods (such as grains, legumes, dairy, sugars, and artificial additives), we can maximize nutrition absorp- tion and burn foods more efficiently. In the long run, experts believe, eating the Paleo way will stave off harmful diseases and improve overall health and well-being.
Unlike other high-protein, low-carb diets, eating the Paleo way focuses on feeding your body the best-quality, most sustainably produced, least pro- cessed foods possible. When it comes to carbohydrates, the Paleo lifestyle encourages consuming only low-glycemic carbs from fresh vegetables along with fruits that are low in sugar to stabilize and maintain insulin levels. Qual- ity protein from wild-caught seafood and pastured meat and eggs—rather than from commercially produced or processed proteins—repairs and builds mus- cle. And eating omega-3 fatty acids found in grass-fed meat, seafood, and nuts and seeds promotes better heart and brain health. While the Paleo lifestyle encourages you to prepare more of your meals at home, you also have many options when dining out. But once you start using The Paleo Beginners Guide’s shopping, cooking, and food storage tips, you’ll see how easy this “cleaner,” healthier way of eating can be. And how much better you look and feel.
PALEO LIFESTYLE GUIDELINES
As we’ve pointed out, the Paleo lifestyle focuses on consuming nutritious veg- etables and fruits along with quality proteins and fats. To make the most of the Paleo plan, it’s important to avoid refined sugars, dairy, grains, and processed foods with added sodium, preservatives, and other unnatural ingredients.
Here’s a quick look at some of the foods you will enjoy on the Paleo diet:
• Healthful oils and fats
• Hormone- and antibiotic-free meat (preferably from pasture-raised, grass-fed animals)
• Most fruits, with an emphasis on berries
• Most vegetables
• Nuts and seeds
• Sustainably sourced fish and shellfish
Here are the main groups of foods you will avoid when eating Paleo:
• Added salt
• Dairy
• Grains and legumes
• Hydrogenated and other processed oils (sunflower, canola)
• Partially hydrogenated oils (margarine, alternative butter spreads)
• Processed foods
• Refined and artificial sugars
The Paleo lifestyle does not involve calorie counting. Instead, you eat Paleo-approved foods when you’re hungry and stop when you’re satisfied. The meal plans show you how to balance every meal and snack with lean proteins, healthful fats, and vegetables and/or fruits. Still, this isn’t a license to go crazy. Stick to the recommended portion sizes. If you’re still hungry, incorporate an additional Paleo-friendly snack to your day or increase your vegetable and pro- tein portions.