Paleo and Primal
Making Sense of it All
“Paleo” is one of the hottest buzzwords right now in the world of nutrition. However, for as much as we hear the term, it is really misunderstood. At its most fundamental, paleo means eating unprocessed whole foods like our paleolithic ancestors, the cavemen, would have eaten. These foods, the proponents say, are what our bodies are designed to eat, and that all the processed foods available today wreak havoc on our digestive systems and hormones, increasing our risk for most modern diseases.
Paleo staple foods are those that were available before the invention of agriculture: meat—preferably organic; seafood—preferably sustainably raised; eggs, nuts, vegetables, fruits, and healthy fats.
Excluded are all grains—such as wheat, rice, and oats; all legumes—such as beans, lentils, and soy; starchy veggies like potatoes; dairy, alcohol, and all processed sugars and artificial sweeteners.
One of the biggest criticisms of the paleo diet is that it is meat-centric and deprives the body of necessary nutrients from carbohydrates. This, however, is simply not true. While meat certainly is an important part of the menu, the bulk of the menu should be vegetables, fruits, and healthy fats. And lots of eggs!
Climbing To The Top