Paleo: The Light In A Dark Diet Abyss
With epidemics of obesity, ADD/ADHD, and a slew of health issues plaguing many in today’s society there is a light in the darkness. There exists a way you and the people around you can change your health and future health for the better. That way is the Paleo diet. Through exercise and proper nutrition, the health tables can turn in your favor. This will not be easy, but it will be worth while.
It has never been easier to access food that is unhealthy for the human body and mind than right now. I can go a few blocks over, buy a triple hamburger, fries and a coke to gorge on for breakfast. This can be done at almost any time of day or night. I can even have another person deliver it to where I am. The fact that this is possible is amazing, yet also a huge red flag of destruction. It is not to late to change dietary habits to rule out bad food to begin physical and mental healing. The Paleo diet can offer this chance to anyone willing to give it a proper shot.
What Is Paleo?
The Paleo diet is what our ancestors ate before modern supply chain, processed foods and factory farming. This goes back to a time when the only source of sustenance was of the natural surrounding area. Eating local meats, fish, vegetables, greens, fruits, nuts and seeds were the means to survival. Nutrition was based on what was near by or what someone was able to carry with them. High protein and healthy fats where the norm. No one at this time counted or even knew what a calorie was.
Basics of Paleo diet food are- meats, birds, fish, eggs, veggies, fruits, tubers, oils and nuts. Now with this said, a huge objection is that some of these things are expensive. Yes, they can be that may be true. However there is almost always a low cost alternative to the most expensive version of them. For example, you don’t need to go to the chain grocery to buy potatoes from Mexico. Look around for farms that produce them nearby and see how much they cost. Through hunting, you can feed yourself and family for months on a single mule deer. There are ways of sourcing great quality food without breaking the bank, you just need to look outside of your usual market.
Some people may say “well, I don’t want to go on a diet and constantly be hungry.” Great. You don’t need to with Paleo. You can eat until you aren’t hungry (if you diversify your food) and it is ok. Eating 3 apples is not the same as eating a bag of potato chips but both will fill you up. The difference is with the apples, you will get fiber, water and other beneficial and natural nutrients than the starch and saturated fats with chips.
The Obvious Challenges
As great as an idea as Paleo is in theory, there are several considerations one needs to make with it. First, it is not easy. In fact, it is quite difficult to eat Paleo today. You won’t find a lot of options when you go out to eat with friends or family. Many places are not Paleo friendly. Second, you will need to make larger lifestyle changes. You will need to allocate time to cooking or preparing your own food unless you pay some else to do so. Many people do not like cooking or cleaning already, not mention giving up many foods they have eaten and enjoyed their whole lives. Third, you will need to overcome your own mind and body with will power. It will take a lot of effort on your part to rid your diet of the past patterns it is used to. That means replacing that dairy latte with almond milk and subbing out cheeses for natural and healthy alternatives. A huge amount of effort will go into staying the course with Paleo when you want the comfort foods of your past. It is worth it!
Huge Upside Benefits
With the challenges out of the way, lets see how the Paleo diet benefits those who practice. One giant benefit is that after years of eating grains, when you start Paleo your body will burn the stored fat very quickly. By quickly I mean when I started, 15 lbs disappeared in 21 days. Never was I hungry and I ate as much as I wanted. The lost weight was all fat and other stuff I didn’t need. Your mind will also be supplied with proper nutrients needed for optimal functioning and growth. You won’t have cravings for things that are bad for you. When you think of fast food, you will be disgusted at what that actually is. It can actually be much less expensive to eat natural foods that you may think. Since they will power you much longer and more efficiently you will need to eat less volume compared to grains and high starch foods. With new patterns of thinking and healthier behavior, what else can you change for the better? This will start turning those wheels and you may make huge changes that will last for a long time to your benefit.
It Never Hurts To Try And See
At the very least, you owe it to yourself and those car or depend on you to be healthy. Being healthy means you will make better choices, keep in mind the long term and promote others to do the same. It is my belief that everyone should try Paleo and see what happens. There is no doubt doing so is a step in the healthy direction compared to what mainstream outlets will promote. You will likely loose weight, look good and feel better in a matter of weeks. Who can resist that?
