Does the Paleo Diet Really Work?
If you are looking to lose weight, get in shape, and improve your overall fitness, then one of the first things that you need to do is improve the quality of your diet.
Relying on the stale idea of calories in versus calories out, does not take into consideration the complexity of us humans. We are largely controlled by our hormones, and our hormones are massively affected by the food we eat, and the frequency of our eating.
That’s where the Paleo Diet comes in. The paleo diet is a diet that is based on some simple principles. Essentially, your goal should be to cut out processed junk and eat a diet that resembles what our hunter-gatherer ancestors used to enjoy. There were no fat cavemen! Quite simply, the food our caveman ancestors ate triggered their hormones to keep them strong and lean.
That means consuming more unprocessed meats, fish and eggs, as well as in season fruit and veg, and nuts and seeds.
A strict Paleo Diet avoids sugar, dairy and bread products, as well as grains in general, although some schools of thought do allow limited quantities of rice and dairy.
Can You Lose Weight on the Paleo Diet?
Studies show that the Paleo Diet is effective for reducing many cardiovascular risk factors, and also improving glycemic control, which is important for people who have, or who are at risk, of Type 2 diabetes[1]. A paleo diet can actively reverse Type 2 diabetes.
There is also evidence to show that the Paleo Diet can help to alleviate metabolic syndrome[2].
These benefits alone should be enough to encourage people to try the diet, but the question that most people really want to know the answer to is “can it help you lose weight?”.
Yes, it can.
Most people will lose weight when they start a paleo diet, simply because the diet involves making healthier choices than their usual day to day diet. Some people lose significant weight by combining the paleo diet with the elimination of snacking, it’s a powerful combination. Most people benefit from the Paleo Diet immediately, without needing to worry about counting calories.
They eat less, naturally, and don’t feel deprived. They have more energy, so there workouts are more efficient, they reduce inflammation and they end up losing water weight and bloating too because they are taking in fewer carbohydrates and less salt.
As you get closer to your goal weight it may be that you need to revisit what you are eating to make sure that the nutrition you are getting is correct for the body size that you are aiming for.
That does not mean that your “metabolism has slowed down”. Rather, it means that because you are smaller you simply need to eat less.
You can still enjoy treats on a Paleo Diet, but the most important thing to take into consideration is that you are thinking about the quality of the food that you are eating.
There are lots of tasty foods that work well for people who are following the paleo lifestyle, and if you experiment with different seasonal fruits and vegetables you should find that you never get bored while you are following this healthy way of eating!
If you are interested to learn more about Paleo Diet and its benefits download our book “The Ultimate Paleo Diet Guide – Your Key to Healthy Weight Loss” available on our website https://paleowellnessretreat.com/
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