Can The Paleo Diet Help With Weight Loss?
If you are struggling to lose weight, and you are finding that none of the popular diets, such as Atkins, the South Beach Diet, or Weight Watchers work for you, maybe you should consider a different approach. The Paleo diet is not designed as a weight loss diet, specifically, but many people who follow it have found that they do lose weight on it.
What Is The Paleo Diet?
The Paleo diet is a diet which encourages followers to “eat like a cave man”. Paleo followers avoid processed foods, foods with artificial colours and flavorings, as well as grains and dairy products. Their diet consists mostly of organic vegetables, grass-fed beef, wild salmon, free range chicken, nuts, berries and fruits. There are, of course, some people who are more flexible in their diet and make compromises because of the high cost of the most desirable Paleo foods.
The reasoning behind the Paleo diet is simple. Our bodies are designed to eat certain foods - the kinds of foods that paleolithic man would have been able to forage or hunt for with ease. It has only been relatively recently that we have developed the technology required to rear farm animals, domesticate crops, and make processed foods. Our bodies are not designed to digest dairy products or large amounts of grains.
How Does The Paleo Diet Promote Weight Loss
People lose weight on the Paleo diet for several reasons. Firstly, a lot of calorie dense foods are forbidden on the Paleo diet. So, if you follow the diet you will lose weight simply because you are eating fewer calories than you normally do. Secondly, the Paleo diet can help people who are lactose or gluten intolerant to repair the damage that a lifetime of eating the wrong foods has done to their guts. Their digestion will improve, they will have more energy, and they will generally feel healthier. Increased energy levels mean more physical activity, more calories burned, and more weight lost.
Is The Paleo Diet a Fad
The Paleo diet is not a fad. It is based on sound science, and while some of the more extreme followers do choose to spend a lot of money on buying the perfect foods, it is possible to follow a more moderate version of the diet on a budget. Once you get used to the rules of eating Paleo, you should find that it is an easy diet to stick to, and this will help you to lose weight, and keep it off.
Weight loss is a confusing subject. There are lots of gurus vying for people’s attention, and it can be hard to figure out who to listen to. Do not worry about finding the perfect diet. Look for a diet system that appeals to you and that you will be able to stick to for the rest of your life. Remember that you did not gain weight overnight, and it will take a long time to see results. Be patient, and develop good habits that will last a life time.
