The Paleo diet is heavy on protein and loaded with fruits and veggies.
As you can imagine a caveman eating. A few dvantages of this program
are:
Fruits, vegetables, lean meats, and seafood, which are the main foods of
this eating plan, are more nutrient-dense than refined sugars, grains,
vegetable oils, and dairy products. This makes for very high nutritional
value of this diet high in compared with an average American diet.
No calorie counting or portion weighing: Metablosim-slowing fare has
been eliminated in the Paleo diet and the foods you will be eating are
loaded with nutrients proven to facilitate weight loss.
Protein intake will help with retaining your lean muscle tissue while
dieting and instead your body will burn fat as you lose pounds.
Here are some tips to get you going:
Eat 55/45: Get about 55% of your daily calories from lean protein and eat protein
at every meal. The remaining 45% of calories should come from plant
foods. An easy way to achieve this is to mentally divide your plate so
that 1/3 of it has protein and the remaining 2/3 is fresh produce.
Go Lean to Get Lean: Some cuts of meat contain 65-80% fat. Options for Paleo diet meats and
seafood that will get you slim: skinless turkey for chicken breast,
boiled shrimp, broiled lobster, broiled halibut, steamed clams, sirloin
beefsteak, lean beef flank steak, broiled salmon and lean pork chops.
Choose the leanest cut you can find, then trim off visible fat.
Cooking Tip for Meats: broil, bake roast or saute with olive oil, then pour off or blot excess fat before consuming.
Up Your Omegas: American diets tend to be higher in omega-6
which, in excess, can promote heart disease. Omega 3's which are the
healthiest fatty acids ward off disease and promote weight loss. When
possible opt for free range and range fed meat since it delivers a
healthier omega-3 to omega 6 ratio than grain fed livestock.
Spring into Action: Spring is the perfect time to change your
eating habits. Studies from Massachusetts Institue of Technology in
Cambridge indicate that you won't miss carbs as much in the spring.
This is due to the fact that winter's dark months are a driving force
behind women's carb cravings. Also, in spring there is an abundance of
fresh fruits and vegetables to make selecting healthy options even
easier.
Drinking: This plan is a really about water. If you follow the
plan strictly it says that water is the drink of choice. Although some
Paleo dieters also drink tea. Soda, alcohol and coffee are not
permited.
Go Ahead and Snack: you can snack all you want and it is
encouraged but what you snack on counts. Chose fresh fruit, avocado or
tomato, nuts and seeds, raw vegetables and dried fruit.
This style of eating is really a back to basics diet. If you are eating
lots and fruits and vegetables, drinking water and consuming filing
protein you are on your way to optimum health. I will say that extremes
in anything are not good so do enjoy some grains and plan for at least
one or two "open meals" each week so that you will not feel deprived of
the foods you have grown to love. But as you eat more and more on the
Paleo diet you will have increased energy and have a better mood and
outlook on life.