Eating like a cave man
The Paleo diet — sometimes called the cave man diet — is based on the idea that eating foods similar to those consumed by our hunter-gatherer ancestors is the healthiest, most successful path to sustainable weight loss and optimal health. These guidelines will get you started on making the transition to eating Paleo:
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Build your meals around animal protein sources, vegetables, fruits, and naturally occurring, high-quality fat sources.
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As much as possible, eat grass-fed, organic, pasture-raised meat and poultry and wild-caught fish and seafood.
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Eat a wide variety of vegetables (including starchy vegetables, like sweet potatoes and winter squash) and fruits (especially berries).
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Enjoy a wide range of naturally occurring fats, including coconut products (milk, flakes, butter, and oil), avocados, olives, and olive oil.
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Avoid all gluten and grains, including wheat, rice, corn, quinoa, buckwheat, barley, spelt, and oats.
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Avoid all seed and industrial oils, including canola, soy, and corn.
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Avoid dairy, including milk, cream, half-and-half, cheese, and yogurt.
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Avoid all processed and packaged foods.
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Avoid all added sugars and artificial sweeteners. (The naturally occurring sugar in fruit is okay.)
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Eat protein, vegetables, fruits, and fats to satisfaction, rather than to the state of being “full” or “stuffed.”
Advantages of living paleo
By removing foods from your diet that cause inflammation inside your body — foods that weren’t part of our hunter-gatherer ancestors’ daily meals — you’ll enjoy a wealth of health and lifestyle benefits. Here are some of the benefits of living Paleo:
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Weight loss and increased fat burning
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Increased immunity to better fight colds
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Increased ability to manage both emotional and physical stress
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Reduction in both food and environmental allergy symptoms
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Increased energy that lasts throughout the day
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Deeper, more restful sleep
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Clear, glowing skin
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Strong, healthy nails and hair
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Alleviation from depression
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Elimination of joint aches and pains
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Reduced blood pressure, cholesterol, and triglyceride levels
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Reduced risk for “diseases of civilization,” including heart disease, diabetes, and cancers
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Improvements in skin disorders, like acne, alopecia, eczema, and psoriasis
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Alleviation of symptoms of autoimmune disorders, including Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, rheumatoid arthritis, celiac disease, and Crohn’s disease
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Freedom from bloating, gas, and other intestinal distress