I got to thinking, what makes the plaeo diet special? If I am concerning myself with a specific diet, shouldn't I provide a comparison between it and the other popular diets? So here it is my blog readers; a combination of facts and opinions from testimonials and articles. For obvious reasons I omitted crash diets that don't promote real food. I also decided to leave out diets only focusing on weight loss. *Cookie diet.*
The diets that seem to be most popular for health in today's world are listed below:
A vegetarian diet- Includes animal products that don't take animal's lives. Doesn't eat meat or anything with eyes essentially, with the exception of potatoes. Many vegetarians should refer to themselves as carbatarians. I used to be guilty of this. I'd pass up vegetables for oatmeal, pasta, bread, and rice. Carbatarian is not a real term, but it should be. Vegetarians who focus too heavily on grains and refined sugar tend to behave lethargically. Critics often point out that it's lacking in protein and iron. It's slightly more accepted by meat eaters than a vegan diet, but still frowned upon by many.
A vegan diet- Many people go the refined route, others go the wholesome route. Doesn't eat anything derived from an animal. This includes dairy, eggs, honey, vegetarian vitamin D (from sheep's wool), bee pollen, etc. You get the picture. They often feel the most connected to animals, and place great importance on their health. It's criticized for being overly sentimental and extremist. For dietary reasons, people disregard it for lacking in calcium, protein, and B vitamins. However, soy is very high in protein.
A Mediterranean diet- This one is incredibly popular, because it's versitle. The main thing you have to give up is bad fats, like margarine and processed oils. Lets face it, limitation is scarier than expansion. The paleo diet does not allow grains, alcohol, legumes, and dairy. This makes most people run for the hills. The Mediterranean diet allows all four in moderation. Other than those aspects, it's a close cousin of the paleo diet. It hear critics telling me that it's not "fun" enough. That's a different way to look at it, but when a person grows up on junk food it's understandable.
A raw food diet- This one is proven to benefit humans. It is exactly what it sounds like, only uncooked food is allowed. Many of the essential compounds are broken down when food is cooked. It can be a branch of the vegan diet. It's mostly criticized for enabling food borne illnesses. Especially when raw food eaters include raw meat to the equation. It's also looked down upon for being too low in fat, or lacking in crucial vitamins such as B12.
An Atkins diet- It focuses on eating a huge amount of protein. It totes meat, fish, or seafood as the foundation. Usually a small amount of vegetables is added on the side to keep the body from entering ketosis. Ketosis, to the best of my knowledge is essentially the opposite of what a diabetic faces. Although grains are allowed, many Atkins diet worshipers prefer to keep their net carbohydrate intake among fruit and vegetables. It's criticized for creating health problems associated with too much meat. Often it results in a heart attack or ketosis.
There are countless more, but these seem to be the most popular from my observations and research. Oddly enough, a paleo alteration can be made to any of these diets. It would be the most challenging for a vegan, but manageable. A few sacrifices would have to be made if someone wanted to convert, but it's a possible choice.
Vegetarians V.S. Paleo: Both increase the immune system when approached healthily. Vegetarians consume far less antibiotics than people who eat meat. Over time, the drugs used to keep animals alive handicap a person's immune system when they eat the meat. However, vegetarians who regularly indulge in refined sugar have an equally handicapped immune system. I used to contact the common cold every year before I limited sweets to a seasonal treat, if any. This doesn't apply to meat eaters who hunt all of the animals they eat, or purchase meat from a drug free source.
Vegan V.S. Paleo: It's similar to the vegetarian comparison, except they tend to bump heads more often. I think a combination would be the best of both worlds. They both share healthy values, but their attitude towards animals separates them. The healthiest people I know live by either of these diets, also the pescatarian diet.
Mediterranean V.S. Paleo: Addressing this one is like walking on eggshells. Most people agree that the paleo diet tastes better because whole grains, Greek yogurt, and loads of olive oil just don't tingle their taste buds. Long life is recorded from following the Mediterranean diet. Since paleo cultures today live in habitats similar to the paleolithic era, death by accidents are more prevalent. So it wouldn't be accurate to compare the two based on longevity.
Raw food V.S. Paleo: They can essentially go hand in hand, especially when raw meat is included. The one way they differ is cooking food, although not entirely. Many paleo people consume raw fruits and vegetables, and only cook animal products to avoid possible illnesses they might carry.
Atkin V.S. Paleo: The paleo diet places much less emphasis on meat, which lowers the risk for heart disease, and eliminates the possibility of ketosis when followed accurately. Some Akin dieters go overboard with processed fats, which is the huge difference between the two. They usually share some respect and common ground with each other.
In conclusion, I still believe that all five diets would be improved when adjusted to a paleo version. They are all miles above junk food, and each route has it's benefits.
Sunday, August 11, 2013
The Paleo Diet for Weight Loss
I didn't plan on covering this, because I believe the paleo diet has over a dozen more important benefits. Nonetheless, it's a reason for one of my survey responders to give it a try. A reason is a reason, and I'm happy to share what I know with my readers. This is not the easiest or fastest way to loose excess weight, but it's probably the most consistent method.
Let me stress that potatoes are not paleo. They need to be cooked in order to become edible, which sounds like a mutation. Sweet potatoes and yams are from a different family and are allowed when following a paleo diet. If you are not overweight or suffering from an inflammatory disease, including potatoes would be fine. This goes for all the members of the nightshade family. They include potatoes, bell peppers, chilli peppers, tomatillos, tomatoes, eggplant, and tobacco. These plants flourish in darkness, while all other living organisms require sunlight to grow. Therefore they are nocturnal. This led me to a theory that they can cause insomnia when eaten in excess by a person who has a sensitivity to alkaloid compounds. On a personal note, they tend to keep my awake. I also believe food sensitivities can cause insomnia. When someone's digestive system cannot metabolize certain foods, it keeps the body awake as to avoid absorption of that food. Most people know a diet high in refined or processed food can be another cause for insomnia. A full nights rest of deep sleep contributes greatly to a stable weight.
The next step is remembering frequency. The amount of meals is slightly more important that the portion size. Although if you want to have an empty stomach for your next meal, moderation is best. To keep your metabolism at full speed you should aim to eat every 1 to 3 hours, starting from the time you wake up. One hour is ideal, but it's very difficult. The clearest explanation for this is the diet of a bear. Bears are adorable, and my apologies to any bears who might be among my readers. Bears overeat so they can sleep the calories off in the winter. They eat one big portion to keep them from freezing. This doesn't keep them too trim, but for the excellent reason of survival. That relates to temperature. Exposure to cold temperatures over a period of time tends to make us store fat to keep our bodies warmer. Heat burns calories, so gradually warming up showers, the heater or fireplace, and even layered clothing helps a significant amount.
The paleo diet is a good bet for those who want to loose weight in the stomach. Following a frequent diet that consists of non paleo food often takes off weight in desired areas. Curves for women, muscles for men. It's best not to focus on execise, that will come later after your body gains energy. It's stressful on the body to exercise intensely when it's not getting the proper fuel. There are many different versions of the paleo diet, but a few continued to surface as being more successful for losing weight.
The staple of the diet is water. Filtered plain water is best. Water bottles contain cheap water, so I'd recommend a reusable bottle of your own. If you aren't fond of water, maybe a flavored kind could work. Try to flavor it yourself if you can, since manufactured drinks are highly processed. When you wan to spice up water, herbal tea is great way to go.
The next is vegetables, excluding the nightshades or at least limiting them. It's best to eat the raw versions of vegetables, but steamed is still healthy. Opt for more leafy greens, and green vegetables in general. They tend to have a higher protein content and curb cravings better than their sunny counterparts. Vegetables with a high water content, such as celery and cabbage should also be staples.
The third amount is a source of complete protein that could include grass fed meat, free range poultry, seafood, fish, free range eggs, ground hemp seed, or spirulina. It's best to include as many of these as possible to avoid malnutrition. Vegetarians could work with the last three, and vegans could work with the last two. The last two taste strange to me, and I'd advise anyone to mix them in a smoothie with plenty of fresh fruit. This will help mask the taste.
The fourth amount should be healthy fats. Not all fats are bad, just check out the lean mediterranean people who consume tons of olive oil and nuts. Coconut, olive, and flax oil are all high in Omega 3's which are anti-inflammatory and they keep your metabolism strong. Avocado contains healthy fats too. It targets bad fats in the stomach, and gives you energy since it's a unique fruit. Cooking meals in these fats are healthy.
Nuts and seeds come next. They are an incredible sources of compacted energy. Sometimes they don't taste all that awesome. If you don't appreciate the bitter taste, pan frying them in a few drops of raw honey and cinnamon should improve the taste. The ones highest in omega 3's should be consumed, walnuts more than the others.
The next one is fruit. Dried fruit should be avoided because it can easily be over eaten. Sticking to one piece a day for breakfast gives you sustained energy throughout the day. This works very well for me, even when I'm too lazy to stick with the plaeo diet for the remained of the day. All fruit, especially berries should be consumed on a daily basis in moderation. If you feel a sugar craving sneaking up on you, consuming a complete protein can cancel the craving. It's not the first thing that comes to mind, since it's sugar's opposite. A complete protein contains the densest amount of energy. It cancels out cravings for a quick boost, like fruit.
The last food that should be consumed is herbs. Aside from drinking water, herbal tea is a marvelous substitute for weaning off of flavored drinks. There are endless kinds to choose from. They improve your health too, with individual medicine properties. It's important to research the benefits or possible side effects they can give you. Before a test one day, I decided to drink a nice hot cup of chamomile tea. Herbs are also great for seasoning flavorless meals. It's amazing how they can bring a dull meal to life. I'm a huge fan of pesto, and the homemade stuff still has that basil taste I love. Although herbs should be consumed less than the other groups, they can still be eaten daily.
Listening to your body is a key factor to this process. It's important to wait a half hour before eating again, stomachs take time to send signals that they are full. I can't stress eating breakfast enough, and recently read that sumo wrestlers intentionally skip breakfast to gain weight. If you do deiced to eat one giant meal a day, make it breakfast.
I hope my audience enjoyed reading this as much as I enjoyed writing it. My knowledge on this subject is still blossoming, so bear with me. There are heaps of books dedicated to the paleo diet out there. Money should never be an issue because libraries carry them too. Even the internet has lots of information. If you only live in close proximity to a bookstore, read there. I'm sure you won't get in trouble for hiding behind a shelf innocently reading a book. There is a lot of misinformation our there, so if you have any questions feel free to leave a comment on my blog. I'll get back to you as soon as I can.
Living with a person who can't be swayed might be your biggest setback. When man made food is available, it's incredibly tempting. Especially when someone constantly offers you food that you crave. I plan to move out within this year so I can embark on my journey of freedom. I'll still be living close to family so I can see them daily. Now be on your merry paleo way, and I'll try to join you one day.
Let me stress that potatoes are not paleo. They need to be cooked in order to become edible, which sounds like a mutation. Sweet potatoes and yams are from a different family and are allowed when following a paleo diet. If you are not overweight or suffering from an inflammatory disease, including potatoes would be fine. This goes for all the members of the nightshade family. They include potatoes, bell peppers, chilli peppers, tomatillos, tomatoes, eggplant, and tobacco. These plants flourish in darkness, while all other living organisms require sunlight to grow. Therefore they are nocturnal. This led me to a theory that they can cause insomnia when eaten in excess by a person who has a sensitivity to alkaloid compounds. On a personal note, they tend to keep my awake. I also believe food sensitivities can cause insomnia. When someone's digestive system cannot metabolize certain foods, it keeps the body awake as to avoid absorption of that food. Most people know a diet high in refined or processed food can be another cause for insomnia. A full nights rest of deep sleep contributes greatly to a stable weight.
The next step is remembering frequency. The amount of meals is slightly more important that the portion size. Although if you want to have an empty stomach for your next meal, moderation is best. To keep your metabolism at full speed you should aim to eat every 1 to 3 hours, starting from the time you wake up. One hour is ideal, but it's very difficult. The clearest explanation for this is the diet of a bear. Bears are adorable, and my apologies to any bears who might be among my readers. Bears overeat so they can sleep the calories off in the winter. They eat one big portion to keep them from freezing. This doesn't keep them too trim, but for the excellent reason of survival. That relates to temperature. Exposure to cold temperatures over a period of time tends to make us store fat to keep our bodies warmer. Heat burns calories, so gradually warming up showers, the heater or fireplace, and even layered clothing helps a significant amount.
The paleo diet is a good bet for those who want to loose weight in the stomach. Following a frequent diet that consists of non paleo food often takes off weight in desired areas. Curves for women, muscles for men. It's best not to focus on execise, that will come later after your body gains energy. It's stressful on the body to exercise intensely when it's not getting the proper fuel. There are many different versions of the paleo diet, but a few continued to surface as being more successful for losing weight.
The staple of the diet is water. Filtered plain water is best. Water bottles contain cheap water, so I'd recommend a reusable bottle of your own. If you aren't fond of water, maybe a flavored kind could work. Try to flavor it yourself if you can, since manufactured drinks are highly processed. When you wan to spice up water, herbal tea is great way to go.
The next is vegetables, excluding the nightshades or at least limiting them. It's best to eat the raw versions of vegetables, but steamed is still healthy. Opt for more leafy greens, and green vegetables in general. They tend to have a higher protein content and curb cravings better than their sunny counterparts. Vegetables with a high water content, such as celery and cabbage should also be staples.
The third amount is a source of complete protein that could include grass fed meat, free range poultry, seafood, fish, free range eggs, ground hemp seed, or spirulina. It's best to include as many of these as possible to avoid malnutrition. Vegetarians could work with the last three, and vegans could work with the last two. The last two taste strange to me, and I'd advise anyone to mix them in a smoothie with plenty of fresh fruit. This will help mask the taste.
The fourth amount should be healthy fats. Not all fats are bad, just check out the lean mediterranean people who consume tons of olive oil and nuts. Coconut, olive, and flax oil are all high in Omega 3's which are anti-inflammatory and they keep your metabolism strong. Avocado contains healthy fats too. It targets bad fats in the stomach, and gives you energy since it's a unique fruit. Cooking meals in these fats are healthy.
Nuts and seeds come next. They are an incredible sources of compacted energy. Sometimes they don't taste all that awesome. If you don't appreciate the bitter taste, pan frying them in a few drops of raw honey and cinnamon should improve the taste. The ones highest in omega 3's should be consumed, walnuts more than the others.
The next one is fruit. Dried fruit should be avoided because it can easily be over eaten. Sticking to one piece a day for breakfast gives you sustained energy throughout the day. This works very well for me, even when I'm too lazy to stick with the plaeo diet for the remained of the day. All fruit, especially berries should be consumed on a daily basis in moderation. If you feel a sugar craving sneaking up on you, consuming a complete protein can cancel the craving. It's not the first thing that comes to mind, since it's sugar's opposite. A complete protein contains the densest amount of energy. It cancels out cravings for a quick boost, like fruit.
The last food that should be consumed is herbs. Aside from drinking water, herbal tea is a marvelous substitute for weaning off of flavored drinks. There are endless kinds to choose from. They improve your health too, with individual medicine properties. It's important to research the benefits or possible side effects they can give you. Before a test one day, I decided to drink a nice hot cup of chamomile tea. Herbs are also great for seasoning flavorless meals. It's amazing how they can bring a dull meal to life. I'm a huge fan of pesto, and the homemade stuff still has that basil taste I love. Although herbs should be consumed less than the other groups, they can still be eaten daily.
Listening to your body is a key factor to this process. It's important to wait a half hour before eating again, stomachs take time to send signals that they are full. I can't stress eating breakfast enough, and recently read that sumo wrestlers intentionally skip breakfast to gain weight. If you do deiced to eat one giant meal a day, make it breakfast.
I hope my audience enjoyed reading this as much as I enjoyed writing it. My knowledge on this subject is still blossoming, so bear with me. There are heaps of books dedicated to the paleo diet out there. Money should never be an issue because libraries carry them too. Even the internet has lots of information. If you only live in close proximity to a bookstore, read there. I'm sure you won't get in trouble for hiding behind a shelf innocently reading a book. There is a lot of misinformation our there, so if you have any questions feel free to leave a comment on my blog. I'll get back to you as soon as I can.
Living with a person who can't be swayed might be your biggest setback. When man made food is available, it's incredibly tempting. Especially when someone constantly offers you food that you crave. I plan to move out within this year so I can embark on my journey of freedom. I'll still be living close to family so I can see them daily. Now be on your merry paleo way, and I'll try to join you one day.
Going Bananas Over Survey Results: Second Edition
Since the time I've completed my last survey, I've had a delightful
conversation with an aspiring vegan. We don't match on every single
detail of our diets, but we find common ground and have the same morals
regarding animals. I think it's important to have respectful discussions
with people about beliefs. A few months ago at my high school, I
didn't feel safe sharing my paleolithic knowledge with anyone. College has vastly
changed that for me. I view college as a weeding system; the weeds don't
make it into college. Sometimes college is hard on the grass too, and individual blades are ripped away from academic growth. Everyone in my Writing 121 class has their own passions. I have many interests, but I decided to go with my passion as well.
I completed my second survey in class, so that's why it's only four questions long. I felt like the title was somewhat deceitful. It's called, "How paleo are you?" If I took a survey called that, I'd expect some results. I would give my responders their results right here, except the surveys are anonymous. I don't know any of your names unfortunately. Even more people responded to the second one, thank you all. A total of seven people took my survey. I'm grateful for not getting over 100 responders. If I did, all of my hard work would be hidden from me. This blog was set up in a graph format, so there aren't any comments.
The first question asked: What do you normally eat in a week? Seven people reported eating fruit, five ate bread, six drank milk, four ate cheese, two ate beans, three ate lettuce, five ate cereal, one ate fish, six ate meat, two ate nuts, and two ate other.
The second question is:What food do you avoid the most? Three people avoid candy, three avoid soy, two avoid peanuts, three avoid shellfish, and one person avoids wheat. It struck me as odd that nobody avoids dairy most, since it's by far the most common food allergy. Roughly two thirds of adults are sensitive to it on a varying degree. A gluten intolerance is usually much more severe when present, so it makes sense why avoidance would be more prevalent.
The next question posed the opposite question: Which food do you eat the most of? Four people chose meat, three chose vegetables, three chose fruit, two chose grains, and two chose fast food. One person chose other, which is fish. Something seems fishy about that answer...
The last question asked: From what you know, rate yourself on how healthy you think you eat. 1 being unhealthy as possible, 10 being as healthy as possible. One person ranked themselves as a three, one person as a four, and another as a six. Two people ranked themselves as a five, and same with seven.
Judging from individual responses, people seemed to have a pretty accurate grasp on their health. The only person who eats fish rated their eating habits as a 6. From the looks of it, they are much healthier than the others despite not eating completely paleo. The two who regularly eat fast food rated their diet's as a 5. They are more generous with themselves than the person who eats meat most often. That person rated themselves as a 3. I wonder if they feel healthy, and society makes them believe they are not. Or they could just be eating unhealthy meat. Nobody came super close to following the paleo diet. However, many avoided a few common allergens, junk food, and candy. I think they are headed on a right path.
I completed my second survey in class, so that's why it's only four questions long. I felt like the title was somewhat deceitful. It's called, "How paleo are you?" If I took a survey called that, I'd expect some results. I would give my responders their results right here, except the surveys are anonymous. I don't know any of your names unfortunately. Even more people responded to the second one, thank you all. A total of seven people took my survey. I'm grateful for not getting over 100 responders. If I did, all of my hard work would be hidden from me. This blog was set up in a graph format, so there aren't any comments.
The first question asked: What do you normally eat in a week? Seven people reported eating fruit, five ate bread, six drank milk, four ate cheese, two ate beans, three ate lettuce, five ate cereal, one ate fish, six ate meat, two ate nuts, and two ate other.
The second question is:What food do you avoid the most? Three people avoid candy, three avoid soy, two avoid peanuts, three avoid shellfish, and one person avoids wheat. It struck me as odd that nobody avoids dairy most, since it's by far the most common food allergy. Roughly two thirds of adults are sensitive to it on a varying degree. A gluten intolerance is usually much more severe when present, so it makes sense why avoidance would be more prevalent.
The next question posed the opposite question: Which food do you eat the most of? Four people chose meat, three chose vegetables, three chose fruit, two chose grains, and two chose fast food. One person chose other, which is fish. Something seems fishy about that answer...
The last question asked: From what you know, rate yourself on how healthy you think you eat. 1 being unhealthy as possible, 10 being as healthy as possible. One person ranked themselves as a three, one person as a four, and another as a six. Two people ranked themselves as a five, and same with seven.
Judging from individual responses, people seemed to have a pretty accurate grasp on their health. The only person who eats fish rated their eating habits as a 6. From the looks of it, they are much healthier than the others despite not eating completely paleo. The two who regularly eat fast food rated their diet's as a 5. They are more generous with themselves than the person who eats meat most often. That person rated themselves as a 3. I wonder if they feel healthy, and society makes them believe they are not. Or they could just be eating unhealthy meat. Nobody came super close to following the paleo diet. However, many avoided a few common allergens, junk food, and candy. I think they are headed on a right path.
Saturday, August 10, 2013
Going Bananas Over Survey Results
I'm very excited to announce that my survey results have come in. I had an unrealistic fear that nobody would take my surveys, and they would end up going to waste. Then again, aren't most fears unrealistic in the long run? I published my first survey on July 20th, it's titled 'The paleo diet.' Since then, I've received quite a few interesting and thoughtful responses. A total of six anonymous people took it. Thank you all.
My first question asked how much people knew about the paleo diet, if anything. Four people admitted they knew nothing about it. The first responder described it as, 'Yes. There are different interpretations of it, but in general you're
required to eat like a hunter/gatherer. Nothing processed or cultivated.' I think that about sums it up. The second one wrote, ''Yes, it's where you eat things that people "back in the day" ate. Meat's, veggies. No breads or cheese.'' Maybe these people have been reading my blog! Just kidding.
The second question asked the number of people my responders knew who benefited from the paleo diet. I must admit, this one made me laugh because I never clarified what the paleo diet is. One responder pointed that out in the comments, "What is it?" Others commented, "no one." "Do not know anyone in my circle that has tried this diet." I like this comment, it's very straightforward. "I know no one who has tried it." To the last commenter, maybe you aren't aware of someone's personal diet history. I could have zombie neighbors, but I'm aware of the fact that I'm not aware. It's just something to ponder. All six people claimed to have known one person who benefited from the looks of the chart. Again, I laughed at myself. I forgot to put in zero as an option.
The third question asked if they thought it was a fad diet, based on what they already knew. My responses and reactions
were: "?" I understand your confusion. "It seems like a kind of type of diet." It most certainly is. "I really don't know, I would have to research it and find out the comments and suggestions in order to call anything a fad." Such a great open-minded answer. "No, it's only a fad if you try it and give up." How wise, I agree with that. Try it before you deny it. Also vice versa, try it before you buy it."Yes." I respect your opinion. "Seems like it, but I will have to read more." That's the spirit young explorer!
My fourth question asked: On a scale from 1-10, how important would you rate your internal health?
(Everything you consume). 1 being least important. Explain. They listed a number, then elaborated. The first one wrote "7". No explanation needed I guess. The next one wrote "10". The one after that wrote, "10, keeping everything working is what keeps me going." What a logical way to look at it, I admire that. "EIGHT." Cool. "5." Indifferent, are we? "10 so life is easier on you and you can live long without struggling." I wish I knew who wrote this so I could give them a high five. Living in the moment is hard for most people. We are told to remember important things, which drags us back to the past. We are also told to make goals and dream big, which shoves us into the future. From my last blog entry, I wrote about the Kitavans. Some of them have accidents or die from old age. They don't die from illnesses. Dying from exhaustion is really the best way to go. How many people can you think of who die from natural causes that aren't related to what they consume? I'm not going to expose my personal life completely, but I wish I had a conversation with my grandparents.
My fifth question asked: On a scale from 1-10, how important would you rate your external health? (Everything you do). 1 being least important. Explain. "5." No comment. "10." None for you either. "External health...?" Read the question again. "EIGHT." No comment. "6." No comment. "10 positive environment, clean environment, to be happy in a happy home. To love life and enjoy it." You are like fresh air to my soul. I hoped someone would mention exercise. That's the main point of controllable external health. I should reword my survey come to think of it.
The fifth question was set up like a chart. Skip this paragraph if numbers bore you. No hurt feelings, I nodded off a few times while writing it. I asked them; What should the American food pyramid look like to you? 1 being the main staple, 8 being a rare treat.
If you feel like a group doesn't belong on the pyramid, write a 0. There were eight food groups listed. Grains received one vote as the classic American staple, one vote each for fourth, fifth, and sixth place, and one person thinks it should be a rare treat. Two people think vegetables should be a staple, one vote for second and fourth place, and two votes for a rare treat. One person thinks meat should not be eaten, one person thinks it should be a staple, and rankings 3-6 each got one vote. Refined food is shunned by 3 votes, ranked third place by two people, and one person thinks it's okay in moderation as an occasional treat. Legumes won a single staple vote, two people think they should rank second, one third place, and 2 last place. Two people want fruit to be the staple. I bet Survey Monkey gave them brownie points for that answer. One person ranked fruit third place, and three people ranked it last place as an occasional treat. Nuts/ seeds got a vote each in first, second, third place, fifth, seventh, and eighth place. Dairy got one vote for third, fifth, sixth and seventh place. Two people ranked it fourth place.
Last question, stay awake with me here. I asked: Lastly are you curious about the paleo diet? Explain. "Yes -- I just bought a book on it!" Why thank you I feel honored! I guess my lack of explanation turned out to have its upside. "A little." That's a good start. "Yes, I wouldn't mind knowing more about the types of food you could make." There are plenty of paleo cookbooks you can check out, and even some awesome recipes online. It's never difficult because you are working with the bounty nature gives you. It's far from some elaborate recipe with over 30 ingredients. "Yes just due to the fact that I am over weight and look out for a different approach to lose weight." That's brave of you to admit that, and adopting a paleo diet is a great way to average out one's weight. If you want to become underweight, this is not the diet for you. It helps people balance out to their destined BMI weight. Adjust the diet to fit you, easing into it would work better. There is initial hunger pains that can last up to a month. Be careful to make sure this hunger is just the weaning process, not some from of malnutrition that could sabotage the whole experience. When I embarked on my paleo lifestyle, I developed a moderate B12 deficiency because I'm a vegetarian. This was mainly because I didn't eat eggs. Even if you are a vegetarian/ vegan, be sure to include enough healthy fat, b12, and calcium. If you eat meat, the transition should be easy. Make sure to read, read, and read some more before you begin the transition. "Yes. I would like to know what kind of diet it is." Feel free to. Unleash your inner cave wo/man. "Yes, I don't know what it is." Read my blog perhaps? It would be greatly appreciated.
I'm blown away with the feedback this quiz gave me. I've been putting off this update, but now I know that I can conquer my fears. As you might have noticed, I repeat a few concepts from my previous journal entries. I don't do it to fill up space, just to keep my readers from getting lost if they don't want to read all of my lengthy entries. I made some interesting connections based on the time in which the individual answers submitted. The people who became most excited showed background knowledge or indifference at first. The people who thought of it as a fad diet seemed the least interested in the end. I think this was a success, and I'll blog about weight loss approaches to the paleo diet next for my survey taker. It's not always instant weigh loss. I guarantee that if you do transition successfully, weight loss will not be what you focus on anymore. The countless other benefits will be the real reward, especially happiness. Because the root of our desires is happiness.
Friday, August 9, 2013
A reasonable proposal.
Many people in today's modern American world practice yo-yo diets. Crash diets are common, where calorie restriction is enforced and binging usually occurs after. Not only does this put a strain on the body, it also counteracts balance. When the word diet is brought up, many people conjure up memories of weight loss and hunger pains. To think that a diet could actually reverse hunger is interesting. Many people report feeling fuller on the paleo diet than any other, not bloated or stuffed, just contently full. Of course the transition period can be a pain, depending on the extent of non-paleo foods that the person consumed before switching. A gradual transition can curb the temporary hunger that one might suffer from. A normal transition period lasts 0 to 30 days.
The paleo diet claims to prevent all inflammatory diseases, heart disease, high blood pressure, hypertension, insomnia, diabetes, low immune system, asthma, allergies, obesity, malnourishment, bloating, and cancer. Most importantly, it's claimed to eliminate depression. I think everyone in our modern world today could use a little happiness. If this is true, the paleo diet also might be the key to world peace.
This brings me back to the practical side of the paleolithic diet. It is difficult for many to hop on board because of culture, access, and wealth. However, it is the oldest diet humans followed, which means it's the first. For approximately 1,750,000 years, everyone on earth ate a paleo diet. The paleo diet excludes any food that needs to be cooked, along with processed foods. The first people on earth cooked most of their food to avoid diseases, but this only enhanced the safety of the foods. Today people cook food in order to make it edible. Sadly, I know from first hand experience that my body is not designed to eat uncooked lentils and wheat.
What may be shocking is that people still live this way today. Take the Kitavans from Papua New Guinea for example. To this day, they adhere to a strict paleo diet of yams, taro, bananas, papayas, pineapples, watermelons, fish, coconuts, seafood, and many more foods. They are reported to die mainly from viruses or old age. In the United States heart disease is the leading cause of death, followed by several other diseases that come from poor consumption choice. Despite smoking occasionally, none of the Kitavans develop heart disease.
If it's manageable for a whole society of people to live this way, is it that far fetched to believe we can return to our roots as well?
The paleo diet claims to prevent all inflammatory diseases, heart disease, high blood pressure, hypertension, insomnia, diabetes, low immune system, asthma, allergies, obesity, malnourishment, bloating, and cancer. Most importantly, it's claimed to eliminate depression. I think everyone in our modern world today could use a little happiness. If this is true, the paleo diet also might be the key to world peace.
This brings me back to the practical side of the paleolithic diet. It is difficult for many to hop on board because of culture, access, and wealth. However, it is the oldest diet humans followed, which means it's the first. For approximately 1,750,000 years, everyone on earth ate a paleo diet. The paleo diet excludes any food that needs to be cooked, along with processed foods. The first people on earth cooked most of their food to avoid diseases, but this only enhanced the safety of the foods. Today people cook food in order to make it edible. Sadly, I know from first hand experience that my body is not designed to eat uncooked lentils and wheat.
What may be shocking is that people still live this way today. Take the Kitavans from Papua New Guinea for example. To this day, they adhere to a strict paleo diet of yams, taro, bananas, papayas, pineapples, watermelons, fish, coconuts, seafood, and many more foods. They are reported to die mainly from viruses or old age. In the United States heart disease is the leading cause of death, followed by several other diseases that come from poor consumption choice. Despite smoking occasionally, none of the Kitavans develop heart disease.
If it's manageable for a whole society of people to live this way, is it that far fetched to believe we can return to our roots as well?
Tuesday, July 30, 2013
Exploring the Meaning and History of our Ancestor's Diet
To expand my knowledge, and my reader's knowledge, I searched Wikipedia for some elaborations on my subject. The paleo diet was the diet humans followed during the stone age. Hence where it gets the name, from the paleolithic era. It's hard to imagine that modern people can consider this lifestyle a fad if everyone used to eat this way until ten thousand years ago. Did our entire system really evolve over ten thousand years, or do our bodies work better with our original fuel? It defines the diet to include fish, grass fed pasture raised meats, eggs, vegetables, fruit, fungi, roots, and nuts. It prohibits the consumption of grains, legumes, potatoes, refined salt, refined sugar, dairy products, and processed oils.
I have noticed that the paleo diet emits half of the common allergens that plague modern societies today. Milk, peanuts, wheat, and soy are all excluded. It is arguable that chicken who are fed certain grains may lay eggs that cause an allergic reaction to gluten intolerant people. However, if chickens were allowed to roam around and eat bugs like they did before agriculture, the common egg allergy might be less severe or non existent. Eggs, tree nuts, fish, and shellfish are the other half of the equation. It is relatively easy to avoid these allergens while following a paleo diet.
This is the first time I discovered that potatoes are not allowed when following the paleo diet. It makes sense, because potatoes are part of the nightshade family that cause inflammatory reactions in some people. The inflammatory diseases they cause range from heart burn to arthritis. This excludes yams and sweet potatoes because they belong in different families. Not everyone is sensitive to nightshades, only those who suffer from inflammation problems.
There is a strong debate about the paleolithic diet in most industries. There are many people on opposite ends of the spectrum, some write it off as a fad diet, and others incorporate it into their lives almost religiously. Scientists argue that there is no scientific proof supporting it, while others argue there is personal proof to back it up. I take the side of the supporters, because you can't bash something you haven't tried when it's proved itself to be beneficial.
It's amazing how many variations of the paleolithic diet exist. The hardest thing for followers of this diet to agree on is the ratios of the food groups. Some believe that a meat based diet is ideal, similar to an Atkins diet. Others believe that a high-carb vegetable diet is ideal. Variations of the diet are endless, but some include a raw, vegetarian, vegan, high fat, low fat, high protein, low protein, four day rotation, fasting, part-time plaeo, and a local version. With all of these options and more, I can't imagine how this "diet" is lumped in with all the other heavily restricted diets commonly followed today. Some people go all out limiting eggs, honey, and sweet potatoes because they weren't gathered in abundance back in the day. Others rely on these as staples because they closely resemble the comfort food they miss. They may disregard moderation and an accurate duplication of the diet. There is tons misinformation out there. People are sold the idea that they are on a paleo diet when they include milk from grass fed cows, and should eat quinoa since it might be a seed. Others find it more convenient to live a partially paleo lifestyle, while sticking to their regular diet some or most of the time.
I think it's hard to pinpoint the exact facts of what our ancestors ate, and we should listen to our bodies more than an external influence like the media, parents, friends, or certified health instructors. One person might have an allergy to blueberries. Although blueberries are paleo by every definition, consuming them would be more harmful to this individual than consuming a triple cheese factory produced casserole. I think everyone should give the hunter-gatherer diet a try at least once, and adjust it however they want.
I have noticed that the paleo diet emits half of the common allergens that plague modern societies today. Milk, peanuts, wheat, and soy are all excluded. It is arguable that chicken who are fed certain grains may lay eggs that cause an allergic reaction to gluten intolerant people. However, if chickens were allowed to roam around and eat bugs like they did before agriculture, the common egg allergy might be less severe or non existent. Eggs, tree nuts, fish, and shellfish are the other half of the equation. It is relatively easy to avoid these allergens while following a paleo diet.
This is the first time I discovered that potatoes are not allowed when following the paleo diet. It makes sense, because potatoes are part of the nightshade family that cause inflammatory reactions in some people. The inflammatory diseases they cause range from heart burn to arthritis. This excludes yams and sweet potatoes because they belong in different families. Not everyone is sensitive to nightshades, only those who suffer from inflammation problems.
There is a strong debate about the paleolithic diet in most industries. There are many people on opposite ends of the spectrum, some write it off as a fad diet, and others incorporate it into their lives almost religiously. Scientists argue that there is no scientific proof supporting it, while others argue there is personal proof to back it up. I take the side of the supporters, because you can't bash something you haven't tried when it's proved itself to be beneficial.
It's amazing how many variations of the paleolithic diet exist. The hardest thing for followers of this diet to agree on is the ratios of the food groups. Some believe that a meat based diet is ideal, similar to an Atkins diet. Others believe that a high-carb vegetable diet is ideal. Variations of the diet are endless, but some include a raw, vegetarian, vegan, high fat, low fat, high protein, low protein, four day rotation, fasting, part-time plaeo, and a local version. With all of these options and more, I can't imagine how this "diet" is lumped in with all the other heavily restricted diets commonly followed today. Some people go all out limiting eggs, honey, and sweet potatoes because they weren't gathered in abundance back in the day. Others rely on these as staples because they closely resemble the comfort food they miss. They may disregard moderation and an accurate duplication of the diet. There is tons misinformation out there. People are sold the idea that they are on a paleo diet when they include milk from grass fed cows, and should eat quinoa since it might be a seed. Others find it more convenient to live a partially paleo lifestyle, while sticking to their regular diet some or most of the time.
I think it's hard to pinpoint the exact facts of what our ancestors ate, and we should listen to our bodies more than an external influence like the media, parents, friends, or certified health instructors. One person might have an allergy to blueberries. Although blueberries are paleo by every definition, consuming them would be more harmful to this individual than consuming a triple cheese factory produced casserole. I think everyone should give the hunter-gatherer diet a try at least once, and adjust it however they want.
Sunday, July 14, 2013
My Accidental Experiment
The first time I changed my diet to a semi-paleo one, I was unaware that it was. At the time, I was pre-diabetic and felt incredibly fatigued. My doctor warned me that I was pushing my luck, and that I needed to restrict my refined carbohydrate intake. Even complex carbohydrates, like brown rice and whole wheat, made me sleepy during the day. I knew something had to change, and I was determined to reduce my acne, and increase my energy.
Ever since I was in middle school, researching diet and nutrition has been one of my biggest hobbies. While normal kids would be messing around on You Tube in the computer lab, I would be hard at work typing in all of my questions regarding internal health. Starting my Freshman year, I used myself as a diet guinea pig. At first I tested out a protein bar diet, then a soup diet, apple diet, and a (laughable) instant hot chocolate diet. Granted, the hot chocolate diet was more of a snowed-in last resort than an educated experiment. Throughout all this, I never strayed from my life-long vegetarian diet. I'm not bragging, since it wasn't an option to eat meat growing up. Some veggies I know pride themselves on loving animals, being true to their religion, or being healthier than everyone. Which are all great reasons, and makes me wish I had a better one than the fact that my taste buds never adjusted. Now back to the topic.
I never was fond of foods with a high protein content. I am not nuts about nuts. However, I always fancied cashews, and decided they would be my main source of protein. Later on I found out they were really seeds from the poisonous when eaten raw tropical cashew fruit, go figure. I bought them in bulk at Fred Meyers, and there were a few rancid ones which I managed to pick around. I knew the importance of vitamin C to help me absorb the iron, so I decided on buying clementine cuties. For those who aren't a fan, they are smaller, sweeter, and tangier versions of an orange. At that time in my life I couldn't care less about variety. Cashews and clementines seemed like all I needed. Also water of course, plenty of water.
My diet lasted a month, which is surprising when I look back on it. The results were different than what I expected. I lost forty pounds, which was disappointing. I had a nice womanly figure before, and my clothes fit well. Afterwards none of my jeans fit, but at least my bra size stayed about the same. I had transformed from an hourglass into cone in one month. It may be shallow, but I missed the attention I got walking down the halls in summer school. Also, the last day my lips were chapped and hurt when I touched them. During that month I had intense cravings. At summer school, the snack bar tempted me with it's chocolate chip muffins. I succumbed to their chocolaty goodness a few times I'll admit. I had a dream about cheese. The cheese was just a mirage, and I woke up shaking. I knew there was cheese downstairs in the fridge, but restrained myself, and stuffed my face with cashews instead. I knew that my skin would clear up somewhat, but not to the extent that it did. I looked airbrushed for the first time since I was a baby. One result I didn't see coming was the disappearance of my dark eye circles, which made my complexion look radiant.
Despite the negative side effects and giving in, I didn't regret this experiment. I reached my goals if only temporarily. Later I would learn about the Paleo diet, and how balance plays a big role in over all health, not just partial. A quick overview of the Paleo diet. It's what our ancestors ate before the agricultural revolution. Anything that requires cooking to become edible is ruled out. This would technically rule out cashews, except that only their shell is poisonous and can easily be avoided. The diet includes grass fed meat and eggs, seafood, vegetables, fruit, herbs, nuts, seeds, and water. As you can tell this sounds like a dead end for a vegetarian. It's not, and I plan to be living proof one day when I decide to put down the block of cheese for good.
Ever since I was in middle school, researching diet and nutrition has been one of my biggest hobbies. While normal kids would be messing around on You Tube in the computer lab, I would be hard at work typing in all of my questions regarding internal health. Starting my Freshman year, I used myself as a diet guinea pig. At first I tested out a protein bar diet, then a soup diet, apple diet, and a (laughable) instant hot chocolate diet. Granted, the hot chocolate diet was more of a snowed-in last resort than an educated experiment. Throughout all this, I never strayed from my life-long vegetarian diet. I'm not bragging, since it wasn't an option to eat meat growing up. Some veggies I know pride themselves on loving animals, being true to their religion, or being healthier than everyone. Which are all great reasons, and makes me wish I had a better one than the fact that my taste buds never adjusted. Now back to the topic.
I never was fond of foods with a high protein content. I am not nuts about nuts. However, I always fancied cashews, and decided they would be my main source of protein. Later on I found out they were really seeds from the poisonous when eaten raw tropical cashew fruit, go figure. I bought them in bulk at Fred Meyers, and there were a few rancid ones which I managed to pick around. I knew the importance of vitamin C to help me absorb the iron, so I decided on buying clementine cuties. For those who aren't a fan, they are smaller, sweeter, and tangier versions of an orange. At that time in my life I couldn't care less about variety. Cashews and clementines seemed like all I needed. Also water of course, plenty of water.
My diet lasted a month, which is surprising when I look back on it. The results were different than what I expected. I lost forty pounds, which was disappointing. I had a nice womanly figure before, and my clothes fit well. Afterwards none of my jeans fit, but at least my bra size stayed about the same. I had transformed from an hourglass into cone in one month. It may be shallow, but I missed the attention I got walking down the halls in summer school. Also, the last day my lips were chapped and hurt when I touched them. During that month I had intense cravings. At summer school, the snack bar tempted me with it's chocolate chip muffins. I succumbed to their chocolaty goodness a few times I'll admit. I had a dream about cheese. The cheese was just a mirage, and I woke up shaking. I knew there was cheese downstairs in the fridge, but restrained myself, and stuffed my face with cashews instead. I knew that my skin would clear up somewhat, but not to the extent that it did. I looked airbrushed for the first time since I was a baby. One result I didn't see coming was the disappearance of my dark eye circles, which made my complexion look radiant.
Despite the negative side effects and giving in, I didn't regret this experiment. I reached my goals if only temporarily. Later I would learn about the Paleo diet, and how balance plays a big role in over all health, not just partial. A quick overview of the Paleo diet. It's what our ancestors ate before the agricultural revolution. Anything that requires cooking to become edible is ruled out. This would technically rule out cashews, except that only their shell is poisonous and can easily be avoided. The diet includes grass fed meat and eggs, seafood, vegetables, fruit, herbs, nuts, seeds, and water. As you can tell this sounds like a dead end for a vegetarian. It's not, and I plan to be living proof one day when I decide to put down the block of cheese for good.
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