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.
No comments:
Post a Comment