How to Get Started on the Paleo Diet

If you’ve ever asked about How to Get Started on the Paleo Diet only to find yourself lost in a sea of information, and quite possibly disinfo, then I welcome you to the club.

Some schools of thought believe that a Paleo diet can include grains and dairy while others say those foods are best to be avoided. What gives?

There are also some who might speculate about what our ancestors really ate and assume that these foods are too difficult to obtain today. Some proponents believe that Paleo can be both high-carb and low-fat diet as long as all of those carbs would have been available to a hunter-gatherer during the paleolithic era.

What Exactly is a Paleo Diet?

By definition, the Paleo – short for Paleolithic – diet means only consuming the equivalent to those foods that our hunting and gathering ancestors ate. If you can imagine that there were suddenly no stores and your survival depended on the animals you could catch or the fruits you could pick, then you get the idea behind the paleo diet.

Thank goodness we are able to get all the foods we need by heading to the local grocery store instead of taking up arms. If you are planning to try out a paleo diet, then you should fill your cart up with grass-fed meat, eggs, poultry, wild-caught seafood, vegetables, fresh herbs, fruits, seeds, tubers, and nuts.

Foods that are traditionally more highly processed, contain harmful chemicals or non-Paleo ingredients, as well as most legumes, cane sugar, and other refined sweeteners are best avoided.

Dairy and grains are also to be avoided by those following this way of eating.  That means avoiding grain-based products like bread, pasta and rice, and dairy-based products like milk, cheese, and butter. (Though some people reintroduce butter successfully after going Paleo for at least 30-60 days and have no issues with it.) These highly processed and refined products would not have been available to the hunter-gatherer. These only became available once humans began farming land, domesticating animals, and refining grains.

The Paleo Basics

The principle behind Paleo really is quite simple: Eat only those foods that are best used by the body. Such foods will nourish your body and enable it to work more efficiently. Making a shift to Paleo means that you will be making better nutritional choices.

Though Paleo can be low carb, that does not have to be the case. The diet can be adjusted to best meet your needs and does not require calorie counting or starvation.

To achieve success on the Paleo diet, you’ll want to stick with eating real, whole, unprocessed foods. As a side effect, you will find that it is difficult to overeat on the Paleo diet. Healthy fats alongside plenty of protein are much tougher to overdo compared to a bag of chips or a piece of cake.

Paleo foods also have a much lower glycemic index compared to their simple sugar counterparts. This will help your brain to get the signal of fullness much sooner. A diet consisting of fats and proteins while limiting refined carbohydrates will also do its part to help your brain and body function at a higher level.

That is not to say that some of us (raises hand!) may enjoy the occasional rare treat. The good news is that once you eliminate the junk and treats, you will find sweetness in simpler foods such as berries and vegetables. With the addition of fresh herbs, seared meats, and high-quality ingredients, you will have a newfound appreciation for the flavors of these healthier options.

Getting Started with Paleo

Though I keep referring to it as the Paleo “diet”, let’s take that word off the table. The word’s connotation implies restriction and a temporary fix. That is not the idea behind this way of eating. Paleo does not mean restrictive. It can be customized to meet your tastes, and adjustments can be made to all your favorite recipes.

Most people decide to give the Paleo diet a try in an effort to shed some unwanted pounds. Though it may help for some, Paleo is not only used just for weight loss.  Some fans of Paleo embrace it as an entire lifestyle. That is because changing your health involves changing your mindset. It is perfect for anyone who wants to adopt a healthy lifestyle while also achieving their health and fitness goals. If you are considering making a change from the standard American diet, ironically referred to as SAD, to a Paleo diet, I’m here to help you get started.

Let’s Get Started!

There is no need to dive in head-first on day one. Your journey to better health can start with just a few easy steps. For starters:

• Add a wide variety of seasonal vegetables and fruits. Do what you can to increase the number of fresh vegetables and avoid pre-packaged foods.
  
  
• Fill up your fridge with animal-based protein sources. Red meat, eggs, turkey, chicken, and seafood are great sources of complete proteins.
  
  
• Avoid grains, and enjoy sweet foods in moderation only. Don’t try to skirt the rules by making honey-filled sweets every day simply because honey would’ve been available during the Paleolithic era.

Paleo and Carbohydrate Consumption

Eating exactly what our hunting and gathering ancestors is no longer an option.  Instead, keep your focus on making the best choice for your health based on the food options that are available to you. You may not be able to go outside and dig up a yam for dinner, but you can choose Paleo-friendly foods such as lotus roots, cassava, plantains, parsnips, beets and taro roots right from your local grocer.

If you plan to go low carb, this diet can be adjusted accordingly to assist in weight loss. However, those who participate in high-intensity cardio activities may miss their lack of carbs. Try a sweet potato the night before a big workout to top off your glycogen stores. Also consider existing hormone imbalances, thyroid disorders, and certain autoimmune diseases which may make going too low carb hard on your body.

Now that You Know How to Get Started on the Paleo Diet, Why Not Give it a Try?

If you are moving from a diet that is based on processed foods and sweet desserts, you will almost certainly be pleased with the results you’ll achieve with this way of eating. Many have tried Paleo and seen great improvements to their health. Get ready to become fitter, healthier, and happier while experiencing less hunger and saying goodbye to calorie counting.

Be sure to check out all of delicious and simple Paleo recipes I’ve created for you here on the blog to give you a head start!