Paleo Diet: Passing Fad or Healthy Lifestyle?
The Paleo Diet has been trending in recent years, but how does this diet work and does it really help you lose weight? Read on as we take a closer look at this special diet with its pros and cons to help you find out whether it’s good for you and fits your lifestyle!
Jump to RecipeWhat Is The Paleo Diet?
The Paleo diet is derived from the term Paleolithic – the so-called Paleolithic Age. This diet is based on the original diet of hunters and gatherers and relies on natural foods. The idea behind it: Our body has been adapted to this Stone Age food for 2.5 million years – so it can digest this food without any problems and utilize it optimally.
Paleo Diet Foods to Enjoy and Avoid
Many foods are allowed in this diet, and they all have to be natural. These include:
- Everything you could hunt: Fish, meat, game
- Everything you could collect: Fruit, vegetables, berries, mushrooms, eggs, nuts
- Animal fats: lard or tallow
No processed products or junk foods are allowed on the paleo diet. You also can’t eat food you’d have to farm, including grains, potatoes, and legumes. Cow’s milk is also taboo because Stone Age people did not keep farm animals, so they couldn’t get milk.
For many followers of the Paleo diet, the quality of the products is also particularly important. The meat should come from species-appropriate animals and fish from the wild – fruit and vegetables should be of organic quality.
Is The Paleo Diet Suitable for You?
The Paleo concept is suitable for anyone looking for a healthy nourishing way with much quality meat, but prepare to spend more money on good quality. Also, some allergy sufferers benefit from this form of nutrition, since you have to avoid gluten and dairy. Moreover, you don’t need great culinary skills to stay on the plan.
One great Paleo meal you can make yourself is our classic grilled chicken breast. Our recipe is compatible with Whole 30, which is one of the most popular forms of the Paleo diet. It’s a good jumpstart for people who want to try out the benefits of the plan for a short amount of time. It’s a stricter form of the Paleo diet. Many who start have great health results, but not everyone permanently sticks to the Paleo lifestyle.
Check out our amazing grilled chicken recipe below!
Paleo Grilled Chicken
Ingredients
- 2 pounds chicken breasts boneless and skinless
- 8 cups water
- 3 tbsp salt
- 2 cloves garlic whole
- 2 tbsp coconut aminos or soy sauce
- 1 bay leaf
- 1 tsp coriander seeds ((whole))
- 1 tsp cumin seeds ((whole))
- 1 tsp black peppercorns ((whole))
- 1 tbsp cumin ((ground))
- 1 tbsp curry powder
- 1 tbsp chili powder
- 1/2 tbsp ground allspice ((ground))
- 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon ((ground))
- 1 tsp black pepper ((ground))
Instructions
Brining Instructions:
- Pour water into a large ziplock bag. Add in salt, garlic, coconut aminos, bay leaf, coriander seeds, cumin seeds and peppercorns. Give mixture enough time for the salt to dissolve.
- Place chicken breasts into bag and put in fridge for 2 hours.
- Remove the bag from the fridge; rinse the chicken.
- Place chicken into sieve and let it drain.
Spice Blend & Grilling Directions:
- Mix the spices, stirring together with a fork in a small bowl. Preheat grill on high heat for about 10 minutes (with lid closed)
- Rub the chicken pieces in the seasoning mix, massaging it as you go. The more coating that sticks, the more flavor!
- Put the chicken on the preheated grill (smooth side down). With the lid closed, cook for about 4 minutes. Flip chicken, cook for another 4 minutes (or until chicken is browned) and make sure chicken is cooked through.
- Remove from grill and enjoy!
Nutrition
It might seem simple, but we promise you’ll love it. Pay attention to the brining process… it’s the best part!
The Advantages of Paleo
Eating less junk food and processed foods is certainly a positive lifestyle change. Another positive aspect is that Paleo fans cook more themselves and they get a satisfying feeling from the food. Various studies also show that the diet has a number of advantages: The Journal of Diabetes Science Technology writes that it improves blood sugar levels and reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease. The paleo diet is more satiating than the Mediterranean diet and therefore can prevent obesity.
The Disadvantages of Paleo
But the diet has some disadvantages, too. The most important argument by critics is that people nowadays have a much lower energy requirement than our Stone Age ancestors. A person who sits in an office all day needs far fewer caloriesthan a hunter-gatherer who spent his time mainly in motion. The high protein content, which the diet demands, can lead in the long run to health problems such as gout, kidney stones, and arteriosclerosis.
While the ban on processed foods has lots of health benefits, the avoidance of vegetable oil or legumes is not meaningful, however. Unless you have a problem with digestion, there’s no need to give up those foods.
Is the Paleo Diet Effective in Weight Loss?
Fresh food without junk food and sugar – that sounds promising. And indeed: A Paleo nutrition plan is usually low carb thanks to the high protein and fat content. A typical paleo meal, for example, is a steak with vegetables or a fish with salad. The usual carbohydrate supplements are then omitted accordingly. The largest carbohydrate source in the Paleo diet is fruit sugar.
If you keep your fingers off the fruit in the evening, you can really boost your metabolism again and announce the fight to the unpleasant pounds. But if you want to achieve success quickly with Paleo, you can’t avoid the sweaty workout.
Have you tried the Paleo diet? Share your success and thoughts with loved ones on FamilyApp.