Paleo Diet

The paleo diet definition is simple: eat only foods that were available to our hunter and gatherer ancestors thousands of years ago during the paleolithic age. This means that things like processed foods, refined grains and cereals are off the table, and instead your plate should be full of fruits and vegetables, meats, nuts and seeds.

The idea is that these are the foods that our bodies were designed to eat while many of the heavily processed modern foods that fill our diets today contribute to chronic disease and health problems. Proponents of the diet suggest that a well-planned paleo diet could lead to improvements in many aspects of health, such as enhanced weight loss and reduced inflammation.

Because it is essentially a grain-free diet, it tends to be lower in carbohydrates and higher in protein and fat than some other diets. However, it also eliminates several food groups that contain beneficial nutrients, such as legumes and dairy, which has made this diet a subject of much debate among experts.

6 paleo diet benefits

• Promotes weight loss
• High in protein
• Reduces inflammation
• Boosts satiety
• Corrects nutrient deficiencies
• Regulates blood sugar

Here is a healthy paleo diet food list with some foods that you should include in your diet:

• Grass-fed beef
• Seafood
• Poultry
• Fresh fruits
• Fresh vegetables
• Eggs
• Nuts and seeds
• Heart-healthy unrefined oils, such as olive, coconut, flaxseed, walnut and avocado oil

Here are the foods that you should avoid while following a paleo diet plan:

• Legumes (including beans and peanuts)
• Dairy
• Refined sugar
• Refined vegetable oils
• Processed/junk food
• White potatoes
• Cereal grains

Sugar-sweetened or caffeinated beverages

Sensible indulgences

These are perfectly healthy in small amounts:

Wine: quality red wine is high in antioxidants and beneficial nutrients.

Dark chocolate: choose one that has 70% or higher cocoa content. Quality dark chocolate is very nutritious and extremely healthy.

What to drink when you're thirsty

When it comes to hydration, water should be your go-to beverage.

These aren't exactly paleo, but most people drink them anyway:

Tea is very healthy and loaded with antioxidants and various beneficial compounds. Green tea is best.
Coffee is actually very high in antioxidants as well. Studies show that it has many health benefits

How to make your restaurant meals paleo

It is not very difficult to make most restaurant meals paleo friendly.

Order a meat or fish-based main dish.
Get extra vegetables instead of bread or rice.
Ask them to cook your food in olive oil or coconut oil.

Simple paleo snacks

There really is no need to eat more than 3 meals per day, but if you get hungry then here are some paleo snacks that are simple and easily portable:

• Baby carrots.
• Hard boiled eggs.
• A piece of fruit.
• A handful of nuts.
• Leftovers from the night before.
• Apple slices with some almond butter.
• A bowl of berries with some coconut cream.
• Homemade beef jerky.

Paleo diet drawbacks:

1. Restricts some nutrient dense foods

2. Allows pork, shrimps and other oft - contaminated food sources

3. Excessive consumption of certain meats can have adverse effects.