10 Health Benefits of Paleo Diet
It is only relatively recently that mankind has moved away from living in the wild. It is even more recently that we have started processing our foods to the extent that we do today. With a lot of the foods that we eat today having been heavily processed, they are often full of unpleasant chemicals.
The paleo diet is an attempt to revert to the foods that we have evolved to eat. This means a diet that people were eating more than 10,000 years ago, which is largely fruits, vegetables, fish, meat, seeds, and nuts.
By eating a paleo diet, you are likely to benefit from a number of health benefits.
Paleo Diet Benefit #1: Fat Loss
There are numerous reasons why anybody that is overweight should try to get their weight down. It is usually not easy, however, and even people that do stick to their diets will still have difficulty losing fat. However, these people are more likely to have luck with a paleo diet.
A paleo diet will include a lot of high-quality proteins. This helps us to build more muscle, and muscle burns more calories than fat, even when we are at risk. This means that we will gradually eat away at our fat reserves, while developing a muscly figure at the same time.
Paleo Diet Benefit #2: More Energy
Some people tend to have more energy than others. Some will always want to be active, whereas others would much rather take things easier. This is largely influenced by our genetics, while our lifestyle can also play a large part. We get our energy from the food we eat, so it makes sense that our diet will make a difference.
A paleo diet will focus on foods with sugars that are slowly absorbed into the body. This means that instead of spikes of sugary highs and lows, there is a steady supply of energy instead. This helps us to keep on feeling much more energetic overall.
Paleo Diet Benefit #3: Vitamins
We hear a lot about vitamins and how they are important for our bodies. The importance of vitamins for our bodies has not been exaggerated either. They help to make sure everything is working as it should, they help with building and repair, and they also help to keep us safe from pathogens.
The paleo diet contains a lot of vegetables, and vegetables are a very good source of vitamins and minerals. While not everybody likes the taste of veggies, there is no doubting that they are so good for us. Even if you are not on a paleo diet, you should still try to get as many vegetables in your diet as possible.
Paleo Diet Benefit #4: Eases Allergies
Sometimes, the body recognizes harmless particles as something that can do us harm. The immune system then sets about dealing with the supposed invader. This results in symptoms such as sneezing and runny eyes as the body tries to purge the particles. In some cases, the reaction can be severe enough to be life-threatening.
The paleo diet tends to contain very few foods that can cause an allergic reaction. This usually means cutting our foods like dairy and grains, although athletes are recommended to eat oats occasionally when on the diet. This makes the diet suitable for people that have an allergy to gluten, for example.
Paleo Diet Benefit #5: Easy Digestion
It is very important to us that we get all the nutrition we can from the food we eat. If we are unable to absorb what we need for any reason then we would soon fall ill. Some foods are harder to digest than others, though, and this can lead to considerable problems. Eating a paleo diet can help you to avoid this.
The paleo diet focuses a great deal on the foods that people have evolved to eat. As such, it is usually easier for us to digest this diet than it is to digest other diets. This makes the paleo diet suitable for people that would otherwise have digestion problems.
Paleo Diet Benefit #6: Healthy Gut
As mentioned, a healthy digestive system is important for us. There are numerous things that can go wrong with the digestive system, though, and this can have a large impact on our overall health. One of the most effective ways to keep the digestive system healthy is to eat the right food.
A paleo diet will include very few, if any, foods that might do harm to your digestive system. This includes processed foods, and foods with a lot of “bad” fats and unhealthy sugars. This limits the harm that can be done to your digestive system and this helps to keep it in good shape for many years to come.
Paleo Diet Benefit #7: Weight Loss
When it comes to losing weight, many people first turn to cutting out the fatty foods. While this is likely to be beneficial, however, fats are not the only culprit. It can be very beneficial to cut down on the carbohydrates too. Carbohydrates give us a lot of energy, but excess energy gets converted into fat, which is then stored in the body.
The paleo diet is low in carbohydrates. This is partly because it cuts out junk foods that tend to be very high in carbs. It is still recommended to take on some carbs when working out, though. After all, we need that energy when we are exercising.
Paleo Diet Benefit #8: Healthy Brain
Our brain is a powerful organ and, as such, it requires a lot of nutrition. It is important to keep our brain well fed with all it needs, not only to keep it working well but also for its long-term health. Eat well now and you could be ensuring that your brain remains healthy for well into your old age.
One of the best brain foods around is omega-3 fatty acids. These fatty acids are found in fatty fish such as salmon and tuna, and these are included in the paleo diet. In addition to keeping the brain healthy, omega-3 fatty acids also help to maintain the health for the heart and the eyes, among other things.
Paleo Diet Benefit #9: Reduce Inflammation
Inflammation in the body can all sorts of problems for us. It can cause problems with our cardiovascular system and can affect the proper functioning of our essential organs. Inflammation can also affect the joints, resulting in conditions like arthritis.
Managing inflammation can be very difficult, but eating certain foods can help. The paleo diet is known to have anti-inflammatory properties, helping to at least reduce the severity of certain conditions and their symptoms. This is largely down to the presence of omega-3 fatty acids in such a diet, and this is largely gained from fish. Omega-3 fatty acids can also benefit us in other ways.
Paleo Diet Benefit #10: Fewer Toxins
Our liver and kidneys do a very good job of keeping our bodies free of toxins. They are hard at work removing unwanted items 24/7, but it is a good idea not to overwork them. They are not invincible and things can go wrong, so we should do what we can to keep them healthy and well.
The paleo diet is low on toxins. This is largely because it involves eating natural foods only, avoiding chemicals and other substances that are often found in processed foods. This reduces the amount of work our liver and kidneys have to do and also helps to prevent them from becoming diseased and/or damaged.
