(img source: http://robbwolf.com/what-is-the-paleo-diet/)
In a series of posts, I’ll be coving the subject of transferring your diet from a “western” diet, to a modern paleo diet. I’ll try to cover the benefits and the speedbumps you’ll run into as you transition to a healthier lifestyle. Ill touch on what a paleo diet is, and also what it isn’t. I hope you’ll follow these posts and use them as a guide, and a place to have a conversation about this “new” way of eating.
Going paleo Step one: Realizing the benefits
Eating paleo is a pain in the ass. There, I said it, I’ve acknowledged the Gorrilla in the room. “Now why in the world would I take part in this?” You ask yourself. This sounds like a lot of work. It is a lot of work, any major change to improve your life is a lot..of…work. I quit smoking years ago, partly beacause of the cost of cigarettes going through the roof, but mostly because I like to play, and I like to play hard. My habit of inhaling charred plant material was cutting into my ability to play basketball with co-workers, go for weekend hikes, hunt, fish and other strenuous activities that I love to do. Quitting smoking was hard as hell, but the improvement in my life was worth the effort and work I had to put in. A paleo diet is similar to quitting smoking. Yes you’re to crave carbs. Yes you are going to want that giant bowl of fettuccini. Yes it would be easier to have that sandwich for lunch instead of preparing meals the night before. There are a lot of sacrifices that have to be made, but the benefits and the improvements you see in your life are going to outweigh the little bit of extra work you have to do to make this lifestyle change work for you.
immediate benefits
I’ll cover some of the benefits of going to a cleaner, healthier diet that you will notice in the first week.
Improved digestion
Within the first week you will notice a drastic improvement in your digestion. You will feel less tired after meals. You will not feel as bloated during the day. You will notice bowel movement are easier to release, and generally more comfortable, especially if you have frequent constipation.
Improved energy levels
Not only will you not be tired after meals, your general energy levels will be higher through most of the day, without supplementing your diet with coffee, tea, or other caffeinated substances.
clearer thoughts
This is up for debate, but after my first week of going paleo, I noticed that I had a much easier time formulating thoughts. I didn’t feel so “bogged down” and my brain seemed less “foggy” some people don’t feel like this is a real phenomenon, but it is something I noticed.
There are many other longer-term benefits to going paleo. Ill cover more of those in a later post.
Going paleo Step two: Throw that shit away.
(img source: http://www.blog.generalmills.com/2014/03/open-innovation-lessons-pitfalls/)
Going through your pantry and replacing the garbage that currently inhabits it is a big headache for most people starting this diet. I hear a lot of “But the box says whole grain, and whole grain is healthy”. I’m sorry to inform you , but General Mills, Nabisco and those Keebler elves don’t give a shit about your health. They care about selling products. They only put these catch phrases on their boxes because they are capitalizing on our obesity epidemic, and capitalizing on the fact that we have forgotten what real food is. We have become reliant on quick, easily prepared “food” that is loaded with bad stuff. We are people on the run, which is generally a good thing, until we wake up one day and realize that we squandered our health in exchange for convenience. If you open your cabinet and it looks like a General mills warehouse, then we’ve got work to do. Grab those boxes of crackers, cookies, mac n cheese and that loaf of bread and put it all in a big box. Find anything you bought labeled “low fat” or “fat free” and put that in the box too. Next go to the fridge: see that yogurt you bought labeled ”low fat” or “fat free”? You know why it tastes so good? It has a lot of added sugar in it. Get rid of that too. Get rid of pre-made dressings, condiments, fruit juices and anything that has added sugars. It’s going to be a lot, but we’ll be restocking the fridge soon. Close the box and tell yourself you’re not going to buy those things again. Take that box and donate all the unopened items to the local food bank. Starving people aren’t concerned about sodium, carbohydrate and protein levels, or organic for the most part.
Things to leave in the cabinet/pantry/fridge
Leave the seasoning/spices for now. Trying to eat bland food on the paleo diet is going to discourage you quickly. Seasoning is your friend. Keep rice, even if it’s in a box. Most practicioners of paleo would tell you to chuck the rice out. I’m not a cruel man, and humans have been eating rice for thousands of years. We’ll keep the rice for now. Keep nuts around, especially nuts high in fat…that’s walnuts, cashews etc.. they make great snacks, even though hardcore paleo “experts” would have you stay away from them the first week at least.
Milk…I love milk. I love raw milk. It’s really good for you. I keep milk around because it’s a good drink for when you get bored of water. Raw milk when you can, but always full fat milk if your stomach isn’t bothered by it. This is another item that most paleo “experts” would have you stay away from, but If you’ve been ok with milk up to now, you’ll be ok with it as we transition.
things to go buy now.
(img source: http://guardianlv.com/2014/06/four-little-known-attributes-of-vegetables/)
Our grocery list under the paleo diet is pretty easy. If you couldn’t grow it, kill it or get it from nature 10,000 years ago, you should not be eating it today. In the modern American supermarket, the produce section is your friend. Go stock up on fruits, especially bananas, because the high levels of potassium will help combat those first two days of “keto flu” you might experience. Grab veggies of all shapes and sizes, but definitely broccoli and other dark dense leafy greens, because they will help you stay full for longer.
(img source: https://recipethis.com/how-to-make-the-perfect-steak/)
Meats next. I like a lot of fish, try to pick fresh or wild caught when available, and local fish is even better. Going fishing yourself is even better, but in some parts of the world, this is not an option. For beef, free range grass fed is best from a humanitarian standpoint, and it tends to taste better. Same for chicken and pork.
The best areas in the supermarket are on the perimeter. Stay out of the isle except for a few specific things: Honey, vinegar, tea/coffee, spices.
The isles are full of garbage, stay away from the center isles when you can.
This is a great start, and a move in the right direction toward a healthy lifestyle.
In the next post, Ill cover some basic recipes and principles to help you transition into paleo more smoothly.
CavemanRob
"Nobody owns you, Nobody owes you"