CHAPTER 5 – WHAT TO EAT AND WHAT
TO AVOID
If you would like to adopt the Paleo diet, here is the chapter for you that enumerates what to eat and what to avoid while on the diet plan. Read on.
#What to Eat
*Vegetables
Vegetables are highly encouraged. However, the consumption of starchy vegetables such as yams, sweet potatoes, potatoes and cassava should be limited or better avoided. Propagators of the Paleo diet are of the opinion that any vegetable that cannot be consumed raw should be eliminated from the diet.
*Fruits
Fruits such as berries, apples and oranges are perfectly fine for the diet but you should consume them in moderation. Equally important, don't consume fruits in their dried version e.g. dried apricots or their dried products. Again, fruits such as grapes and bananas should be avoided as they contain a lot of sugar.
*Eggs and Meat
The Paleo diet advocates for the consumption of meat and eggs. However, you should stick to the grass-fed products and avoid meats that contain additives and preservatives in the meat you consume. Pork, game, beef, chicken, turkey and fish are the best for this diet. Chicken eggs, quail eggs and any other type of eggs are included in the diet.
*Seeds and Nuts
All nuts and seeds, save for peanuts, are allowed. Peanuts are exempted because they are legumes. However, if you'd like to lose weight, you should moderate your consumption to about four ounces every day. Coconut and almond flour are also included in this list.
*Oils
Unprocessed oils such as coconut oil, walnut oil, tallow, lard, olive oil and canola oil are highly recommended. Fish oil supplements are also encouraged. However, processed vegetable and hydrogenated oils are heavily discouraged. Furthermore, the existence of processed oils came with agriculture and industrialization.
*Beverages
Drinking a lot of water is highly emphasized in the Paleo diet. Plain tea "without milk" as well as fruit and vegetable juices are also allowed.
#Foods to Avoid
*Grains
The entire family of cereal grains should be avoided. This includes wheat, rice, corn, oats and barley. Proponents of the diet put much emphasis on avoiding white flour and rice as they contain refined carbohydrates.
*Legumes
As aforementioned, legumes are not included in the Paleo diet plan. This includes all kinds of beans; string beans, kidney beans, black beans, soybeans, lima beans and mung beans. Again, black-eye peas, sugar-nap peas, snow peas and peanuts should be avoided.
*Dairy Products
Dairy products such as butter, yogurt, skim milk, whole milk, cream, cheese, ice cream and dairy creamer are prohibited.
You should also steer away from alcohol, soft drinks, refined sweeteners and iodized salt. Processed foods should also be eliminated from the diet. It's important to note that the Paleolithic diet offers a number of benefits including weight loss, increase activity and general body health. Adopt it, stick to it and you'll gradually start to enjoy its benefits.