All about the Paleo diet

Paleo. That’s that type of diet that they ate back in the Stone Age, right? So self-hunted meat and wild berries? I think of bearded men in loincloths chasing mammoths with spears. And that’s supposed to be good?

By now, everyone has heard of the “Stone Age diet.” But since it’s much more than just a diet of self-picked berries and meat, we’ve compiled everything you need to know about Paleo nutrition.

A Paleo diet is characterized by the consumption of whole, largely unprocessed foods. It is based on the diet that was eaten during the Stone Age. Since neither arable farming to grow grain nor raising livestock for milk as a source of energy existed at the time, nor were late-night and 24/7 fast-food restaurants hip, it excludes both grain and dairy products and processed foods. The focus is on high-quality nutrient sources such as vegetables, fruits, nuts, meat, fish, eggs and healthy fats.

The idea behind this form of nutrition is as follows: Since the Stone Age, the genes of today’s humans have not changed significantly. Rather, the human organism had adapted perfectly to this form of food intake by then. Thus, the food consumed at that time was the perfect nutrition for us. Since this period is called the “Paleolithic”, the term “paleo” has been derived from it.

The Paleo diet is therefore based on the basic principles of the Stone Age diet, but is combined with the most modern scientific knowledge. In the meantime, there are various orientations, many of which can also be assigned to a low-carb diet form. However, there is not THE Paleo diet that can be defined by exact fat, protein and carbohydrate intake. Also, the expressions often differ by certain foods that are eaten or avoided. However, none of them contains only wild meat and berries, which must be collected in the loincloth. Rather, the main ingredient of most meals is fresh vegetables, which could be combined to a lesser extent with meat or fish, for example.

• Meat
• Fish and seafood
• Vegetables
• Fruit
• Nuts and seeds
• High quality fats (e.g. olive oil, coconut oil, avocados…)
• Eggs
• Naturally fermented foods such as kombucha or coconut milk kefir.
• Natural sweeteners (e.g. honey, maple syrup, coconut blossom sugar)

• Cereal products
• Dairy products
• Legumes
• Sugar and sweeteners
• Alcohol
• Artificial additives
• Vegetable fats (except olive and coconut oil)
• Junk and fast food

You certainly want to finally know what’s in it for you and your body when you eat a stone-age diet. True to the motto “you are what you eat”, the body usually thanks you by increasing your well-being when you abstain from processed foods and the like. Foods associated with digestive problems, inflammation or hormonal imbalances are avoided. Rather, physical fitness and energy in everyday life increase. But that’s not all. The following are the advantages of the Paleo diet:

Anyone who wants to live healthier and increase their own well-being, get rid of a few kilos or digestive problems is on the right track with a Paleo diet. Due to the fact that this form of nutrition also allows more carbohydrate-rich foods, it is also particularly suitable for all fitness and sports enthusiasts. It is a great way to eat a balanced and healthy diet without having to give up carbohydrates. Sweet potatoes or bananas can be added to the plate as high carb foods. And honey or maple syrup can also be used to sweeten one or the other treat.

You want to turn your back on the golden M now too and be a modern hunter-gatherer who makes the vegetable department unsafe with his jute bag? But do not know how and when?

The Paleo diet is not so much a classic diet that you follow only temporarily, but rather a way of eating. Let’s call it the “Paleo lifestyle.” You can start at any time and slowly approach which expression suits you best. Refrain from industrially processed foods, cereals, legumes and dairy products. You don’t necessarily want to lose weight or get into ketosis? Then you don’t have to completely give up carbohydrate-rich fruits and vegetables, for example. Potatoes and bananas could be on your menu. Gradually test out which natural foods make you feel good and which do not. Instead of “Paleo no-go’s,” make sure your meals consist of healthy fats, lots of colorful vegetables, and high-quality protein sources. Walk past chips, chocolate and pasta at the supermarket and load up your cart instead with lots of colorful vegetables and some fruit, too. For example, instead of buying a ready-made salad dressing, you can make your own using good olive oil and lemon juice. Completely without chemistry. Instead of getting deep-fried fries, why not try your hand at homemade oven-roasted vegetable fries? Drinking coffee with the girls? Surely, instead of a classic latte macchiato, your favorite coffee shop has a dairy-free option.

If you want help getting started in the Paleo world we can offer it in our EAT CLEAN Challenge. We customize the plan to your needs, take care of you and are available at any time to answer all your questions.

Paleo alone says nothing about whether a diet is high in carbohydrates or fats. The focus is on eating natural, unprocessed foods while avoiding foods that could be harmful to your health. In contrast, a low carb diet gives priority to keeping the amount of carbohydrates supplied low (usually less than 100 g / day). You try not to constantly drive the blood sugar level to the maximum in order to boost fat burning. Unfortunately, the quality of food products is often secondary. The ketogenic diet, in turn, has as its goal to produce as many ketone bodies as possible – to put the body into ketosis. Ketone bodies created as a result are said to provide the brain with plenty of energy. Less than 30 – 50 g of carbohydrates are eaten per day. (Click on the link to learn all about ketogenic diet).