When everyone is trying to throw the latest health craze at you, it can be really difficult to make sense of all the information out there on TV and in your favorite health magazines. Its enough to make anybody want to throw their hands up and eat a big bowl of ice cream. When you begin to look as food as fuel and medicine, though, it is much easier to adopt a healthy lifestyle that can improve your health, longevity and athletic performance.
The Paleo way of eating isn't about restrictions, it is about eating foods that nourish your body and promote good health and digestion. It shouldn’t even be considered a diet…it is a way of life!
In its simplest terms, the Paleo diet means eating the following foods:
Vegetables (organic if possible)
Fruits (organic if possible)
Meats (pasture raised, hormone and antibiotic free is best)
Nuts and Seeds
Healthy Fats (avocado, coconut oil, olive oil)
And avoiding:
Dairy
Grains
Legumes
Refined Sugar and Artificial Sweeteners
Processed Foods
By avoiding the above foods, which were not a part of the human diet until recent history and are also known digestive irritants for many people, it is possible to improve or even fully repair numerous health problems. And not just digestive issues, either! Many serious health issues begin in the gut and spread throughout the body. At the root of each of these is inflammation. When chronic inflammation is present in our body, it causes an immune response that can lead to everything from diabetes, heart disease, autoimmune disorders and even some types of cancer can stem from digestive issues.
There are other internal benefits as well. You will experience improved sleep, more consistent energy levels and improved physical performance. Obviously the internal benefits are the most important, but the external benefits don’t hurt. Weight loss, muscle gain, and even clearer skin are all benefits you can experience after adopting a Paleo lifestyle.
Paleo is not about being perfect. You can definitely enjoy tasty treats now and then, but by feeding your body nutritious, health promoting foods 95% of the time, your body will have enough nutrient stores, not to mention a healthy functioning digestive system, that can handle the occasional french fry.
So, give it a try! You have nothing to lose by trying it for 30 days to see how you feel, but there is so much to gain!
To get a “taste” of how delicious Paleo eating can be here's a recipe to get you started:
Tuna Cakes with Mandarin Orange Salad
Servings: 4
Time: 30 minutes
Ingredients
>For the salad:
4 cups baby spring mix
5 mandarin oranges, peeled and segmented
1/4 cup thinly sliced red onion
1 avocado, sliced
>For the dressing:
Juice of 1 mandarin orange
3 tbsp olive oil
1 tbsp White Balsamic vinegar
1 tsp thyme
Salt and pepper to taste
>For the tuna cakes:
1 tbsp olive oil
1 red bell pepper, diced
2 5oz cans of tuna
2 eggs
2 tbsp coconut flour
1/2 tsp cayenne pepper
1 tbsp dijon mustard
Salt and pepper to taste
1/4 cup coconut oil
Directions
>For the salad:
In a large bowl, combine spring mix, mandarin orange segments, red onion and avocado
>For the dressing:
In a small bowl, combine mandarin orange juice, olive oil, vinegar, thyme, salt and pepper. Using a fork, stir all ingredients until mixed well
>For the tuna cakes:
Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium heat.
Once oil is hot, add diced bell pepper and cook until softened, about 5 minutes.
Place bell pepper in a large bowl and let cool for 5 minutes. Add tuna, eggs, coconut flour, cayenne pepper, mustard, salt and pepper and use your hands to mix until all ingredients are thoroughly combined.
Form tuna mixture into 8 small patties.
Heat coconut oil in a separate skillet over medium heat. Once oil is hot enough to sizzle, but not smoking, add tuna cakes to skillet. Cook for three minutes, flip and cook for three minutes on the other side. Tuna cakes should be golden brown and crispy on the outside.
Toss dressing with salad and divide between four plates. Place two tuna cakes on each plate and serve.
Tarah Chieffi and her husband adopted a paleo lifestyle over two years ago and has never been happier or healthier. She is currently pursuing a Master of Science in Health and Nutrition Education at Hawthorne University. She blogs at What I Gather.