What is a Paleo diet?
The Paleo diet is based on eating foods that would have been available during the Paleolithic era, which ranged from 2.6 million years ago to about 12,000 years ago. The diet mainly consists of lean meats, fish, fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds. Basically, foods that could have easily be obtained by hunting and gathering. The diet is also commonly referred to as the Paleolithic diet, Stone Age diet, hunter-gatherer diet, or caveman diet.
What can you eat on a Paleo diet?
Here's a quick list of foods you CAN eat on a Paleo diet:
- Grass-fed Meat
- Fish and/or seafood
- Fruits
- Vegetables
- Eggs
- Nuts
- Seeds
- Healthy oils (such as olive, walnut, flaxseed, macadamia, avocado, and coconut)
- Kill Cliff drinks...yes, seriously, they are all natural and contain Paleo compliant ingredients
What can you not eat on a Paleo diet?
Here's a quick list of foods you CAN NOT eat on a Paleo diet:
- Grains (such as wheat, oats, and barley)
- Legumes (peanuts, beans, lentils, tofu)
- Refined sugar & artificial sweeteners
- Dairy products
- Salt
- Potatoes
- Processed foods
What can I drink on a Paleo diet?
Pure, filtered water is one of your best options. It won't be filled with any toxic chemicals if filtered properly. It also won't include chlorine like tap water.
Pure fruit or vegetable juice is also a great option if you're looking for some additional flavor in your drink. However, don't go buy just any fruit juice from a grocery store, as many of the common fruit juices are filled with artificial sugars. Your best bet is to purchase a juicer and juice your favorite fruits and vegetables at home.
Coffee isn't permitted on a Paleo diet, but one of the biggest advantages of this diet is that you balance out your blood sugar by providing protein and fat-rich meals, so you may find that you don't need coffee. Coffee is often a byproduct of people not having stable blood sugar, therefore having low energy.
Alcohol isn't technically prohibited from a Paleo diet, but you shouldn't be binge drinking on the diet. People and animals have been consuming fermented food and drinks for ages. However, too much alcohol can give you the not so glorious (but sometimes desired) beer belly and knock your cholesterol levels off-kilter, so just be mindful how much you are drinking. It might be worth trying the award-winning GUTEN beer to take your caveman ways up a notch.
Sodas, energy drinks, and sports drinks are all filled with artificial sweeteners, so definitely stay away from them during a Paleo diet. Again, all natural drinks with Paleo-compliant ingredients can be consumed, so make sure to check out Kill Cliff drinks that meet your needs for a jolt, sustained performance, or recovery.
Why Paleo is bad for you?
In the short-term, a Paleo isn't bad for you considering that you're eating clean food and staying away from refined sugars, artificial sweeteners, salt, and processed foods. The diet will likely lead to weight loss or at least maintain your weight.
It should be noted that there are no long-term clinical studies on the advantages and potential dangers of a Paleo diet. Though the long-term effects of eating lots of foods filled with artificial sugars and salt are probably much worse than the long-term effects of a Paleo diet, you should still be careful and consult a medical professional if you are experiencing serious side effects.
Can you lose weight on a Paleo diet?
Yes! The diet plan in a Paleo diet can help you lose weight in a few different ways.
A Paleo diet is generally high in protein. Protein is an important nutrient in weight loss as it can increase your metabolism, decrease your appetite, and control a number of the hormones that regulate your weight.
What to expect when eating Paleo?
When you start the diet, you will likely see rapid weight loss from about 5 to 10 pounds in the first week. Though this is encouraging, it's mostly just water weight. You can't get discouraged when this happens as you will still lose weight if you stick to the diet.
After your initial drop in weight, you will likely see a slow and steady pace of weight loss. The standard weight loss is about one to two pounds per week.
What are the side effects of a Paleo diet?
Like any significant diet change, a Paleo diet will likely lead to side effects as your body adapts to the changes. Here is a list of the possible side effects of a Paleo diet:
- Low blood sugar
- Cravings
- Lack of energy (initially)
- Bad breath
- Change in bowels
- Low-carb flu
How do I ease into a Paleo diet?
A Paleo diet can be a drastic change in your diet. There are a few ways you can ease into it.
- Change the type of oils you use- Grain and seed oils are horrible for you. Switching to oils such as grass-fed butter, coconut oil, and extra virgin olive oil are healthier substitutions that you likely won't even notice. Making this switch can help prevent inflammation and other bad side effects.
- You can stick with white rice- Though you may have heard that brown rice is much healthier than white rice, there's not a ton of evidence that backs that claim. Brown rice may actually be worse for you due to the high amount of phytic acid it contains, which prevents nutrient absorption. If you prefer the taste of white rice, don't feel bad about sticking with it.
- Berries, berries, berries- Berries are filled with great vitamins, fiber, and antioxidants. They also have the added benefit of generally having a lower sugar content than most other fruits. This isn't to say that you shouldn't eat any other fruits, but make sure to load up on those berries while in the produce section.
- Stick with your roots- Root vegetables are great for you as they are loaded with nutrients and are a good source of food energy. Outside of the obvious ones such as carrots, onions, and potatoes, there are so many different delicious options like beets, turnips, radishes, and yams just to name a few.
Are there any performance drinks that are Paleo friendly?
Yes! Kill Cliff can provide the drinks you need to keep you going during your Paleo diet without breaking the rules. All Kill Cliff drinks are all sweetened naturally and aren't filled with the junk that most sodas, energy drinks, and sports drinks contain.
Ignite is our energy drink- it provides athletes with a clean source of Caffeine (150mg) from Green Tea. It also contains loads of B Vitamins, Magnesium, Potassium and electrolytes which allows for a slow release of the caffeine preventing an energy crash later on.
Endure is a specialized blend of slow-release carb fuel (palatinose) and electrolytes to support hydration and sustained endurance to help you continue going during your workout.
Recover is a post-workout beverage with essential electrolytes and enzymes designed to reduce inflammation from hard activity and help refuel you for the next!
