I get asked this question more times than I would like to admit, but more importantly, more times than I would like to answer individually. So in this place I am going to explain the paleo and primal diets in their simplest forms and then I am going to list off all the very best resources from around the web, which I will update on a regular basis. If you have any questions, feel free to email me: elizabeth@guiltykitchen.com
Source: Mark’s Daily Apple
What is the Paleo Diet?
Based loosely on what Paleolithic man might have had available, the Paleo diet consists mainly of grass-fed or pastured animal proteins, pastured eggs, wild caught fish, fibrous vegetables, starchy tubers and root vegetables, fruits, and nuts and seeds (not peanuts).
The diet completely excludes grains of any kind (including corn), legumes (including soy and peanuts), dairy, potatoes, refined salt and sugar and refined vegetable oils.
What is the Primal Diet?
The Primal Diet is basically the Paleo diet with dairy being “allowed”, but only high fat dairy from grass fed animals and mostly in it’s fermented or cultured form (kefir, yogurt, butter, etc)
Why is gluten bad?
Gluten and other forms of proteins found in grains, such as gliadin can cause problems in the intestinal tract of up to 1/3 of the population. This is not counting those with diagnosed Celiac disease. It is known as Non-Celiac Gluten Sensitivity. When gluten enters the digestive tract the immune system in our digestive tract “attacks” the gluten proteins and can damage the wall of the digestive tract, causing pain, bloating, stool inconsistency and tiredness. Great info: Mark’s Daily Apple: How Common is Gluten Sensitivity?
Is saturated fat the devil?
Hardly. Studies from the 1950’s showed a correlation with dietary cholesterol and heart disease risk. These studies were biased and supremely flawed. Read more about Ancel Keys study here. Cholesterol is actually a vital component of our bodies and is used to make hormones like cortisol, testosterone and estradiol.
Sources of Awesome Information:
In conclusion, if you have any medical inefficiencies in your life, you may be able to help alleviate some or all of the symptoms with diet. As Hippocrates, father of modern medicine said: “Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food.”
These diets can help you lose weight, sleep better, have more energy, get you off certain medications, cure autoimmune diseases and much more.
