5 Reasons to Eat a Paleo Diet

As we begin a new year, it is always a great time to take a moment to pause and evaluate where we are at in different parts of our lives: looking to see what is working, what may not be working, and what shifts we can make in our choices so that we continue to expand ourselves towards becoming the best versions of ourselves.

One thing to always evaluate is our lifestyle habits and how we are supporting our mind, body, and soul. With people growing increasingly aware of nutritional research, it is no coincidence that there is so much buzz about following a paleo lifestyle, and here are 5 reasons why you might be trying out the paleo diet this year too.

5 reasons to eat a Paleo Diet
1. RICH IN NUTRIENTS
Although it is a lean protocol, including ample amounts of protein and healthy fats, a paleo diet also eliminates all the nutrient-void and heavy carbs, replacing them with vegetables, healthy fats, nuts, seeds, berries, fruit and other foods that are rich in minerals and vitamins. A Paleo Diet also supports a healthier gut and increased nutrient absorption. It’s astounding how much grains and legumes can negatively impact both your gut and the body’s ability to absorb nutrition.

2. ABUNDANT IN HEALTHY FATS
A paleo eating plan calls for several foods that pull for the right types of fat that are essential to maintaining a healthy heart, brain, and skin. Also, these healthy fats support our bodies in decreasing systemic inflammation.

3. SUSTAINABLE WEIGHT LOSS
The majority of people who begin to follow a paleo diet and maintain an active lifestyle not only experience weight loss on a paleo diet but sustainable weight loss and increased muscle build. It’s the perfect recipe for burning off stored body fat as it improves the metabolic processes, gut health, sleep, stress management, and maintenance of a healthy ratio of Omega 3 and Omega 6 fatty acids.

4. REAL FOOD IS ALWAYS THE BEST
When following a primal paleo eating plan, you stick primarily to real, whole foods. It eliminates the entire range of preservatives, hidden sugars, sodium, additives coloring, artificial flavoring, and all the other fillers and additives. This shift naturally reduces the number of toxins you are taking in and replaces them with more nutrient-dense foods to fuel the body.

5. REDUCES GAS AND BLOAT
One of the benefits mentioned already is that following a paleo lifestyle helps improve your gut flora that is vital for any healthy digestive system. There is also a great deal of fiber in a primal paleo eating, combined with sufficient water intake and reduced sodium, all of which significantly reduces and/or eliminates the bloatedness many people are used to feeling, particularly those following the Standard American Diet.

There are several other benefits that people experience when switching over to a primal or paleo eating plan. Some of the most popular are:

Improved Sleep
Increased and More Stable Energy levels
Mental Clarity
Improved Digestive Function
Reduced Allergic Reactions
Reduction in Pain associated with Inflammation
Improved Overall Well-Being and Immune function
We are each so unique and must self-discover what diet plan works best for our body. It is our responsibility to partner with our wellness team of advisors and medical doctors to discover the lifestyle habits that support our highest levels of vitality and longevity. Sometimes we need to take the time to try a new way of eating, or eliminating certain foods from our diet for some time so that we can see the impact those foods are having on our health.

If what you are doing is not working, you probably already know this deep inside. Maybe this is the perfect time to try something new and just openly see how your body responds to your newer choices. If it agrees and feels good, maybe you pick up some new lifestyle habits to live the best version of yourself. Sometimes it’s not the new habits we pick up that make the biggest difference, but rather the habits we leave behind.

Move forward with an open mind and an intention to uncover what eating plan works best for your body. It may take a little trial and error, but with commitment and an adventurous mindset, you are sure to dial in the perfect recipes for you. Just remember that it takes about 3 weeks to create or break a habit and in some cases, eliminating certain foods from your diet may even take longer before experiencing the full benefit.

Make sure to do research, reach out to paleo community groups online or in person, and be patient with yourself, especially if you are seeking sustainable weight loss over the long haul. Diet fads starve the body from needed nutrition but lifestyle choices like the paleo diet can offer you a strategy for health that you can maintain long-term.

Written by Lisa Saremi