If you are a fan of Crossfit (see Crossfit.com for details) then you already know tons about the Paleo lifestyle. Is it possible to stick with the Zone diet, and also go Paleo? Absolutely!
The Zone diet and the Paleo (or primal or ancestral) lifestyle go hand in hand. Actually, the Zone diet can work well with almost any eating style, but Paleo is really an optimal way of doing the Zone. Why? Because Paleo excludes the foods that would not have existed or been eaten by humans 10,000 years ago. These foods include all grains, all processed foods, trans fats, dairy, etc. When the Paleo crowd talk about "eating clean," this is what they mean.
If you are a person who suffers from allergies, Paleo might be the way to go. Many of the foods we eat abundantly today, especially grains like wheat and corn as well as soy and dairy products, are the foods we are most likely to react to. Allergy symptoms can vary widely and can include things like headaches, migraines, joint pain, fatigue, stomachache, bowel problems, bloating, and weight gain. You might want to try cutting out one food source at a time and just see how you feel. By simply cutting wheat from your diet, it is very likely that you will lose weight! (As long as you don't substitute lots of gluten-free baked goods!)
Proponents of the Paleo lifestyle believe that our bodies have not evolved to handle foods that were not around back then. In addition, the Paleo lifestyle tries to emulate the way a human being might have lived 10,000 years ago. Of course, Paleolithic people did not sit at a computer typing out blogs all day! They spent most of their day outdoors, in the sunshine, moving around in order to hunt or gather foods. They did not wear shoes. On occasion they might need to run fast, climb a tree, or move a heavy boulder. When they became tired, they might lie down to rest or nap. They didn't have to sign up for a Pilates class to get their hour of exercise each week because they were moving around for many hours each day. It is especially important as we age that we do not succumb to the lure of sitting around too much! This is the main reason that older folks lose muscle, then lose bone density, then lose balance, then end up falling and breaking a hip!
As with any movement, there are Paleo enthusiasts who are strident and extreme in their views. Some would never touch a sweet potato, for example. Others are more flexible and open. My point of view is that there is a lot of good to be learned by examining these ideas. And each of us is free to pick and choose exactly which make sense for us. Perhaps we might like to try running in those hilarious-looking 5-toed shoes! (No offense meant if you are wearing those right now!) Maybe we'd like to add some wild game to our diets. Or cut out all grains for a month and see how we feel.
If you'd like to learn more about the Paleo lifestyle, a great place to start is Mark's Daily Apple, a blog written by Mark Sisson. (www.marksdailyapple.com) He has also penned several books, including The Primal Blueprint and The Primal Blueprint Cookbook, both of which I would highly recommend. If you decide to check these out, I'd love to hear what you think! Don't forget to keep in touch!
The Zone diet and the Paleo (or primal or ancestral) lifestyle go hand in hand. Actually, the Zone diet can work well with almost any eating style, but Paleo is really an optimal way of doing the Zone. Why? Because Paleo excludes the foods that would not have existed or been eaten by humans 10,000 years ago. These foods include all grains, all processed foods, trans fats, dairy, etc. When the Paleo crowd talk about "eating clean," this is what they mean.
If you are a person who suffers from allergies, Paleo might be the way to go. Many of the foods we eat abundantly today, especially grains like wheat and corn as well as soy and dairy products, are the foods we are most likely to react to. Allergy symptoms can vary widely and can include things like headaches, migraines, joint pain, fatigue, stomachache, bowel problems, bloating, and weight gain. You might want to try cutting out one food source at a time and just see how you feel. By simply cutting wheat from your diet, it is very likely that you will lose weight! (As long as you don't substitute lots of gluten-free baked goods!)
Proponents of the Paleo lifestyle believe that our bodies have not evolved to handle foods that were not around back then. In addition, the Paleo lifestyle tries to emulate the way a human being might have lived 10,000 years ago. Of course, Paleolithic people did not sit at a computer typing out blogs all day! They spent most of their day outdoors, in the sunshine, moving around in order to hunt or gather foods. They did not wear shoes. On occasion they might need to run fast, climb a tree, or move a heavy boulder. When they became tired, they might lie down to rest or nap. They didn't have to sign up for a Pilates class to get their hour of exercise each week because they were moving around for many hours each day. It is especially important as we age that we do not succumb to the lure of sitting around too much! This is the main reason that older folks lose muscle, then lose bone density, then lose balance, then end up falling and breaking a hip!
As with any movement, there are Paleo enthusiasts who are strident and extreme in their views. Some would never touch a sweet potato, for example. Others are more flexible and open. My point of view is that there is a lot of good to be learned by examining these ideas. And each of us is free to pick and choose exactly which make sense for us. Perhaps we might like to try running in those hilarious-looking 5-toed shoes! (No offense meant if you are wearing those right now!) Maybe we'd like to add some wild game to our diets. Or cut out all grains for a month and see how we feel.
If you'd like to learn more about the Paleo lifestyle, a great place to start is Mark's Daily Apple, a blog written by Mark Sisson. (www.marksdailyapple.com) He has also penned several books, including The Primal Blueprint and The Primal Blueprint Cookbook, both of which I would highly recommend. If you decide to check these out, I'd love to hear what you think! Don't forget to keep in touch!
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