One of the most common trends in the health and fitness industry is the appearance of “new” diets designed to solve all your health and fitness goals and help you achieve your dream physique. It seems like every other week there’s a well-known celebrity singing the praises of a revolutionary new diet that’s helped them get in the best shape of their lives.
A diet trend that’s been around for a while, in one form or another at least, is the caveman diet, which we’ll be addressing in this article. What is it and why is it getting so much attention?
WHAT IS IT?
Well the caveman diet, also known as the paleolithic diet or paleo diet for short as it is commonly known, recommends us eating as ancient hunter-gatherers did. The name paleolithic comes from the paleolithic era when the cavemen from which our ancestors descended from, consumed a simple diet rich in lean meats, vegetables, fruits and nuts. All elements of a healthy diet. The primary difference between the paleo diet and other healthy diets is the absence of whole grains, dairy and beans.
The majority of what can be eaten on the diet can usually be answered with the question, what would a caveman eat? This will usually involve meat, fish, eggs, vegetables, fruits, nuts, seeds, herbs, spices, healthy fats and oils. Foods that should be avoided are mainly processed foods such as sugar, soft drinks, grains, most dairy products, legumes, artificial sweeteners, vegetable oils, margarine, peanuts and trans-fats. It goes without saying that alcohol is off limits too!
IS IT FOR YOU?
The caveman/paleo diet is for people looking for a healthy diet that involves the removal of anything that can be considered harmful to the body and can be very beneficial in a number of ways. The diet can help reduce excess body fat, aid in the normalisation of blood sugar levels and reduce toxins and anti-nutrients. Similar to a keto diet, it can also have a profoundly positive effect on those with certain medical conditions who are limited in their nutritional options.
Besides weight loss, the caveman diet can also help increase energy levels and sharpen the mind, bringing about some extra mental clarity and focus. This can most likely be credited to the removal of harmful foods from the body that can inhibit these processes. The number of benefits associated with the diet are shown to appear and continue once it has been followed for at least 7-14 days.
Overall, this is a great diet for people who are looking for a health diet to follow that has easy guidelines to follow on what can and can’t be consumed. Like a lot of diets, some might consider it a fad diet, but it has enough of a mainstream following for that theory to be debunked and for it to be considered one of the more popular diets that can yield good results. As long as the discipline is there and it is not considered an inconvenience to follow then it’s a good diet choice that can show great lifestyle and health and fitness benefits!
