Aside from the ketogenic diet, another diet that’s gaining popularity nowadays is the Paleo diet. Followers of the Paleolithic diet believe that it’s the healthiest diet of all since it will not only help you to stay lean, but it also keeps you strong and energetic. The diet is also known as the “stone age or caveman diet” because it requires eating food that comes directly from nature, similar to what the cavemen would eat. But is the Paleo diet a low-carb diet? Read on to find out.
What Is a Paleo Diet?
The Paleo Diet basically requires eating like we used to several thousands of years ago, similar to how the cavemen eat. If a caveman could not eat a particular food, then that food is not ideal for the diet.
Unlike the humans from thousands of years ago who were active, muscular, and strong, most people these days are unhealthy and obese and it’s simply because of our poor eating habits. By eating foods that are derived directly from nature, we would become as healthy and strong as the people from the Stone Age.
In a nutshell, the Paleo Diet eliminates the consumption of processed foods, food additives, sugars, and grains. These foods contain a lot of carbs that have the tendency to elevate our blood sugar level and are toxic to our body as well. Instead, we should go back to eating the way our bodies are biologically designed to eat, which is eating organic fruits and vegetables, and healthy meats.
Is Paleo a Low Carb Diet?
Unlike the keto diet, the Paleo diet does not explicitly limit the consumption of carbs. However, since the diet eliminates refined sugars, processed foods, and grains, it effectively reduces the consumption of carbs. The most common sources of carbs in a Paleo diet are fruits and starchy veggies, such as potatoes and sweet potatoes.
Unlike the other low-carb diets, it’s definitely possible to eat carbohydrates on Paleo. However, since the diet focuses more on eating high-quality animal protein, then it’s likely that your intake of carbs in a Paleo diet will be greatly reduced.
Can The Paleo Diet Help You Lose Weight?
Sure, the Paleo diet can make you strong and healthy, but can it help you lose weight? Although the Paleo diet is not the type of diet that requires you to count calories, the diet restricts the consumption of calorie-dense foods such as cereals, bread, and pastries, and consequently it may help you to lose weight.
The Paleo diet is all about eating high-quality protein from meat and eating fats from healthy oils and nuts. It also requires eating lots of fiber coming from vegetables and fruits. Protein, fats, and fiber are all very satiating, which means you’ll feel full and satisfied after your every meal.
Depending on the type of food that you choose to eat on a Paleo diet, you could end up eating less without feeling hungry, which helps in your weight loss goals. On the other hand, if your goal is not to lose weight, then you can add plenty of calorie-dense foods in your meals, such as seeds, avocado, healthy oils and nuts.
Whether the Paleo diet is a low carb diet or not, one thing is for sure – it’s good for our health and may help us to achieve our weight loss goals.
