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If you are looking for some good nutritional advice on how to get rid of belly fat, then you should really consider learning about the paleo diet. While this diet has been around for many years, it’s still growing in popularity among both nutritionists and fitness enthusiasts. For one thing, it doesn’t encourage counting calories or even counting carbohydrates. Instead, it emphasizes eating natural foods like fresh fruits and vegetables, as well as nuts, seeds, fish, seafood, and other organic products.
When it comes to learning about the paleo diet, there are a couple of very important things that you need to know.1 First, if your body needs to consistently work at processing the toxins out of what you eat, and it is not getting enough nutrients, this is going to show up on your skin in the form of extra fat. Secondly, when your digestive system doesn’t work the way it should, your metabolism becomes sluggish and weight keeps coming off. The Paleo diet is basically an easy protocol which omits all processed/refined foods, wheat, grains, and sugar from your diet.
Not only is it extremely effective at losing weight and clearing up bad skin and cholesterol, it’s also very healthy for you in general. You won’t find any chemicals, preservatives, or unhealthy fats involved, so you can be sure that you are eating a well-balanced, healthy diet. Of course, it takes time to make the changes, and you’ll have to commit to it long term. But if you’re looking for a way to dramatically improve your health, and have been trying to do so without success, then you give the paleo diet a shot.
What is the Paleo Diet?
The paleo diet consists of all that we are familiar with about the lives of our ancient ancestors who used animal protein as the primary source of nourishment. The Paleo diet consists of lean meats, seafood, vegetables, roots, and nuts as the main food groups. This diet has been in existence for many years, but it has recently gained in popularity. The paleo diet is based on the notion that our paleolithic ancestors ate a much more diverse diet than what we have become accustomed to. The diet consists of foods that are high in protein, but low on carbohydrates and fats. Unlike most low carbohydrate diets, the paleo plan advocates eating a wide variety of food, and not just relying on highly refined sugars, manufactured starches, and processed flour.2
If you are interested in starting the paleo diet, there are some essentials that you should be aware of. First, you should know that the paleo diet is very high in protein, yet low in carbohydrates, so it can be very beneficial if your goal is to lose weight and get healthier. Second, coconut and olive oil are the best natural sources of healthy fats.3 Third, coconut oil has excellent antioxidant properties. Fourth, the consumption of nuts and seeds, fish, and other seafood is encouraged.
What Are the Benefits of the Paleo Diet?
What are the benefits of the paleo diet? This question has been asked by many people who want to lose weight. The paleo diet, introduced by paleo-diet proponent Dr. Michael Allen and his family in the 1980s, emphasizes the intake of lean meat, fish, and dairy products. The benefits of the paleo diet are that it is high in natural foods, low in saturated fats, sugar, and salt, and doesn’t include processed or “conventional” foods.4
Here are some benefits of the paleo diet that have been proven by many people who have adapted this type of diet: low blood sugar, reduced risk for obesity and type 2 diabetes, reduced risk for heart disease, cancer, osteoporosis, depression, Alzheimer’s disease, stroke, high cholesterol, and even acne and various skin problems. A low blood sugar lowered risk for diabetes is among the most popular benefits of the paleo diet.
Lowering your sugar level is also beneficial to helping you maintain a healthy blood glucose level. Low blood sugar also lowers your risk of developing heart disease. A study was conducted on people who followed the paleo diet for approximately forty days and found that those who followed this diet had a significantly lower risk for developing kidney stones and gallbladder attacks as compared to the group that did not go on the diet. Blood sugar levels also remained at a normal rate while the diet was being followed.5
Last among the paleo diet benefits is improved calcium absorption and utilization. High calcium intake can lead to osteoporosis and certain forms of cancer. Osteoporosis, as well as certain forms of cancer, are associated with a low intake of calcium. If you get the right amounts of calcium, you can significantly reduce your risk of these kinds of diseases and even improve your cardiovascular disease and your overall health.
What Makes a Protein Bar Paleo Friendly?
Protein is an essential part of our everyday diet, but many people question whether or not protein bars are Paleo-friendly. When we talk about what makes a good protein bar, we often refer to it as being paleo-friendly. What this means is that the ingredients in the protein bars do not come from an unrefined, factory-manufactured source. The reason why protein is so important in our diets is because it helps to maintain muscle mass and the excess weight that comes with it, and also because it helps to maintain a healthy immune system and promotes longevity.6 It is therefore important for us to be sure that our protein intake is Paleo friendly so that we can reap all the benefits of lean meats and vegetables without having to worry about having processed foods.
There are many products on the market today that are Paleo friendly, but one that has become very popular is the paleo diet bar. This product allows you to enjoy the great taste of a traditional protein bar, without having to worry about the nutritional information or calorie content. These types of bars are typically made from soy, nuts, whey, eggs, coconut oil, vanilla extract, and sometimes even a variety of fruits. They are packed full of protein, which is the foundation of any good Paleo diet. If you enjoy snacking, then this type of bar is perfect for you. They are easy to prepare, and often contain ingredients that paleo dieters usually wouldn’t normally put in their snacks.
In order for paleo protein bars to be categorized as Paleo friendly, they must meet several requirements. They need to be void of gluten, grain, and dairy. They should also be at least 10% protein from meat or fish sources. Also, the bars should have a high fiber content. As you can see, there are some fantastic options for protein bars that can be enjoyed by paleo dieters today!
Are Paleo Protein Bars Healthy?
The reason that paleo protein is different from other forms of protein in a sense that it is unprocessed, is because the animals who created the food used what they had on hand, which means that they ate very little grains, dairy, meat, and other processed foods, which can wreak havoc on your health over time. Because paleo protein bars are made from mostly natural ingredients, they tend to be higher in nutrients than their “conventional” alternatives, meaning you’ll get better overall health and feel better while losing weight.7
Many of the paleo diet bars are nutritionally balanced, which means they provide all the necessary amino acids to help your body build muscle. Unfortunately, many of the paleo diet bars contain a lot of sugar and other unhealthy sugars that will actually rob you of even more muscle mass, so it is important to read the label carefully. Also, don’t think that just because one paleo protein bar is lower in calories that it won’t taste bad – no matter how small the percentage of calories may be. 8
It’s true that paleo protein bars are generally higher in protein than their more traditional counterparts, but this does not mean you should gorge yourself on them. Protein is great for you, but excessive protein can have serious health consequences, so use moderation when it comes to what you eat.
Image Credits
Metabolic Research Center / Google Stock Images
The Academy of Culinary Nutrition / Google Stock Images
First Cry Parenting / 2021
Azure Standard / 2021
Julian Bakery / 2021
1 “What is the Paleo Diet? A Detailed Beginner’s Guide – US News ….” https://health.usnews.com/best-diet/paleo-diet Accessed 13 Oct. 2021.
2 “Paleo diet: What is it and why is it so popular? – Mayo Clinic.” https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/nutrition-and-healthy-eating/in-depth/paleo-diet/art-20111182 Accessed 13 Oct. 2021.
3 “The Paleo Diet — A Beginner’s Guide + Meal Plan – Healthline.” https://nunm.edu/2019/04/paleo-diet/ Accessed 13 Oct. 2021.
4 “The Paleo Diet: Pros and Cons According to NUNM.” 10 Apr. 2019, https://nunm.edu/2019/04/paleo-diet/ Accessed 13 Oct. 2021.
5 “Pros and Cons of the Paleo Diet | UPMC HealthBeat.” 2 Apr. 2016, https://share.upmc.com/2016/04/pros-cons-paleo-diet/ Accessed 13 Oct. 2021.
6 “Benefits of Protein – WebMD.” https://www.webmd.com/diet/benefits-protein Accessed 13 Oct. 2021.
7 “Paleo Protein Bars: What’s the Honest Truth? – Paleohacks.” https://blog.paleohacks.com/paleo-protein-bars/ Accessed 13 Oct. 2021.
8 “3 Best Paleo Protein Bars of 2020 Reviewed | The Fitness Tribe.” https://thefitnesstribe.com/best-paleo-protein-bars/ Accessed 13 Oct. 2021.
