The Paleo Diet. Heard of it. Never tried it. What is it really, anyway? A Paleo Diet is a dietary plan based on foods similar to what might have been eaten during the Paleolithic Era, which dates from approximately 2.5 million to 10,000 years ago. Other names for a Paleo Diet include Paleolithic Diet, Stone Age Diet, Hunter-Gatherer Diet and Caveman Diet. Paleo diets are based on a simple premise – if the cavemen didn’t eat it, you shouldn’t either. (Shades of club-wielding, hunter/gathering Neanderthals.)
A typical Paleo Diet typically includes lean meats, fish, fruits, vegetables, nuts and seeds. People swear how healthy it is eating like the Flintstones. Celebs have lined up for it; Jessica Biel, Christina Aguilera, Kobe Bryant, Matthew McConaughey…it must be healthy, right? But here’s the bottom line; the Paleo Diet involves drastically reducing carbohydrate intake and replacing it with fat. This reduction in carbs puts your body into a metabolic state called ketosis. What does that mean? Read on.
DANGERS OF THE PALEO DIET: KIDNEY AND HEART DISEASE ANYONE?
Totally healthy? Hmmm…
-The Paleo Diet calls for the exclusion of all grains…– wheat, rye, barley, oats, corn and brown rice, to name a few.
Hidden danger?
These grains are great sources of fiber, B vitamins, iron, magnesium and selenium. Grains help our bodies control blood sugar, lower cholesterol and fight the risk of chronic diseases.
Another hidden danger:
Athletes beware. Without adequate carbs in our diet, our bodies turn to body fat and muscles for energy. This results in the breakdown of muscle mass which is known to increase metabolism and help burn more calories. Burn less calories? Isn’t burning calories the point of weight loss?
-Then there is the restriction of dairy products.
Hidden danger?
Deficiencies in calcium and vitamin D which are critical to bone health. Think osteoporosis and bone fractures.
-High intake of red meat and saturated fat. (American Heart Association says adults should consume no more than 13 grams of saturated fat per day. On the Paleo Diet, saturated fat intake can approach upwards of 50 grams per day. Do the math).
Hidden danger?
Can increase risk of kidney and heart disease as well as certain cancers.
Oh, and add to all this the fact that it is bad for vegetarians because the whole diet revolves around eschewing legumes and getting proteins from meat. And because it doesn’t specify the portion of food to be eaten, there is a high chance that you end up eating large portions. A lot to consider.
THRIVE HCG WEIGHT LOSS DIET: THE “I FEEL GREAT DIET”
The point is, a one-size-fits-all diet approach does not work and can be problematic to most individuals, especially those prone to black and white, all-or-nothing thinking. Categorizing foods into “good” and “bad” can lead to feelings of guilt, shame and failure when the “rules” of a diet are broken. At Thrive Health Solutions, we specialize in medical weight loss solutions like the Thrive HCG Weight Loss Diet.
Thrive’s HCG Weight Loss Diet does include some of the healthier elements of the Paleo Diet, but the Thrive HCG Weight Loss Diet is a 1,200-calorie whole food nutrition plan that includes three meals and two protein snacks daily. Good-for-you food that actually tastes good. And no pre-packaged meals to purchase. 1200 calories are a far cry from a paltry 500. (Like a planet away). And even with more calories, you’ll lose weight quickly – from ½ to 1 lb. daily – without ever feeling hungry or deprived all the time. Actually, it wouldn’t be fair to just call the Thrive HCG Weight Loss Diets a diet. It’s a lifestyle. Something to stick with for the long run. Everyone loves a good success story. And this could be yours. As it is for hundreds of our happy, extremely healthy patients. Sound good? Do we have to ask?
