NUTRITION
45 Day Paleo Challenge: February 8th- March 24th, 2010
View Below for Paleo Challenge Info
- The Paleo Diet mimics the types of foods every single person on the planet ate prior to the Agricultural Revolution (a mere 500 generations ago). These foods (fresh fruits, vegetables, lean meats, seafood, nuts and seeds) are high in beneficial nutrients such as soluable fiber, antioxidant vitamins, phytochemicals, omega-3 and monounsaturated fats, and low glycemic carbohydrates.
- These nutrients that promote good health and are low in the foods and nutrients (refined sugars and grains, saturated and trans fats, salt, high-glycemic carbohydrates, and processed foods) that frequently may cause weight gain, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and numerous other health problems.
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By eating the foods that we are genetically adapted to eat, followers of the Paleo Diet are naturally lean, have acne-free skin, improved athletic performance, and are experiencing relief from numerous metabolic-related and autoimmune diseases. thepaleodiet.com
Paleo Challenge: February-March 2010
The idea is behind this challenge is to encourage everyone to go strict paleo for 45 days straight, no cheats (planned or unplanned). What a "strict paleo" diet does or does not include can be debated on its subtler points (and we're happy to answer those questions), but the basics you need to know are the following:
ENCOURAGED FOODS: meats (preferably grass-fed), poultry (preferably pastured), fresh fish & seafood (preferably wild), eggs (preferably pastured or at least omega-3 fortified), vegetables, fresh fruit (& limited dried fruit), nuts & seeds (preferably raw and unsalted). (The organic versions of these foods will allow you to avoid pesticide residue.)
FOODS TO EAT IN MODERATION: minimally processed oils & animal fats (e.g., olive, avocado, walnut, coconut, lard, beef tallow--be aware that some of these are not meant for high-heat cooking but should be used raw) black coffee, tea, wine, dried fruits (no more than 2 oz./day), nuts mixed with dried & fresh fruits (no more than 4 oz. nuts & 2 oz. dried fruit).
FOODS TO AVOID: dairy (e.g., milk, cheese, yogurt, butter, whey protein powder), legumes (i.e., beans, lentils, chickpeas, soy & soy products, peanuts, green beans, peas), cereal grains & cereal grainlike seeds (e.g., corn, wheat, wheat germ, barley, oats, rye, rice, corn, buckwheat, quinoa, amaranth), starchy vegetables (e.g., starchy tubers, potatoes, sweet potatoes), salt-containing foods (e.g., commercial salad dressings & condiments), fatty meats, soft drinks & fruit juices, sweets (i.e., candy, honey, sugars [sucrose, molasses, high fructose corn syrup, fructose, agave nectar]), diet sodas, refined vegetable oils (especially corn, soy, & canola), foods containing artificial sweeteners, chemical food additives.
For more info on what paleo-style eating is all about, check the following articles:
Great intro to the paleo lifestyle
Detailed shopping list of foods (includes do's, don'ts, and in moderation)
Paleodiet.com (tremendous number of web resources linked here)
