The-Healthy-Diet.com

Carbs and grains cause health problems. Simple as that. This is the internet and I am aloud to say it. I am not a doctor, but consider this. In virtually every book I have read where the author has done considerable research in the field, the same conclusion is always clear. Refined and processed carbohydrates and grains cause health problems. Read “Good Calories, Bad Calories,” by Gary Taubes, or “the Paleo Diet,” by Loren Cordain (Ph.D.) and you will learn why.

Simply put, look at the ancient civilizations that were once big meat eaters and little carb eaters. Then look at what happens to them once they add carbs and farming into their diet. The early farmers were typically shorter than their ancestors. Look at Greece and Turkey for example. Preagricultural men were 5’9” and wowen averaged 5’5”. By 3000 B.C., with the introduction to farming, these numbers shrunk to 5’3” and 5′ respectively.

Shrinking heights were the least of their problems, studies of their teeth and bones also revealed other huge problems. Cavities, bone mineral deficiencies, osteoporosis to name a few. New staples of carbs and grains provided calories, but not the minerals that lean proteins and fruit and vegetables provided. Then when you add in the invention of Cheeses and butters… more virtually mineral-less and useless empty calories… you have lower quality of life and diseases.

Add in the Agricultural Revolution and suddenly, the modern world’s main staple of calories are “empty” and hence all the health problems we have. Sure these calories helped the population explosion on earth… but they do not help us.

Ever wonder why Veterinarians don’t let you feed your pets “people food???” Well… that’s because it will give them diseases, allergies and make them sick. Hmmm… maybe that grilled cheese isn’t as appetizing . . . → Read More: Carbohydrates and Health problems…

Little did we know that meat actually helps us lose weight! Forget that low calorie hype! But, I am talking about lean proteins here, not those fatty pork chops or meatballs. Lean meat such as seafood or wild game is typically around 75 – 80% protein and 25 – 20% fat. Fatty meats, such as bacon or pork chops can be up to 70 – 75% fat… mostly saturated fat, which is definitely not good for our health.

Lean protein increases your metabolism…

Truth is, lean protein has 2x the thermic effect than that of fat or carbohydrates… meaning that lean proteins cause us to burn more calories than if we ate the same amount of fat or carbohydrates. This means that it revs up our metabolism… lean meat takes more time and effort to “burn” by your body, burning more calories in the process. Protein also has the highest satiating value than fats or carbs… meaning they make you feel more full for longer!

So eating lean meats makes your metabolism sore, burns more calories, and make you feel fuller longer… so think about that before your next burger… perhaps a salmon steak or a piece of pan seared tuna is a . . . → Read More: Why lean protein diets help you lose weight…

The world is full of low fat diets, low calorie diets, low carb – high fat diets. The truth is, not all fats are created equal! Did you know that (certain) fats, are actually necessary for good health and are good for you to eat? Also, any proper diet actually has at least a third or more of its calories dedicated to fat.

So, you could start a low carb diet and eat anything you want (as long as there are no carbs in it); but is a diet of bacon really healthy for you? Could it be? The answer is definitely NO. Truth is, low carb diets can be very detrimental or very beneficial to your health, depending on what you eat and what type of fat is present in what you are eating.

We have saturated fats, monounsaturated fats, polyunsaturated fats, Trans fats, Omega fats, Rascal Flats… sound confusing? Well lets clear them up for you (without getting too sciency).

Saturated Fat: Mostly bad for you. Found in meats and whole dairy products; have been known to raise cholesterol. Has been associated with Cardiovascular disease and various cancer’s as well… they will also make you fat!

Monounsaturated Fat: Found in Olive Oil, avocados, and nuts. They are known to lower blood cholesterol and help prevent artery clogging or atherosclerosis.

Polyunsaturated Fat: Some are more beneficial than others. Omega 3 (found in fish oils for example) are healthy, which improve blood chemistry and reduce risks of diseases. Omega 6 (found in vegetable oils for example) are not good when you eat too much of them in comparison to Omega 3 fats.

Trans Fat: Trans fats are added into foods to give them a longer shelf life. These additives, as shown by research, literally and directly increase your risk of heart disease. Common sources are baked and fried foods. Also, they sometimes occur naturally . . . → Read More: Good Fat, Bad Fat?

So what is the Paleolithic Diet?

In our human origins we were hunters and gatherers. We ate what the earth provided to us; what was available to us. The Agricultural Revolution occurred and with it came the adoption of grains and cereals as our main staple of food. This allowed us to leave our hunter and gatherer lifestyle and caused our population to sky rocket and develop into the the industrial society in which we live today.

The problem is that we are genetically programed to eat what the hunters and gatherers ate. The many health problems and diseases of modern day are a direct result of what we now eat… and don’t eat. The caveman or paleolithic diet is the only diet that ideally fits our genetic makeup. For millions of years humans ate this way, not the way we do now.

Most people do not realize how healthy our Paleolithic ancestors were. They were lean, fit, and free of diseases like heart disease. Some would argue that they had a lower life expectancy than that of today. This may be true, but look at why. Today we have antibiotics, doctors, hospitals and ways of protecting ourselves. Back in the time of our ancestors there were predators to worry about, simple aliments such as a broken limb or simple cold could easily result in death.

But how do we compare to our ancestors?

Well its simple. DNA evidence shows that the genetic makeup of humans have hardly changed in the last 40,000 years (the human genome has changed less than 0.02%).  This means that the genes of the paleolithic people are virtually identical to our own. We need to give our bodies the foods we were originally designed to eat.  Nature determined what we ate, long before we began farming wheat and animals.

I’ve read a . . . → Read More: The Paleolithic Diet