Paleo – Baby Steps – The Food Groups and Why They are Important

elow  is a quick review of the necessity of all of our food groups and why we avoid certain foods. This is from my training and experience as a Certified Nutritional Consultant with a few quotes from Paleo Quickstart Quide:

FATS

GOOD FATS  are absolutely necessary to the body and give us energy and keep us full longer. They help us absorb fat soluble vitamins (A, D, E and K) which are the building blocks for several hormones and essential for the production of that wonderful serotonin (the brain’s feel-good hormones). They also work to keep our blood sugar stable.

BAD FATS  found in processed foods (hydrogenated fat, margarine and other butter substitutes, fried foods, and conventionally-raised animals) can be super toxic to our bodies.

A common symptom of good fat deficiency is the inability to lose weight. Other common symptoms include cravings, brittle hair and nails, mood issues, depression and anxiety. Our bodies are happy when we eat fats IF THEY ARE QUALITY FATS.  Organic coconut oil is great for cooking. Cold pressed Olive Oil is wonderful for salads. Organic avocado, nuts and seeds are also assets. Clean sources of animal fats from grass fed organic sources are also extremely beneficial. Grassfed animals have a completely different biological makeup than conventionally raised animals.

PROTEIN 

Proteins are also a good source of energy and help us feel full. Our muscles, bones and skin are made of protein. We can reduce hunger and sugar cravings by having protein at each meal.

CARBOHYRATES

GOOD CARBS absolutely cannot be left out. They are an important source of energy, and the main source of fuel for the brain. Once broken down into glucose, they can be used by every cell in our body. Organic fruits and vegetables are wonderful sources of carbs.

BAD CARBS  like breads, whole grains, pasta, cookies and crackers are overly processed and very poor choices. The bad carbs are rapidly absorbed into the bloodstream and cause blood sugar and the villain, Insulin, to spike. When this happens, insulin acts like a boot kicking the excess glucose right into the fat cells to be stored and not easily removed.

DAIRY 

Dairy should be severely restricted if you do not have a good source of raw quality dairy products.

OTHER THINGS TO CONSIDER

GOOD QUALITY WATER: Filter out the fluoride and chlorine as these two chemicals lead to many problematic  health situations including cancer. Find bottled water that is fluoride free. Glass bottles are ideal. Harmful chemicals can come from plastic bottles especially if left in the sun.

SUGAR: Recent research with rats has shown that sugar can be more addictive than cocaine. The consumption of sugar  has increased from 4 tsp. per day in 1821 to over 22 tsp. of sugar per day today. Stevia Leaf Extract is an excellent herbal sugar. BEWARE as many Stevia products on the market have Dextrose (table sugar) as the first ingredient on the package. Look for a product that is only Stevia Leaf Extract.

SALT: A limited amount of refined Sea Salt is good. It makes our vegetables taste heavenly.

Paleo Quickstart Guide  by Paleovalley tells us:

“Calories in and calories out is outdated.”