What Is The Primal Diet?
New diets are released all the time claiming to be the miracle cure for weight loss, but often times we find these claims go unsubstantiated. Sifting through the chaff of dieting articles and literature can be stressful and time-consuming, and after a lot of research, individuals may come out with no game plan in mind. One of the newer diets that has come about, called the Primal diet, is standing out amongst the throng of new diets as a potential way to realize some real results. The Primal diet has dieters focus on eating foods sources naturally. Foods that made up the majority of our ancestor’s diets. This is way before processed or refined carbs entered the picture.
Basics Of The Primal Diet
The basics of the primal diet are really quite simple: The two main principals are individuals eat to achieve optimal gene expression, and also they eat only unprocessed, natural whole foods. The creator of this diet, Mark Sisson, states that by providing the body with an opportunity to express its genes by way of nourishing it adequately, and by exercising properly, individuals can truly flourish. What is really focused on a lot with this diet is the requirement for individuals to eat foods that are as natural and as close to nature as possible. This means individuals following the Primal diet do not consume any processed foods whatsoever. This may seem obvious to many, and over the past several years there has been a sharp uptick in focus on what we are putting in our bodies. This diet’s guidelines are similar to the Paleo diet, in that individuals are supposed to focus on emulating the diet of our ancestors.
Foods To Eat On The Diet
Some individuals may be thinking the Primal diet sounds quite restrictive when compared to something like the Mediterranean diet or Whole 30, but this is simply not the case. There is a whole host of tasty foods individuals can still indulge in. Some of the foods to eat on the Primal diet include nuts, seeds, fruits, vegetables, raw milk, cheese, fish, meat, pure maple syrup, and raw honey. Some complex carbohydrates are also allowed, such as wild rice, quinoa, and starchy tubers like sweet potatoes. A focus on organically grown foods is stressed, and so organic vegetables, fruits, and eggs should be sought out. Any meat individuals choose to consume should also be free of antibiotics and artificial hormones, and the animals should be grass-fed. Regardless of whether or not individuals have weight-loss as a goal, sticking to the foods permissible on the Primal diet is sure to benefit their health in other ways too.
Foods To Avoid On The Diet
To put things simply, while following the Primal diet, individuals will want to avoid consuming anything our ancestors would not have been able to source for themselves. Obviously, processed foods such as hot dogs, cookies, and most boxed foods are out of the question. What might not come to mind right off the bat though, is our ancestors were not able to eat foods made from corn or wheat, neither of which were a part of the human diet until fairly recently. Individuals want to stay away from any grain, such as corn or wheat, peanuts, soy products, alcohol, processed sugars (with the exceptions of raw maple syrup or honey), processed foods, or refined vegetable oils such as canola oil. Pre-prepared foods available at the grocery store are likely off the table as well, due to processing and added ingredients.
Advantages And Disadvantages Of The Diet
Like every other diet, the Primal diet has its downsides. Placing restrictions on oneself and sticking with a diet is never without its negative aspects. Since the Primal diet places an emphasis on high-quality and naturally sourced foods, individuals can be sure their health will improve as they increase their intake of vitamins and nutrients. Without having to count calories, dieters will likely find the weight starts to fall off as well. The one real downside of this diet is the cost of groceries will likely begin to increase, and having to prepare most meals can be inconvenient. Having to buy only high-quality, unprocessed, and organic foods is not cheap, which makes the Primal diet not an ideal option for many. Also, having to avoid cheaper food items such as pasta, legumes, and potatoes adds to the costliness of this diet.
Final Takeaway Regarding The Diet
Compared to fad and or crash diets, the Primal Diet is a healthy and less restrictive means of tailoring one's diet towards eating healthy, naturally-sourced, and unprocessed foods. The Primal diet allows individuals to eat plenty of truly nutritious foods, so they don’t have to worry about deficiencies, such as when following a crash diet. If there is one final takeaway regarding the diet, it is this: By aiming to eat high-quality and organic fruits and vegetables, and responsibly sourced, ethically treated, and grass-fed animal products, individuals will not only be impacting their body in a powerful way, improving their overall health, but they will also be positively impacting the Earth as a whole.