The Paleolithic diet (Paleolithic diet) is based on the supposed diet of a person who lived in the Stone Age. The menu for such a diet does not include dairy products, cereals, sugar and any other food that has undergone any processing and has unnatural components in its composition.
This type of diet is aimed at consuming high quality protein foods (meat, fish, seafood, eggs), as well as fiber-rich vegetables, fruits, nuts and berries. In other words, a diet means eating only those foods that were available to a caveman engaged in hunting and gathering.
The paleo diet is controversial. And although the athletes who have experienced it on themselves are very pleased with the results, the new type of diet also has plenty of critics and opponents.
Benefits of the paleo diet
A number of respected nutritional scientists consider the Paleolithic diet to be hazardous to health. In their opinion, there is a high risk of developing serious disorders in the functioning of the body in people who adhere to the diet of the Stone Age for a long time.
The critics' opinion is based on studies that support the relationship of excessive protein intake with the risk of cardiovascular and other diseases. At the same time, refusal to use complex carbohydrates, including cereals, according to scientists, negatively affects metabolism, causes digestive disorders, hormonal disruptions and loss of strength.
Supporters claim that eating high-quality protein foods along with fruits and vegetables strengthens the immune system, reduces excess weight, and improves overall skin and hair health.
Adherents of the paleo diet highlight the following benefits:
- Fast results.Avoiding carbohydrate-rich foods and replacing them with protein and fiber inevitably leads to rapid weight loss. The first kilograms begin to literally "melt before our eyes" within 1-3 weeks. That is why the paleo diet is very popular among those who want to lose weight.
- No hunger.Feeling of hunger on the Paleo diet is practically not felt due to the stable level of blood sugar. Since all permitted products have a low or medium glycemic index, glucose is released into the blood in a metered dose, insulin levels are stable, and appetite is markedly reduced.
- Calorie intake you are in control yourself. There are no strict restrictions, you just need to adhere to the main list of permitted products and not use prohibited ones. Unlike standard diets, which drastically reduce the number of calories in the diet, the main principle of the paleo diet is to maintain low blood glucose levels, which in turn stimulates the process of burning fat.
The benefits of diet
For most CrossFitters, the priority goal is to get your body in shape and lose weight. High-intensity long-term training combined with a paleo diet is a direct path to rapid weight loss.
Let's look at how fat breakdown works in people following the Stone Age diet.
After an intense workout that includes work on all muscle groups, the body begins an active recovery phase. At this point, the muscles are experiencing an acute deficiency of glycogen (muscle sugar), which athletes tend to fill with simple carbohydrates.
If the goal of an athlete is to burn fat, to eat protein after training, it starts the process of ketosis in the body - the breakdown of its own fat and use it as a source of recovery of strength and energy. This is why Paleo Diet and CrossFit combine to lead to guaranteed weight loss.
However, there is a risk that some Paleo CrossFitters may feel tired and overtrained during vigorous exercise. To avoid such consequences, it is enough to consume more fruits rich in healthy carbohydrates, starch and pectin, such as bananas, peaches, grapes, pears and others. Include in your diet more foods rich in fatty amino acids: nuts, fatty fish, quality unrefined vegetable oils.
Contraindications to the paleo diet:
- liver and kidney disease;
- disturbances in the work of the gastrointestinal tract;
- periods of exacerbation of chronic diseases;
- pregnancy and lactation.
Reviews of the paleo diet
Crossfit and the paleo diet are relatively new phenomena in the world of sports. Nevertheless, the feedback from athletes and the results of their training is indicative and deserves attention.
Greg Glassman, the founder of CrossFit, was one of the first to experience and experience the effects of the paleo diet. He encourages all nutritionists to consume more vegetables and meats, nuts and seeds, avoid sugar and starch, and eat so that they exercise effectively and do not get fat. Greg Glassman argues that the paleo diet is the most optimal type of food for a person. In his opinion, an excessive amount of carbohydrates in the diet inevitably leads to diabetes.
Jackie Perez, a famous professional CrossFit athlete, is also in favor. Before she found out about CrossFit, Jackie spent many hours of cardio and strength training in the gym, while not monitoring her diet, and could not understand why her figure remained practically unchanged. And only when Jackie began to train with a trainer according to the system CrossFit, and the paleo diet became her usual diet, the results were not long in coming.
Cheryl Brost, a 43-year-old female Crossfit who won 2nd place at the Reebok Crossfit Games in 2014, argues that the first step on the road to great physical fitness and health should be the right approach to eating the paleo diet. Cheryl doesn't weigh every serving of her food and doesn't count calories, because she knows exactly what a 100-gram beef steak and a cup of vegetable salad looks like.
Indicative menu for the week
So, to reiterate the main point: the Paleolithic diet includes a wide range of protein-rich foods, as well as vegetables, fruits and nuts. It is forbidden to consume sugar, grains, dairy products, and any food that has been processed, contains artificial additives or genetically modified. Vary the weekly menu according to individual preferences within the permitted foods.
Follow a number of rules:
- In the morning, between meals and throughout the day, drink non-carbonated clean water. The bigger, the better. Always carry a bottle of clean drinking water with you when exercising.
- Try not to cook vegetables for a long time to avoid loss of vitamins.
- Take vitamin and mineral complexes in accordance with the needs of your body, especially during periods of recovery after illness, during periods of stress and seasonal vitamin deficiency.
- If you do CrossFit every day, then feel free to increase the amount of carbohydrates in the diet due to the greater amount of fruits and berries. Also in this case, consume more protein.
- If you do not plan to follow a strict paleo diet, you can add milk and dairy products to your diet. It is better not to stew or steam meat and fish, but to cook in a frying pan in olive oil.
Below is an example of a weekly diet for a CrossFit, Paleo diet, and weight loss person. Small snacks are allowed between main meals.
Monday | 1st meal | A three-egg omelet or three hard-boiled eggs. Some steamed vegetables. |
Snack before morning workout | One apple or one banana. | |
2nd meal | 100-200 g of white fish or chicken. Vegetable salad. | |
Pre-workout snack | A handful (100 g) of berries or 30 g of nuts. | |
3rd meal | Vegetable salad sprinkled with grated nuts, with olive oil or lemon juice dressing. Large portion (400-500 g) of steamed chicken. Vegetable stew made from zucchini, bell peppers, onions and carrots. | |
Tuesday | 1st meal | A two-egg omelet or two hard-boiled eggs. A small portion of fruit salad. |
Snack before morning workout | One banana or one pear, a handful of fresh berries. | |
2nd meal | 200 g of chicken fillet or 200 g of beef. Garnish of stewed or steamed vegetables. | |
Pre-workout snack | A portion of fruit salad (banana, mango, melon), sprinkled with any nuts and seasoned with lemon juice. | |
3rd meal | Chicken breast (200-300 g), cooked in any way. 150-200 g of boiled asparagus seasoned with olive oil. | |
Wednesday | 1st meal | Omelet of three eggs with herbs. A small portion of fruit salad. |
Snack before morning workout | One peach and some fresh berries. | |
2nd meal | 150 g of seafood prepared in any way. Peking cabbage, cucumber and greens salad, seasoned with olive oil. | |
Pre-workout snack | A handful of nuts (no more than 30 g) and one apple. | |
3rd meal | 200 g steamed red fish. Cauliflower stewed with onions. | |
Thursday | 1st meal | Two poached eggs. A handful of fresh berries. |
Snack before morning workout | Portion of fruit salad with apples and nuts. | |
2nd meal | 150g steamed white fish. Fresh vegetable salad (Chinese cabbage, cucumbers, onions, bell peppers). | |
Pre-workout snack | One banana or one apple. | |
3rd meal | 200-300 g chicken breast fillet with mushrooms and herbs. One boiled egg. | |
Friday | 1st meal | Omelet of three eggs with herbs. A small portion of fruit salad. |
Snack before morning workout | One apple or a handful of grapes (100 g). | |
2nd meal | 200 g of beef steamed with vegetables. Portion of fresh vegetable salad. | |
Pre-workout snack | A handful of nuts (up to 30 g) and one banana. | |
3rd meal | 200 g of boiled fish. Stewed vegetables with mushrooms and onions. | |
Saturday | 1st meal | Two hard-boiled eggs. Fruit salad. |
Snack before morning workout | One banana, some nuts. | |
2nd meal | 200 g of red fish cooked in the oven with lemon. Vegetables baked with mushrooms and onions. | |
Pre-workout snack | A small portion of fruit salad and a handful of fresh berries. | |
3rd meal | 200 g steamed turkey fillet. Vegetable stew made from cauliflower, zucchini, eggplant and onions. | |
Sunday | 1st meal | Omelet of two eggs with herbs. Steamed vegetables (zucchini, cauliflower). |
Snack before morning workout | A small handful of nuts (up to 30 g) and one apple. | |
2nd meal | 150 g of beef cooked in the oven with mushrooms. Fresh vegetable salad (Chinese cabbage, cucumbers, onions). | |
Pre-workout snack | One banana and a handful of fresh berries. | |
3rd meal | 200 g of stewed white fish with onions and herbs. A serving of any steamed vegetables. |