What Is The Paleo Diet And Is It Right For Me?

The paleo diet has received much attention in the recent years. However, there are so many diets out there today that it is hard to choose which one is right for a person. If you are struggling to find out which one will work with your own personal diet goals and expectations, this article will help address that and find out if going paleo is right for you.

What Is The Paleo Diet?

The paleo diet or as some call it “The Caveman Diet” is a very simple to follow way of life more than a diet. The lifestyle does suggest eating certain things and only these, but it is not necessarily a weight loss driven plan. The goal of the paleo diet is simply to help you live a healthier life, by utilizing only foods that would have been able to be acquired during the paleolithic era.

The overall effect, as described by many, is a more mentally alert and healthier state of being in general. Depending on your current eating habits, weight loss very well may be in the cards, so to speak, but is not the main goal. The main goal is to cut out all the extra chemicals, food coloring, food perspectives and junk that is currently being added to the most common foods of today.

Is The Paleo Diet Gluten Free?

Everything that works in the paleo diet is considered to be gluten free. There are many gluten free meals and recipes out there that are fair when following the paleo diet and some people with celiac disease find it to offer even more relief because it cuts out almost all grains. If you are looking for gluten free, this is by far the best option out there. It makes it easy to stay away from processed foods that may be gluten free and still can cause irritation to the body and bowels in particular.

What Can’t I Eat On The Paleo Diet?

There are a few different sources for what you can and what you can’t eat. The list provided below is a generally accepted “no no” list.

  • Dairy products
  • Sugary fruit juice
  • Soda and other soft drinks
  • Energy drinks
  • Grains and legumes
  • Processed meat
  • Snack food
  • Unnaturally salted food
  • Candy
  • Any food that has additives, preservatives or food coloring

When you look at the list, it seems like a lot to cut out, but in reality most of the things on this list shouldn’t be on your daily diet list in the first place.

Why Would I Want To Use The Paleo Diet?

The quick answer is that it is naturally healthy. Our bodies have not evolved to process all the chemicals that are now commonly found in food and beverages. There are many reasons that this diet makes since to people. Cutting out these foods will of course assist with weight loss. Reduced allergy symptoms is another huge benefit many find. Reducing blood pressure, depression, joint pain, cholesterol levels, diabetes and even the risk of certain cancers are other benefits many studies suggest.

2000 Calorie Diet Menu and Meal Plan

The 2000 calorie diet plan limits a person’s daily intake of food to 2000 calories. This is almost close to the normal amount of calories a person consumes in a day. But the difference between a 2000 calorie diet plan and a normal everyday eating is that the 2000 calories from a diet plan come chiefly from fruits, vegetables, nuts and other nutritional food stuff rather than from foods that contain saturated fats. Following the 2000 calorie diet will keep you hale, healthy, energetic and brisk. With this 2000 calorie meal plan, your odds of reducing your weight and maintaining it at the desired level is more because you don’t have to worry about adjusting calories and food stuffs after the weight is lost. Against normal conceptions, a healthy diet like this can also be very tasty and so sticking to the diet plan will not be a difficult task at all. Consequently all the pieces those are required to achieve a healthy weight loss and to maintain a perfect body shape fall into their places correctly with the 200 calorie diet plan.

Sample 2000 calorie diet plans:

In general terms, a 2000 calorie diet plan can be made up using two servings from the fruit group, seven servings from the grain group, eight servings from the vegetable group, three servings from the dairy group and eight servings from the meat and bean group. This comes to around six ounces of grains, two and a half cups of vegetables, two cups of fruits, five and half ounces of meat and beans, three cups of milk and six tea spoons full of oil. In a 2000 calorie meat plan, you should limit the sugar intake, avoid trans fats, eat lots of whole grains, limit the intake of saturated fats by consuming mono-unsaturated and poly-unsaturated fats. Moreover around 20% to 35% of your calorie intake per day should come from dairy products. Now we will have a look at two simple, tasty 2000 calorie diet plans which will give you an idea of how the actual diet must be framed.

Sample Diet 1:

Breakfast:

Two scrambled eggs, two slices of bacon, two slices of whole wheat grain toast, a single cup of skimmed milk and one serving of jam and preserves will make the ideal breakfast for a 2000 calorie diet plan.

Morning Snack:

The morning snack can be anything of your choice but the total calorie content of your morning snack should be around 100 calories.

Lunch:

You can dine on anything you like as long as the total calorie count for lunch comes around 450 calories. Three crunchy tacos would be an excellent choice for lunch.

Afternoon Snack:

Enjoy any dairy product for an afternoon snack. Low fat cottage cheese, low fat cheese and low fat yoghurt are a few suggestions. Just a keep an eye on the calorie content so that it does not exceed 110 calories.

Dinner:

Three ounces of steak (oven roasted, grilled or pan roasted), a small baked potato, margarine, half a cup of beans (baked), whole grain bread and a mixed salad made of lettuce or spinach with a little lemon, a table spoon of shredded cheese, a slice of tomato and cucumber and a 60 calorie salad dressing of your choice.

Bedtime Snack:

You can have a bedtime snack of a cup of skimmed milk blended with half a cup of strawberries.

Sample Diet 2:

Breakfast: (570 calories)

Omelet from three egg whites and one yolk with chopped onions and garlic, two slices of whole wheat bread with jam, natural fat-free yogurt and a small piece of fruit. This will make up the mouth watering breakfast for a 2000 calorie diet plan.

Lunch: (530 calories)

Lunch comprises of chicken pasta salad, four tablespoons of whole wheat pasta and fruit juice worth 90 calories.

Snack: (200 calories)

Two slices of malt loaf with a thin smear of butter.

Dinner: (800 calories)

Chili Con Carne, salad with light dressing, and one small low-fat fruit trifle.

Whatever the diet you follow make sure that you drink lots of fluids. Water is the best option to keep your body hydrated. You can also drink liberal amounts of green tea and other zero calorie beverages. Always say a strict no for alcohol, coke and even diet coke. Drinking a lot of calorie less fluids cleanses your body of all toxins and it keeps your body’s metabolism ticking.

This 2000 calorie diet plan does not supply very low calories like other diet plans and hence are considerably trustworthy to follow. But it is always safe to consult with your doctor or dietician and tell them about your diet plans and get their approval of the same before you start with your diet. This will put your mind at ease as you will be sure that you are headed on the right path. Happy Dieting!