Healthy Foods To Eat On The Paleo
Diet
When you take on any
new type of eating lifestyle, it can seem
overwhelming figuring out
what foods you “can”
and “cannot” or “should” and “should not”
be eating. Even
more so, it can be confusing if you don’t
understand the reasons
why certain foods
are good for you to eat and while others
are best just in moderation. The Paleo diet
is no exception. There are many foods that are considered Paleo‐friendly but that are also the
basic “meat” of the eating
lifestyle (no pun intended). Here are a list of some of those foods
and just why they are important to consume.
Meats:
1) Salmon‐ Full of Omega 3’s,
protein, iron, zinc
niacin, Vitamins B6 & B12.
These properties help fight
inflammation, contain antioxidants, supply a healthy
source of protein
and help keep your heart healthy.
2) Lean Beef‐ Lean
cuts of beef
pack a protein
punch without a high amount
of saturated fats. There
are 29 cuts of lean
beef to choose
from.
3) Chicken‐ Versatile and healthy, chicken
fulfills your protein
needs while giving
you a variety of ways to cook and
prepare it . Opt
for boneless, skinless chicken. Provides for over 20% of recommended daily intake for selenium and potassium.
4)
Turkey‐ Contains protein, Vitamin C and iron.
A great source
of protein that
can be bought either ground,
sliced or as an entire
breast.
Veggies:
1) Beets‐ In a class all their own, beets contain
betalains, a phytonutrient that has anti‐ inflammatory, antioxidant and detoxification properties. Possible anti‐cancer benefits have also been linked
to beets.
2) Kale‐ Extremely high
in Vitamins A, K &
C. Packed with
antioxidants (carotenoids and flavonoids) and lutein, which
helps the blood
flow smoother throughout the body.
3) Spinach‐ As with
most veggies, low calorie content
means you can eat a large quantity. Contains magnesium, Vitamin C and folate,
just to name
a few. Can possibly reduce
your risk of cataracts and macular degeneration.
Other:
1) Eggs‐ Believe
it or not, eggs are a great
source of both
protein and fat (Omega 3’s included!). They
contain all 9 of the essential amino
acids and contribute to your daily calcium intake.
2) Avocado‐ Full of potassium and healthy fats,
avocado consumption has been linked
to lower chances of contracting metabolic syndrome and possibly increasing HDL‐ the good
cholesterol.
3) Almonds‐ Portable and filling, almonds
are a great on‐the‐go snack
and contain a good
amount of calcium, magnesium, fiber
and protein. Because
Paleo diets don’t
incorporate dairy, this is a great
way to get your calcium
intake up.
As you can see, none of these Paleo
diet foods are much different choices than that of any healthy person, irrespective of diet, would
eat on a regular basis.
It’s important to make sure you are consuming an adequate amount
of vitamins and minerals, especially if you are cutting
stuff out of your “normal”
diet as you transition to Paleo. Above
all, remember to make
healthy choices because
they make sense
to you, not because they fall into
a specific diet
.
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