Wherever we look these days, there is a magic bullet diet or weight loss program for sale. They typically promise weight loss without hard work, sacrifice or discipline.The average scheme is low calorie, low carb, low fat etcFor every book available in stores or DVD for sale on television,there is somebody getting rich behind it. Why? Because these programs over promise, under deliver and absolutely set the user up to fail.They might deliver results initially, but the person almost always returns to a “normal” level of living (or what they deem as normal). They regain the weight and usually more. There would be no repeat business if these restrictive diets delivered the outstanding results they promised.The fundamental reason these restrictive diets fail is that they encourage an eating style that goes against our ancestral and genetic needs. The Paleo Diet is the only diet program outlined that shows every man, woman and child how to live a life free of lifestyle related sickness and disease based upon the habits of our predecessors.
The Paleolithic Diet is based upon DNA evidence that is 40,000 years old. In those 40,000 years our genetic code has changed ~.02%. In other words, we are the same today as our predecessors 40,000 years ago and our nutritional needs are virtually identical. Our habits have unfortunately. Paleolithic societies were hunter-gatherer societies. Farming was not utilized. These populations ate a small amount of a large variety of food. In other words, they ate what was available to them. There wasn’t a McDonalds or Safeway on every corner. With the progress of mankind and the implementation of modern farming, food processing, and a marked decline in physical activity, we have seen an enormous decline in the health of our planet.
Paleolithic societies lived much differently than modern man? How you ask? They had absoluetly zero dairy, grain, cereal, soy, salt, refined sugar, or starchy foods like potatoes, yams and sweet potatoes available to them. The typical Paleolithic Diet consisted of wild and lean animal proteins, preservative free fruits, vegetables and only spring water to drink. The benefits of this lifestyle included no incidence of hypertension, heart disease, cancer, osteoporosis, arthritis, dental carries, or obesity. Paleolithic citizens were fit, lean and healthy. They looked like modern day elite athletes because optimal health was a natural product of how they lived based upon what was available to them.
As farming and urbanization took over, we went from a protein, fruits and vegetables society to a predominantly grain and dairy eating society. There is direct evidence to the decline of the health of mankind as grain and dairy became dietary staples. Archaeological evidence indicates that whenever and wherever humans farmed in place of hunting, health problems appeared quickly. Early farmers grew shorter than their ancestors. Their bones and teeth were filled with problems include an increased incidence of osteoporosis, rickets, bone mineral disorders, scurvy, rickets, vitamin A and Zinc deficiencies and iron deficiency anemia.
In this day and age we have a pandemic of health problems referred to as “Syndrome X” and they include hypertension, high cholesterol, type II diabetes, and dyslipidemia (low HDL, elevated triglycerides, and small-dense LDL cholesterol. Diseases such as gout can be grouped in with these diseases as well.
What is the solution to our worlds’ problems? The answer lies in our genetic needs. We absolutely must get back to living as we were designed. Until we take notice and understand that the convenience of our modern society sets us up to fail in our quest and desire for health, we will continue to decline. Explore all of the benefits of a Paleolithic diet and start applying them in your life today. Study from those who came before you and start eating in the manner you were designed to. With the appropriate knowledge, direction, discipline and a clear purpose, we have the potential to eliminate these health problems.
Dr. Shaun Stuto is a Missoula Chiropractors. Call Missoula Chiropractors at Transformation Chiropractic today @ (406) 728-1250! Book an appointment now!