I am going to do a combination of the Paleo Diet while still listening to Sally Fallon and Mary Egin from Eat Fat, Lose Fat, which I highly recommend you read. The ebook is available at Barnes and Noble for $12.99.
Their coconut smoothie and coconut-yogurt smoothie looks like a great start to the morning!
What I am adding to my diet:
- A high fat, good protein base that focuses on vegetables and meats.
- Eat Fat, Lose Fat also recommends lacto-fermented beverages such as kefir, kombucha, beet kvass and homemade gingerale. They aid in digestion and provide energy.
- Both diets like coconut products, like coconut milk and coconut oil. These are high in good fats (saturated fats) and will give you energy throughout the day. Coconut also helps you to lose weight because it enhances your metabolism. However, I am mainly looking to maintain my weight, but it helps with that too!
- Cream, nuts and red meat are all ok! These also have a good saturated fat count that helps to satiate your body.
- Avocados! I love love love avocados. They are full of monosaturated fatty acid, which is used for several body functions. When I eat avocados, I feel full of energy for most of the day! If you like avocados you should check out this recipe! I can't wait to try it!
- Bacon! Paleos love bacon, and why shouldn't we? As long as you avoid the nitrates and nitrites, you're in for a delicious and good for you treat. :) Nitrates and nitrites are preservatives that help to maintain the red color of the meat and prevent botulism. Recommendations are that pregnant women and children stay away from these. I think that if you shouldn't eat it while pregnant, you probably should try to stay away from it when you're not pregnant.
What I am removing from my diet:
- Sugar:
- An awful form of carbohydrate that depresses your immune system, raises insulin levels and can cause the formation of free radicals in the blood. Free radicals cause cancer. Watch out. Sugar is also something to avoid during pregnancy as it leads to gestational diabetes and toxemia.
- Most grains:
- While Eat Fat, Lose Fat says to eat properly prepared whole grains, Mark's Daily Apple warns against grains. Personally, I find grains to be addictive, but not entirely filling. I even have soaked oatmeal (which I'm never too jazzed about) and I'll be hungry by 11am. I would rather focus on eating something my body can consume fully, rather than having an item that costs money and doesn't fill me up properly.
- Instead, if I am really craving something grainy, I will find an almond meal, almond flour or coconut flour recipe to use instead.
- Low fat items, such as yogurt and skim milk:
- Rick, my honey, swears by skim milk because he thinks its great for you. Personally, I like Organic whole milk, because it is high in fat and has an amazing flavor. A lot of people consume raw milk, which I do while living with my mom, but I don't like the taste as much. It packs a hell of a hell of a nutritional punch, such as Vitamin A, D and K2.
- Soy
- In America, it's a genetically modified plant that is pushing out small farmers and toppling the health industry, in more ways than one. Here people consume it in un-fermented forms, which have been linked to many diseases.
- Coffee
- Neither of these diets say no to coffee, so I am going to say it myself. It robs me of my natural hunger and gives me an upset stomach. Also, I'm addicted to frappuchinos. It's time to say no!
- Processed foods.
- Even ice cream. D:
The school year is about to start, and I will be feeding myself for 3 months. I basically have the kitchen to myself during the day, so I will have plenty of time to make delicious, healthful concoctions.
I do have a list of Primal Recipes on my delicious account if you would like to see what I discovered! They are tagged by ingredients and meal type. Feel free to subscribe if you like what you see!
