8 Things You Should Know Before Going Paleo
Once you memorize this one rule, you'll have mastered the diet.
You'll want to live by one golden rule.
If a caveman didn't eat it, neither should you. That means you should channel both hunters and gatherers when following the Paleo diet by eating meat, fish, nuts, and local produce. Unfortunately, your ancestors didn't have much access to candy bars and sugary cereals.
Grains are enemy number one.
Paleo leaders consider grains to be the worst because of two things: gluten and lectins. Gluten is a form of protein, and even if you don't have a diagnosed intolerance, Paleo pros suggest it's really hard to digest. They say the same about lectins, another type of protein found in grains or legumes.
It can be expensive.
Many Paleo experts recommend you buy organic produce and buzzword-labeled meat and seafood: wild-caught, free-range, hormone-free. If you chose to shop this way, expect your grocery bill to increase a little.
You might feel sick.
Any special diet will prep you for a first week headache, and Paleo is no different. The all-around grogginess is a symptom of withdrawal. When your body is used to being fueled with certain foods and you remove those, it takes a few days — sometimes even a few weeks to acclimate.
Your old healthy is not the same as your new healthy.
If you thought peanut butter on a rice cake was a safe snack, think again. Though it's relatively low in calories and a good source of healthy fat, it's got legumes and grains — two no-nos when you're following a Paleo diet.
You might not lose weight.
Remember, too much of a good thing can be a bad thing. Even if you're eating accepted Paleo foods, over-indulging won't make the number on the scale lower. And, if you're seeing that number increase, don't freak: You might be losing fat and adding muscle. Since muscle weighs more than fat, you could see your weight go up, but your body will look completely different.
You'll need to watch your nutrient intake.
Because the Paleo diet requires you to completely cut out dairy and other food groups, you might notice nutrient deficiencies. Watch you vitamin D and calcium, specifically. You can get from leafy greens, almonds, and oily fish.
Not all carbs are bad.
Grains aren't the only foods that pack carbs. Many fruits and vegetables do, too — and that's not a bad thing. Unlike it's cousin diet, Keto, Paleo doesn't completely restrict your carb intake. Bananas, apples, and starchy veggies are free game, as long as you don't overeat them.
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