Have you been on a search for the perfect diet to feel lighter, more energized and healthier?
While there may not be THE perfect diet, the paleo diet for women comes pretty close. And part of what makes it so ideal is that it encourages you to eat when you’re hungry and stop when you’re full.
The Paleo Diet for Women Will Not Leave You Feeling Deprived
In other words, with the paleo diet, you don’t have to count numbers and feel guilty when things didn’t work out. And as a woman, staying in sync with your natural hunger signals is essential to normal hormone production.
Plus, there are tons of great paleo recipes.
Sound too good to be true?
Well, even though you won’t be deprived, there are some things you’ll need to restrict – or at the very least, reduce – while on this diet. But once you become accustomed to these changes, you’ll be glad you made them.
Here Are Some Things the Paleo Diet Discourages
Soy
It’s hard to know where soy stands these days. It’s a staple for many vegetarians. And it is a protein source.
But it’s also a phytoestrogen. That means that its shape is similar to that of natural estrogen. So consuming phytoestrogens increases the estrogen load in the bloodstream.
With excess estrogen comes the possibility of weight gain, PMS, menstrual cramps, ovarian cysts, and mood disorders. The paleo diet, therefore, discourages eating soy.
Grains
The thought of giving up bread, cereal, and pasta may cause you to gasp. But these lovely things could be leaching minerals like calcium and magnesium from the intestines. And women need all the calcium they can get.
Grains can also cause leaky gut, which is a condition that can lead to autoimmune diseases. Those most commonly found in women are rheumatoid arthritis and Hashimoto’s thyroiditis.
Plus, the body breaks down grains into sugar. Which brings us directly to the next no-no.
Sugar
Like it or not, sugar is the biggest culprit in weight gain. And weight gain is bad for women’s health because with fat cells comes more estrogen.
Sugar also stimulates testosterone production in the ovaries. That extra testosterone can cause acne, a decrease in fertility and libido, and could result in male pattern hair growth and hair loss.
But There Is So Much You Can Eat on the Paleo Diet
It should be noted that with so many paleo friendly products on the market, such as low carb tortillas and pastas made from beans, you might find the transition to be a lot easier than you’re imagining.
And the reality is that what you can eat is so healthy and nutrient dense, you’ll soon wonder why you ever ate anything else.
Delicious Foods Included in the Paleo Diet for Women
Any in-season fresh fruits and veggies get the thumbs-up.
As far as getting protein, stick with any free-range poultry and eggs, wild-caught fish like salmon, tuna, sardines, trout, bass, mackerel, seafood such as crab, shrimp, clams, lobster, and all grass-fed meats.
And keep the healthy fats coming with avocados, tree nuts, pumpkin and sunflowers seeds, grass-fed butter, and healthy oils like cold-pressed extra virgin olive, flaxseed, virgin coconut, macadamia, and avocado.
So if you’re ready to start losing weight and/or just simply feeling better, give the Paleo diet a try! You’ll be glad you did.
