Why go grain-free?

Monday, December 02, 2013 by: Marie Saffy
Tags: grain-free, Paleo diet, digestion

(NaturalNews) Chances are, you've been bombarded with information about the benefits of going gluten-free, but many people are taking this diet to a new level by eliminating all grains from their diets as well. Grain-free diets are often referred to as "Paleo" or "Primal," as they tend to mimic what our Paleolithic ancestors (or cavemen) ate. So what exactly is this trend, what is the science behind it, and how could it benefit your health?

Paleo Explained

The idea behind Paleo is eating mostly foods that our ancestors in ancient times would have had access to. This includes meat, fish, fresh fruits and vegetables, nuts and seeds. Some variations allow certain high-fat, raw dairy products and chicken. All versions of the Paleo diet are grain-free and also avoid starchy vegetables, legumes and processed foods.

The Science Behind the Paleo Way of Life

Our ancestors were eating "Paleo" 2.5 million years ago and continued to do so until 10,000 years ago when humans began cultivating grains and legumes. The thought process behind eating the way our Paleolithic ancestors ate, despite the introduction of grains and legumes, is that our bodies have not evolved enough to properly digest these foods and are still adept to eating grain-free. Because humans subsisted for millions of years on the Paleo diet, some say 10,000 years just isn't long enough for evolution to catch up.

Health Benefits of the Paleo Diet

Because we've replaced Mother Nature's most wholesome, clean plant and animal foods with high-carbohydrate, low-nutrient and highly processed diets, we have become chronically ill and suffer from cancer, diabetes, heart disease and inflammation, just to name a few ailments. Adhering to the Paleo diet ensures that you consume healthy fats and nutrient-dense fruits and vegetables, all of which our bodies can easily digest. More and more research shows that Industrial era foods (such as refined oils and grains and corn-fed meat) lead to inflammation, which is the root cause of nearly all major diseases. Therefore, adhering to the Paleo diet or a variation of it that avoids grains and processed foods will help lower inflammation in your body and keep you healthy or even aid in reversing effects of current ailments, such as skin rashes or acne, excess weight, poor digestion, fatigue and allergies.

Sources for this article include:

http://www.paleoplan.com

http://science.naturalnews.com

http://www.naturalnews.com

About the author:
Marie Saffy is a business writer and marketing consultant based in Pennsylvania. She has worked in a variety of industries and her work in the mental health field ignited her passion for natural healing. She believes that living naturally is the only way to achieve true wellness.