The Paleo diet has become quite popular recently, and for good reason. It’s a simple way of eating that allows you to enjoy the foods you love while also giving you the nutrients you need to stay healthy. But sometimes, even the most careful eaters can go wrong. Here, we’re going to reveal the most common mistakes people make on the Paleo diet and how to avoid them.
1. Not Sufficient Preparation
It’s no secret that cooking your own food is much healthier than buying pre-packaged, frozen meals. But this doesn’t mean you should rush into cooking every meal yourself. If you’re new to the Paleo diet, it might be a good idea to cook only the food you need for the day. This will help you get the most from your healthy lifestyle without putting too much stress on your body. Also, if you’re trying to lose weight, it might be a good idea to avoid eating any deep fried foods as these are the types of foods that cause you to gain weight. You can include more nutrient-rich foods in your diet, like vegetables, fruits, and lean meats. If you need help figuring out what portion sizes for these foods, we’ve included a helpful guide that will help you determine how much you should eat.
2. Overuse of Salt
If you’re used to consuming processed foods containing plenty of salt, it’s probably going to be quite the shock to your system to cut back on the amount of sodium you consume. This is why overuse of salt is such a common mistake among people on the Paleo diet. The general rule of thumb is: salt inhibits the absorption of nutrients, so try to avoid adding too much salt to your diet. If you’re worried about your blood pressure, you could try adding more fruits and vegetables to your diet. The antioxidants found in these foods can help improve your health and aid in lowering your blood pressure.
3. Eating Too Much Fiber
As we’ve established, cooking your own food is healthier than buying pre-packaged foods. However, the amount of fiber you should consume depends on whether you’re following a paleo diet or another type of diet. For those on the Paleo diet, 20-25 grams of fiber per day would be sufficient for most people. The majority of the fiber you need comes from fruit and vegetables, so try to eat more of these foods. Some examples are berries, carrots, and apples. If you need help keeping track of how much fiber you’re consuming, pick up a nutrition guide or app to help you keep track of everything you eat.
4. Going Too Far With The Water Intake
Many people on the Paleo diet decide to drink plenty of water. After all, staying hydrated is important for your overall health. While excessive water intake is not necessarily a problem when following the Paleo diet, it’s not advisable to drink more than you need. You should drink according to the rules of thumb: 16 ounces for every hour you spend outside (during the day). This might be a little difficult for some people to track, so it’s best to just drink what your body needs. When you start experiencing dehydration symptoms such as headaches, thirst, or dry mouth, it’s time to drink more.]]>
5. Not Eating The Proper Meals
Just because you’re following a healthy lifestyle doesn’t mean you need to restrict yourself to one-meal-a-day servings. You should aim to eat several small meals throughout the day instead. What’s wrong with having a few snacks in between your meals? Having complex carbohydrates in the form of rice, potatoes, or quinoa will keep you full and energised. If you need help making the right food choices, enter the keywords “paleo” and “nutrition” into the search bar of your favorite food website and you’ll get a list of all the healthy foods that qualify as paleo approved.
6. Not Eating Enough Proteins
Your body needs a certain amount of proteins in order to function properly. If you’re not getting the amount you need, it’s probably because you’re not eating enough. Animal proteins contain more nutrients than plant proteins, so if you’re not getting your daily dose of proteins from meat and eggs, try including more vegetables in your diet. Examples of vegetable proteins are lentils and beans. If you’re not sure whether or not you’re getting the amount of protein you need, it’s a good idea to ask your personal physician for advice.
7. Not Paying Attention To The Serving Sizes
When you’re on the Paleo diet, you might find that certain foods look a little bit smaller than normal. For example, a candy bar that normally comes in a box of twelve will only give you nine or ten, depending on the brand. This is because the manufacturers have cut down the size of the candy bars due to rising costs. It’s no secret that food prices are on the rise, and it’s affecting everyone’s food choices.
If you decide to go for the smaller size, that’s okay. Just make sure you’re not misled by the fact that the serving sizes have changed. You should always judge a food product by its actual size, not by what the box says. This is important because sometimes food products are labeled incorrectly. For example, if you get a twelve pack of chocolate bars but the tenth bar is slightly smaller than the others, you may think that the tenth bar is actually the twelfth bar. But this is not the case. The tenth bar is actually the eightieth bar in the box. So, make sure you don’t get fooled by the small food portion sizes: they are not an indication of what you’ll actually get.
8. Thinking That Fat Is Bad
Most people think that eating fat makes you fat. But this is not necessarily true. Eating fat can aid in reducing your body fat, especially if you’re eating the right kinds of fat. You should choose organic fats over conventional fats, and animal fats over vegetable fats. Think of organic fats as the good fats that your body needs to function properly. Animal fats have been known to be high in vitamin A and E, which are beneficial to your health. If you follow a Paleo diet, you are bound to run into people who believe that fat is bad. But this is not true. There are specific fats that humans need to function properly, and organic fats are among them. If you’re not getting enough good fats in your diet, it’s time to go on a fat-hunting spree and eat as much fat as you can. Remember: fat isn’t bad, it’s fuel!
9. Not Knowing How To Prep The Food
If you follow a healthy lifestyle, it doesn’t hurt to take good care of your body. One way to do this is by eating right. Another is by staying hydrated. But if you want to take your health even further, there are some easy ways to do this. One of them is by preparing your food ahead of time. If you eat something fresh, you’ll more likely absorb all the nutrients because your body will still be able to work with them. Microwaving, baking, and grilling your food will destroy most of its nutrients, which is why you should always eat raw foods, or lightly cooked foods, to maximize their benefits.
Take a look at the ingredients lists on the back of food packages. The more ingredients there are, the more that are usually prepared by using methods that destroy most of the nutrients. For example, take a look at the ingredients for a chicken nugget. You’ll find that it has bread crumbs, corn, wheat flour, soy protein, and spices. The only things that can be considered healthy are the chicken and the spices. But even those contain preservatives. The best way to get nutrients is by preparing your food yourself, or shopping for foods that are already prepared, or in some cases, buying organic food, as these tend to be more expensive but have a higher nutrient content.
Avoid these common mistakes and you’ll be on your way to a healthier lifestyle. You’ll feel better, look better, and most importantly, you’ll have the energy to keep up with the everyday demands of life. Cut back on the amount of salt you consume, eat more fruits and vegetables, get some omega-3 fats in your diet, and prepare your food in a way that retains the nutrients. You’ll be on your way to a healthier lifestyle in no time!