Here are the Ingredients that Might Not Be Considered “Paleo Friendly”

Curious question: what are the ingredients that might not be considered “Paleo Friendly”? If we look closely into this popular diet that has been attributed to helping in losing weight in a short period of time, yes, there are certain ingredients that won’t fit into the paleo meal plan.

But before we delve into the ingredients that might not be considered “paleo-friendly”, let’s get to know more about this “Caveman Diet” or “Paleolithic Diet” that people have been raving about these days.

Okay, so what is the Paleo Diet?

For starters, Paleo Diet is an eating approach or dietary plan that is based on food that has been eaten by people during the Paleolithic era. Yes, this is basically following the diet of people that have lived from thousands of years ago. Simply put, this follows the staples of the Paleo era which includes meat, fruits, vegetables, seeds, and nuts.

Are there any ingredients that might not be considered “Paleo Friendly”?

Paleo diet basically incorporates foods that our hunter-gatherer ancestors ate – with a heavier focus on protein and less emphasis on dairy items, starchy carbs, and sugar. If you want to stick out to this kind of diet, you might as well consider the ingredients that you have to avoid.

1. Grains

According to experts on this Paleo diet, all grains should be eliminated when adopting this kind of diet. This means that you have to finally bid goodbye to:

• rice
• wheat
• barley
• corn
• quinoa
• oats
• pasta
• bread
• crackers
• barley
• ancient grains
• cereal grains
• cookies
• bagels
• muffins
• tortillas
• chips

2. Beans and Legumes

As beans and legumes are quite difficult to digest, most of those who follow the Paleo Diet don't add these ingredients to their meals. There are some who still accept peas and green beans but in general, here are some of the beans and legumes to avoid:

• black beans
• red beans
• peanuts
• garbanzo beans
• lentils
• soy (tofu, tempeh, soy lecithin, miso, soy sauce)
• peanut butter
• chickpeas

3. Dairy Products

While this remains a debate if all dairy products must be avoided when following a Paleo diet, it’s a given fact that most people are actually struggling when digesting dairies. That’s why many believe that these forms of dairy are not Paleo:

• cheese
• yogurt
• ice cream
• milk
• sour cream
• buttermilk
• powdered milk

4. Sugar and Artificial Sweetener

Obviously, you also have to avoid added sugar and artificial sweeteners when following the Paleo Diet. This does not literally translate to the naturally occurring sugar that can be found in fruits and other ingredients but refers to the sugar and sweetener that are found in many processed foods like:

• candies
• pastries
• soft drinks
• table sugar
• ice cream
• packed snack foods
• fruit juices
• syrups

Friendly-Tips when Starting out with the Paleo Diet

Like any other healthy lifestyle change, sticking to the Paleo Diet can be challenging. Cutting all those grains, dairies, processed foods, and all may turn out overwhelming. So, we have gathered some helpful tips to help you process your worries.

1. Diversify your diet.

Like any other activity, doing the same thing over and over again – in this case, eating the same food over and over again – will ultimately lead to burnout. While the list of food recommended for the Paleo Diet seems to be limited, know that there are various ways on how you can prepare your vegetables, fruits, proteins, healthy fats, and seafood.

Why not try to incorporate some green superfood powder from time to time? Instead of eating the same vegetables over and over again, you can still get the same number of benefits from 3 – 4 servings of raw greens in just a teaspoon of PHresh Greens®. Simply add water to make it into a juice or add ice to make a smoothie. With this, you can easily diversify your Paleo Diet – but still enjoy the vitamins, trace minerals, chlorophyll, and other phytonutrients that you can get from energy-rich vegetables!

2. Plan ahead.

Whether it’s the Paleo diet – or any kind of diet – it is best to always consider how it would impact your health. Therefore, don’t hesitate to have a chat with your doctor. Ask if this kind of diet would suit your body’s needs. Note that by following Paleo plans, you will be skipping some healthy food groups too. Therefore, planning out what food to eat during meals is crucial: know what ingredients you have to add, what superfood powders you can incorporate, how to balance your ph level in your body, and how can these further affect your body systems.

3. Make a List.

After planning, it’s action time! After deciding how you can diversify your meals, then it’s time to unpack the ingredients needed for your meals. Track your grocery list and ensure that you also know where to get these paleo-friendly foods. Don’t hesitate to go outside the aisles and see where the areas that can provide your paleo needs are located.

Did you find some ingredients that might not be considered Paleo-friendly in your usual meal? Looking for possible substitutes? Check out some healthy products here that may help you diversify your meals without much hassle!